November 2008 Feature
The Beijing Hotel Boom
By Helen Heales
The 2008 Beijing Olympics certainly put China’s capital city in the global travel spotlight, judging from the spike in hotel development that preceded the event. Granted, increased room-supply exceeded demand by Olympic visitors to Beijing. According to the Aug. 21, 2008 issue of BusinessWeek, Beijing has a full one-fifth, or 5,790 more hotels than it did at the end of 2007. Smith Travel Research Outlook for the Chinese hotel industry reports that new hotel openings in Beijing and lighter than expected pre-Olympic demand caused occupancy to drop 10.7 percent to 61.8 percent. Although the 2008 Olympics have come to a close, these hotels are still open for business and in need of putting heads in beds. For the traveling public, this translates as future opportunity to visit Beijing at nightly rates that don’t reflect Olympic inflation.
Pre and Post-Olympic Luxury
But that doesn’t mean Beijing’s hotel market is limited to mid-range properties. In fact, several luxury hotel chains established a presence in the city well before the Olympics came to town. Starwood’s St. Regis brand was introduced to Asia in 2000 with the launch of the St. Regis Beijing, which recently completed a $27 million renovation that included a redesign of its 258 rooms, including 102 suites as well as its signature restaurants and public spaces. The hotel also offers a natural spring water spa, more than 13,114 square feet of meeting space and St. Regis’ signature butler service. “With strong domestic demand, an increasing affinity for global brands and international inbound travel on the rise, our opportunity in China is perhaps unsurpassed anywhere in the world,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “As the Chinese travel abroad, they look for brands they know, and therefore Starwood’s development in China today, has significant implications for our hotels worldwide.”
The company continues to strengthen its presence in the city with the openings of the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel, the company’s 100th hotel in China, and Four Points by Sheraton Beijing Haidian.
Back on the luxury front, the Sofitel Wanda Beijing opened in October 2007 as the brand’s 20th property in China and Asian flagship hotel. Along with 417 rooms, the hotel also features a signature restaurant, Le Pré Lenôtre, inspired by the Michelin-rated, three-star restaurant Le Pre Catelan in Paris. There are three additional dining experiences and two bars, in step with the brand’s commitment to exceptional food and beverage options.
Following the Sofitel’s Beijing opening, the 305-room Ritz-Carlton unveiled the Ritz-Carlton, Beijing adjacent to the Shin Kong Place shopping center, it offers club level accommodations with private elevator access. A multi-lingual concierge prints out boarding passes, makes restaurant reservations, and answers questions about business protocol in China.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will manage the Fairmont Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya, China scheduled to open in 2011 joining sister hotels in Singapore, Beijing (2008), Kunshan (2009), Macao (2010), Shanghai’s landmark Peace Hotel (2010) and Fairmont Manila, Philippines (2010).
The newly-formed company Swire Hotels opened its first property, the Opposite House, in Beijing in August. Located at The Village at Sanlitun, a new open-plan shopping, dining and entertainment destination developed by Swire Properties, the hotel has 99 studios, including nine suites, and a restaurant serving contemporary north Asian cuisine. Despite the economic downturn, another new luxury hotel group, Guoman Hotels is opening new properties in Asia in 2009, among them is a 460-room deluxe hotel as part of a mixed-use project in Beijing and a 360-room hotel in Shanghai.
The Aman at Summer Palace, Amanresorts’ new Beijing hotel, recently opened its doors. Steps from the east gate of the Summer Palace grounds, The Aman at Summer Palace is housed in a series of dwellings that date back over a century and were built for guests awaiting an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi. The hotel has four restaurants, a bar, library and boutique. The Aman Club - a large spa and pool and health center will be located underground in order to maintain the aesthetic of the surroundings. Also on the luxury front, Traders Upper East Hotel, Beijing opened in September as Shangri-La’s fifth hotel in the city. The 419-room hotel is home to three dining outlets and a spa and fitness center of more than 10,000 square feet, including an indoor heated pool.
Not to be outdone, the Hilton Hotels Corporation is also getting in on Beijing’s burgeoning hotel market as the company announced plans to unveil the 300-room Conrad Beijing at the end of 2010 and the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport this quarter, having already opened the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing and the Doubletree by Hilton Beijing this summer. The yet-to-open Conrad will showcase a rooftop bar, while Hilton’s airport property will offer 324-rooms in Terminal 3 and will showcase a piano bar as well as wine and cigar bars in addition to meeting space and fitness facilities. The 547-room Doubletree in the new Lar Valley International mixed-use business complex, will boast the brand’s signature Sweet Dreams by Doubletree bedding as well as executive floor rooms with an executive club lounge. Guests at the 225-room Hilton Beijing Wangfujing can view the works of local Beijing artists, scattered throughout the hotel, and a chance to dine at Vasco’s, one of the few Macanese restaurants in the city. “I look forward to continuing the success of Hilton Hotels in a city that is experiencing phenomenal growth,” says Nils-Arne Schroeder, general manager of Hilton Beijing Wangfujing.
