Even Chinese travelers are tired of all the 500-room business hotels, he has found, preferring Le Sun Chine's more intimate scale.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

One former home of a wealthy Chinese family opened in 2010 as a boutique hotel, Le Sun Chine, complete with a retro champagne bar.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

Sun apparently agrees with Le Tocq's recommendations, as representatives from the company confirmed that joint marketing ventures will soon be announced.

CNN: Big names plan to pre-install Sun's StarOffice

With the sun belting down on a glorious morning in Chester-le-Street, Ponting once again lost the toss - his sixth from seven - as Strauss opted to utilise the favourable overhead conditions and bowl first.

BBC: England escape one-day whitewash

Sun's bundling deals with the likes of Sony are move in the right direction, according to Chris Le Tocq, research director at market analysis company Gartner Group, based in San Jose, California.

CNN: Big names plan to pre-install Sun's StarOffice