Barcelo Group, a global leader in hospitality and tourism, has announced an agreement to cooperate with leading Chinese hospitality company Plateno Group to enter the China market.

According to the announcement, made at a news conference in Beijing on June 14, the first Barcelo hotel in China is expected to open in 2017.

Founded in Spain 85 years ago by the namesake family that still runs it, Barcelo has more than 200 hotels and resorts in tourist destinations and downtowns of major cities in 20 countries, including Germany, Italy, the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. It also has 685 travel agencies in 22 countries, and operates its own airline.