For more information, contact the China National Tourist Office, 888-760-8218; E-mail ny@cnto.org in NY, or in Los Angeles, 800-670-2228; E-mail: la@cnto.org; www.cnto.org
June 2008 Feature
Streamlining the China Odyssey
China is forever linked to its ancient civilization and many of the world’s most revered treasures, such as The Great Wall, Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses and the Yangtze River. Today, travelers can also find spectacular architecture and towering skylines in Shanghai and Beijing (site of the Summer Olympics), as well as a wealth of luxury accommodations and sample regional cuisines.
Skyscraper “Envy”
In a case of skyscraper envy, officials in Shanghai are planning to build the world’s tallest building, despite the fact that they’re still working on their other big project, the Shanghai World Financial Centre (which was set to become the world’s tallest building at 492 meters when it was designed in 1997, but has since been dwarfed by other monoliths). The planned Shanghai Centre, not to be confused with the existing building of the same name, will stand almost 1,800 feet high – about 210 feet taller than the Taipei 101 Tower (at about 1,500 feet), currently the tallest building in Asia. Shanghai officials are counting on the fact that the Burj Dubai, also under development, will not meet its rumored 2,400 feet high target.
Shanghai’s Runway Success
Recently, Shanghai and Beijing welcomed new additions to their international airports. The third runway at Shanghai Pudong International Airport is able to handle the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane. With the addition, the airport can now accommodate up to 60 million passengers annually. Meanwhile, the sleek, Norman Foster-designed Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport opened its doors just three months ago.
Free for All
And finally, visitors are now able to traipse through state-run museums throughout China without having to dip into their wallets. In an attempt to expose more people to the wonders of history, the Chinese government has said that it will foot the museums’ maintenance bills. That won’t come cheap: China has more than 2,300 museums, which received some 150 million visitors in 2007.
Sita World Tours sells two outstanding programs to China: the 13-day Best of China with a Yangtze River Cruise and a 10-day program that includes a trip to Hong Kong.
The 13-day option, priced at $1,840 per person double for land arrangements only, tours the Forbidden City, Tiananen Square the Summer Palace in Beijing and the Great Wall outside the city enhanced with a Yangtze River Cruise. For the 10-day program, starting at $2,390, participants visit the famous travel icons of China in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai with the added sparkle of Hong Kong. Call 800-421-5643; www.sitatours.com
Goway’s Asia 2008/9 brochure features 20 countries, a mixture of the familiar and a range of new products. “This brochure is one of Goway’s most exciting Asia travel planners yet”, says Doug Vogl, Product and Marketing Manager for Asia. “We have expanded product for China; this is an amazing product offering for agents and their clients and many more travel ideas are available on the web as well.”
Goway’s most popular air-land inclusive tour to Asia, China Odyssey is a 12-day program offering travelers the classic sights of China in a comfortable itinerary that can easily be extended to vibrant Hong Kong (to 16 days) and starts at $2,859 per person double, air-inclusive from the west coast. Call 800-387-8850; www.Goway.com
General Tours’ Shangri-La Experience in China provides clients with their own private car, driver and expert guide every day for totally customized sightseeing and exploration in Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. Plus, return each night to the award winning luxury of five-star Shangri-La Hotels and exclusively arranged room upgrades and special amenities. The nine-day privately-guided tour including 14 meals, sightseeing and internal flights is priced from $2,879 per person for land arrangements only. Call 800-221-2216; www.generaltours.com
Jet About Asia is selling a 14-night independent vacation priced similarly from $2,879 per person double for its Best of China program that follows the footsteps of ancient emperors through China’s Imperial cities. Among the highlights are visits to the Great Wall of China, a walk through the Forbidden City, dining on classical Beijing Duck, a visit to the magnificent Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an, a chance to interact with the local tribes in Longsheng, a view of the dramatic formations along the Li River; the famous Jade Buddha Temple and the Yu Garden, a meeting with local villagers in Kunming and a lively acrobatic show.Call 800-348-8150; www.jetaboutasiavacations.com
Asia Journeys’ 10-day China Discovery hits the 4 most famous places in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin and Xi’an. Visit some of the most important cultural sites in the world: the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Terra-Cotta Warriors and the most beautiful scenery in the world near Guilin along with exciting Shanghai. The air-inclusive price starts from $3,547 per person double with airport taxes and fuel surcharges included. However, Asia Journeys’ executives recommend their 16-day Classic Yangtze River Cruise (downstream) for a one-time only trip to China. Participants visit Beijing, with its Great Wall and Forbidden City; Xi’an and it Warriors; Guilin and the Yangtze River with its incredible scenery; and exciting Shanghai and Hong Kong. The air-inclusive program is priced from $4,986 per person double with airport taxes and fuel surcharges included. Call 800-796-8503; www.asia-journeys.com
March 2008 Issue
China Reaches for the Moon
By Maria Lisella
Ancient Chinese culture is no stranger to long-term planning. So, while this year holds promise and is undoubtedly expected to be the biggest year for tourism to China, tourism executives are planning to reach the moon by 2020.
The glory of the Summer Olympics in Beijing (Aug. 8-24) is expected to not only attract unprecedented numbers of tourists to China, but will also shower other areas in the region, too. During the Olympics, the Autonomous Region of Tibet is hoping to catch on fire when the Olympic torch reaches Mt. Qomolangma in May 2008. Right behind the Olympics is a natural phenomenon that could keep China and some of its neighbors in the special-interest spotlight when China and the South Pacific experience a total eclipse of the sun on July 22, 2009; tours to see it are reportedly selling out almost as soon as they’re announced.
Air Access
Access to China has never been easier as it seems new service is announced daily. Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved four new routes for 2009: American Airlines between Chicago and Beijing, Continental between New York / Newark and Shanghai, Northwest between Detroit and Shanghai and US Airways between Philadelphia and Beijing.
Further, paper airline tickets will soon be phased out of the domestic market after the International Air Transport Association stopped offering paper tickets for international routes to Chinese sales agencies in November, 2007. By the end of 2008, China is expected to become the first country to use only electronic air tickets on both domestic and international routes around the end of this year.
E-tickets accounted for 98 percent of all tickets sold on domestic routes on Ctrip.com, one of China’s largest Web-based travel agencies, and about 50 percent of international flights, according to a report that appeared recently in the Shanghai Daily.
IATA’s plan is to move toward all airlines around the world to stop using paper tickets by June 1, 2008, which would ostensibly save about $2.5 billion annually. IATA launched its drive for e-ticketing more than three years ago and already about 84 percent of travelers on IATA carriers fly without paper tickets.
Rail Rides in China
Right after the Summer Olympics 2008, a new luxury train operator will begin year-round services in China. Tangula Luxury Trains will offer passengers exclusive rail journeys to remote regions of China with three trains carrying a total of 96 guests each. The northerm route traverses the Tibetan plateau from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet (four nights). The southern route travels from Beijing to Lijiang, Yunna (four nights), exploring the scenery of Guangxi and Yunnan provinces. The remaining routes (three nights) go in the reverse direction on both routes.
New Attractions in an Ancient City
Currently about 100 miles of the Great Wall in Beijing is open to visitors, including the famous Juyongguan Pass and the Badaling, Simatai and Mutianyu sections of the Great Wall but millions are being spent to refurbish four scenic spots and to add six more.
As if this spectacular sight were not enough, by 2009 visitors will not only Climb the Great Wall, but will Fly the Great Wheel. Higher than both the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer, the Beijing Great Wheel, which opens in March, will tower 208 meters (682 ft) when finished in 2009. By then, it will be the highest and longest observation wheel in the world with 48 air-conditioned observation capsules, and on a good day even the Great Wall is expected to be visible from the wheel.
China’s Waterways
Victoria Cruises has refurbished the Victoria Empress this winter and will resume sailing this month. The multi-million-dollar refurbishment includes 99 refurbished cabins; the Grand Lobby located on the first floor of the ship now contains the front desk concierge, foreign exchange services, the shopping gallery; and a newly constructed Dynasty Dining Room with seating capacity for 198 passengers has been added; and A la carte dining services located in the multifunction room on the fourth deck.
“Every few years, we take the time to refresh and enhance our ships so everything remains top quality and impressive to our guests,” said Larry Greenman, for Victoria Cruises.
By 2009, the company will grow its fleet to eight vessels with the introduction of the new Victoria Jenna in April 2009. When she edges out of port on April 26, 2009, she will be the largest and most luxurious vessel plying Yangtze waters. The Victoria Jenna will sail the highly-acclaimed Three Gorges Highlights program, both upstream and downstream between Chongqing and Yichang, as well the round-trip Three Gorges Explorer itinerary sailing Chongqing – Yichang – Chongqing. The 2009 sailing dates for all eight ships are available online.
Call 800-348-8084; E-mail contact@victoriacruises.com www.victoriacruises.com
Post-Olympic Trips to the Moon
Sirius Travels, a company specializing in eclipse tours, said their first tour filled up so fast they had to open another one and are thinking about a third. The best place to see the eclipse is parts of Asia, and China is one of the prime destinations. As for the Chinese Space Agency, it is even offering a one-month space tour called the Boomerang Eclipse Sun Tour. Plans are afoot to funnel these funds toward their space agency and to test some of their equipment for an official lunar landing in 2020.
Robert Glazier, Product and Marketing Special Projects Manager, at Goway Travel, reports his company is operating Olympic packages from August 7-26. During this period, all package prices are considerably higher than other periods and accommodations are strictly available at a choice of only three hotels.
Among the offerings are programs ranging from seven days, Tibet in Depth starting at $1,488 per person double to the 13-day Journey to the Roof of the World priced from $3,246 per person double, an itinerary that includes Tibet. Pricing covers land arrangements and flights from Beijing to other parts of China.
“Goway’s pre and post Olympic packages can be taken any time outside of the Olympic period as they contain very interesting itineraries which will appeal to the traveler looking beyond the usual basic China offerings,” he added.
Call 800-387-8850; E-mail info@goway.com; www.goway.com
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is offering four-night “Pre-Olympic Vacation” packages at its four Beijing properties through June 30.
All four packages feature visits to Olympic sites such as the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Highlights of the “Art and Sport” package include a Peking Opera School tour, dinner at the late Peking Opera Master Mei Lanfang’s private mansion and a tour of the renowned 798 Art District, a hub of Chinese contemporary art. Guests will also visit the Beijing Sport School, where they can watch China’s future Olympic medalists train.
The four packages range from $493 at the China World Hotel, Beijing; to $3,082 at the The Kerry Centre Hotel; $2,808 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing; and $2,534 at Traders Hotel, Beijing. Visit www.shangri-la.com
China Travel Mart
Travel trade professionals interested in attending the upcoming China International Travel Mart scheduled for November 20 (Thursday) to November 23 (Sunday), to take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, should contact the China National Tourist Offices in the U.S.
Call in New York, 888-760-8218; fax: 212-760-8809; E-mail: ny@cnto.org or, in Los Angeles, 800-670-2228; fax: 818-545-7506; E-mail: la@cnto.org
November 2007 Feature
China Rides the big tourism wave
By Maria Lisella
With the same energy, drive and sheer population weight that has made China an economic power, China is fast becoming a considerable force in the tourism industry.
Not only does China have one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, it also ranks third in the world, behind Spain and Italy, for the greatest number of World Heritage Sites. Hardly surprising, North America now accounts for two million of China’s annual visitors, representing a growth rate of up to 20% in recent years; worldwide, last year, China received some 22 million visitors, tallying an increase of nearly 10 percent over the previous year. The grand total from revenue from travel was $115 billion, an increase of 16.3 percent.
Said Director Shan Zhong Zhu from the China National Tourist Office, “Our goal for 2007 is to reach 53.9 million overnights, which would be an eight percent rise with foreign travelers totaling 24.2 million, for a total increase of nine percent.”
China’s marquee cities of Beijing and Shanghai are really just part of the burgeoning developments that are moving with lightning speed across this ancient nation. Cities like Guangzhou in Southern China are racing fast to catch up in attracting business and investments.
Old Beijing is already the subject of retrospective photo exhibits depicting its narrow-alleyed neighborhoods or hutongs. Painted a nondescript gray, so as to not to compete with the Empirical colors of red and yellow of the Forbidden City, hutongs are fast disappearing as the city embarks on a colossal gentrification campaign.
Unprecedented Hotel Growth
Hotel growth in China has been propelled by the country’s rapidly growing economy, which has increased the amount of business and leisure travel. The World Travel & Tourism Council has predicted that China will become the second largest travel and tourism economy in the world by 2016. In addition, the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing are expected to bring hundreds of thousands of international visitors to China and attract additional worldwide interest in China as a travel destination.
One of Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel groups, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, opened its first hotel in China in 1984. Today, Shangri-La has nearly 10,000 of its over 24,000 rooms and 21 of its 50 properties in Mainland China. “China is one of the world’s fastest growing and most important economies. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, China has enormous potential for domestic tourism in addition to ever increasing inbound business and leisure travel,” said Shangri-La Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Giovanni Angelini.
Following the debut of its first hotel in Mainland China, the Shangri-La Hotel, Hangzhou, the company opened three properties in Beijing from 1986 to 1990. Dramatic expansion occurred in the latter half of the 1990s, when Shangri-La opened nine hotels in Mainland China from 1996 to 1999.
Guangzhou, once known as the “factory of the world,” welcomed its first international luxury hotel in February 2007. Located adjacent to the Guangzhou International Convention Centre, Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou boasts spectacular views of the Pearl River with landscaped gardens, eight restaurants and recently the addition of Shangri-La’s signature CHI, The Spa, many cuts above Guangzhou’s former gritty image.
The 395-room Shangri-La Hotel, Xian celebrates its opening with an introductory deluxe room rate of $128, including breakfast for two people, available through November 15, 2007. The hotel is the second Shangri-La to open in the historic city of Xian following Shangri-La Golden Flower Hotel, Xian, which has been managed by the group since 1993.
Later this year, Shangri La plans to open properties in Chengdu (capital of the Sichuan province), Shenzhen, Urumqi (SL’s first hotel in Western China), and in Inner Mongolia, one in Baotou and another in Hohhot among others. www.shangri-la.com
Both Sides of the River
Having already initiated the explosion of high-end hotels in the Pudong neighborhood in 1999 with the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Hyatt is now expanding westward across the Huangpu River with the opening of Hyatt on the Bund. As the newest member of the portfolio, the 631-room property places the Hyatt brand on both sides of the river.
Set on the city’s main artery, the hotel is at the northern end of the Bund offering distinctive views of this evolving metropolis. Often referred to as the hipper sister of Hong Kong and Beijing, there is no mistaking or missing Shanghai’s glitz and glamour. This is Hyatt’s seventh property on Mainland China.
Over the next three years, Hyatt plans to open 12 new hotels in Greater China including three Park Hyatt hotels, four Grand Hyatts and five Hyatt Regency hotels. www.hyatt.com
Beyond the Big Cities
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts just opened the InterContinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise, a mountain-side hideaway located about 200 miles north of the provincial capital of Chengdu. Formerly the Jiuzhai Paradise Holiday Resort, the re-branded hotel recently underwent $6 million in renovations and now features 1,020 rooms and suites, six restaurants, a full bar and 75,000 square-feet of meeting space. The resort’s leisure facilities have also been expanded and renovated, including a 100,000 square-foot spa, complete with an indoor swimming pool, whirlpools, sauna, steam bath, treatment rooms and a full gymnasium. www.intercontinental.com
Swiss-Dutch-based Golden Tulip entered the market with the four-star Golden Tulip Shanghai Riverside in concert with Shanghai Eastern Airline Hospitality Co.
At the opening, Hans Kennedie, president and C.E.O. of Golden Tulip Hospitality, said, “It is our goal to have a Chinese network of 200 hotels across the country in the medium to long term.” The most recent announcement of entry into China by a foreign hotel firm took place earlier this year when the Wyndham Hotel Group launched its brand in China with the opening of a new-build, 550-room, 26-floor luxury hotel in Xiamen, Fujian Province.
Steven A. Rudnitsky, Wyndham Hotel Group president and CEO, said, “Our upscale Wyndham brand will ensure that we are represented in China’s major segments along with our upper-midscale Ramada hotels, upscale Days Inn and Howard Johnson hotels and upper-economy Super 8 brand.”
With 84 hotels or 14,500 rooms under four brand banners, the Wyndham Hotel Group is one of the largest U.S.-based hotel companies in China; its Super 8 brand, first introduced to China in 2004, has grown to 49 hotels for about 4,700 rooms, and Wyndham will develop 67 more hotels. www.wyndhamworldwide.com
Government authorities say taxi drivers will soon be required to master a modicum of English. Until then, the China World Hotel in Beijing offers travelers “cheat sheets” on small business cards listing the most visited sites in English and Chinese so taxi drivers can sweep guests to their destinations without many questions.
For information, contact the China National Tourist Office, 350 Fifth Ave., New York; call 212-760-8218; fax 212-760-8809; E-mail info@cnto.org; www.discoverchinaforever.com