Best Western International is ramping up its presence in China as the country's growing middle class takes more leisure trips. Best Western China CEO William Dong said the hotel company plans to open 13 hotels now through the end of 2015 in second- and third-tier Chinese cities, as leisure travelers have become the hotel chain's primary customer. Currently it has 39 hotels in China.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that its world-renowned Westin brand has reached the 200th hotel milestone with the opening of The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square in China. Westin will follow this growth milestone with the opening of three more hotels in China: The Westin Zhujiajian Resort in Zhoushan, The Westin Blue Bay Resort in Qingshui Bay, Hainan and The Westin Haikou in Hainan. Starwood expects to open a total of nine new Westin hotels worldwide in 2014 and nearly another 30 by the end of 2016, with almost half of those new hotels in Asia Pacific, the brand's fastest growing region.
CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has crossed its milestone of having 35,000 apartment units globally as it steps up its growth in China by securing contracts to manage four more properties with over 900 apartment units in Taiyuan, Beijing, Shanghai and Dalian.
On the heels of the International Luxury Travel Market in Shanghai, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that its luxury portfolio, comprised of the St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels brands, will open four new hotels in China by the end of 2014, including The St. Regis Chengdu; The Azure Qiantang, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hangzhou; The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian; and W Beijing - Chang'an.
For decades, China was referred to as the "sleeping giant." This reference is to the great potential impact of the country, its vast population, and its economy, but also to the fact that this potential was largely unrealized for hundreds of years. Well, the sleeping giant is awake! And the world financial press if now full of analysts following China and the international ramifications of its every action on the world economy.
Dorsett Hospitality International is pleased to announce the appointment of Adeline Sang, as the General Manager for Lushan Resort located in Wenquan Zhen, Xingzi Xian, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, China. Adeline’s achievements in the industry include the successful openings of Sheraton Utama hotel, Brunei in Malaysia; The Sheraton Towers Hotel, Singapore; The Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, Queensland; The Ritz Carlton, Sydney; Sun International – The Palace of the Lost City, Africa; Mulia Hotel Senayan, Jakarta a very successful independently owned and managed property; and Radisson Water Garden, Dhaka – Carlson Group which had a very successful and profitable operation from day of opening under her dynamic leadership. Adeline has over 32 years of extensive operational and management capabilities in the hotel industry and has worked with some of the best hotel groups around the world. Apart from her in-depth expertise and knowledge in F & B, Adeline is also known for her drive-for-results skill set. She comes on board fresh from her recent appointment with Karratha International Hotel, a hospitality project in Western Australia.
Jin Jiang International Hotels continues to further expand its portfolio across China and on 28 May celebrated the opening of its newest property, Jiuhua Jin Jiang International Hotel, located in the prefecture level city of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, in the eastern region of China.
John joined Lanson Place in 2008 and was formerly the Regional General Manager of Beijing and Shanghai. In his new role, John will be responsible for all aspects of pre-opening and operating properties in China, he will also support the team in business development in China.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® continues its assertive global expansion with the announcement of Rosewood Guangzhou scheduled to open in 2017, joining upcoming Asia sister properties in Beijing (Summer 2014), Phnom Penh, Phuket, Bali, Bangkok, Jakarta and Sanya.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced unprecedented growth momentum for Element Hotels, fueled by strong demand for the stylish, eco-wise brand, with its portfolio set to double in the next two years. On track to open its 15th hotel later this year, Element has another 15 hotels slated to open by the end of 2017. With four new hotels opening in 2014, Element will expand outside of North America for the first time ever with the opening of Element Frankfurt Airport in September. In 2015, the launch of Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town will mark another milestone for Starwood, making China the only market outside of the United States where Starwood will operate all nine of its lifestyle brands.
CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has entered into a strategic alliance with Beijing Vanke Co., Ltd. (Beijing Vanke), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanke China Co., Ltd. (Vanke), to drive Ascott's expansion plans in China. Vanke is one of the largest property developers in the country. Beijing Vanke will leverage its significant presence and expertise to develop serviced residences in China. Ascott will in turn provide its leading capabilities in managing award-winning serviced residences.
An estimate of 97 million Chinese citizens travelled abroad in 2013, according to data from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), 14 million more than the previous year. The market of outbound Chinese Travellers is already massive and growing. So how should hospitality businesses capitalise on this growing market? HotelREZ has put together a quick list of the dos and don'ts, amenities and services hotels should consider in order to please their Chinese guests.
Didier Le Calvez, CEO of luxury Paris hotel Hôtel Le Bristol, discusses catering to Chinese tastes with Angie Lau on Bloomberg Television's "First Up." (Source: Bloomberg)
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Asia Pacific's first- ever Hyatt Place hotel in the Dongmen district of Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city bordering Hong Kong. Hyatt Place Shenzhen Dongmen marks the official arrival of the Hyatt Place brand in China, a brand that has been designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers by offering an innovative service concept, modern design and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings.
New lifestyle hospitality brand Himalayas Hotels & Communities, owned and managed by China's Zendai Group, introduces its second lifestyle hotel, Himalayas Nantong Hotel, which is set to open in May 2014. The hotel will follow the debut of the world's first Himalayas Hotel in Qingdao this month. These two hotels mark a strong beginning for the homegrown hospitality brand that blends a contemporary vision and traditional Chinese culture within integrated urban communities.
Hakan Ozel has appointed been appointed general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel Tianjin, which is due to open this summer. Ozel has 20 years of hospitality experience and has been with Shangri-La for more than eight years. Prior to this appointment he was resident manager at Shangri-La Beijing.
The St. Regis Chengdu today announces it is set to unveil in July 2014. Following the brand's legacy and bespoke luxury, the hotel will be the 32nd St. Regis hotel worldwide, and the sixth in the Greater China region, following recent landmark openings in Tianjin, Sanya, Lhasa, and Shenzhen.
Dominic Brennan will report to Bruce McKenzie, senior vice president, Operations - Greater China and Mongolia. Dominic has a rich experience in hotel management, including commercial, operational, sales and marketing strategies, and revenue management. Mr. Bruce McKenzie said, “Working in the hotels for 37 years, Dominic Brannan will bring his rich experience and the unique perspective to Hilton Xi’an. He has worked in many international hotel brands around the world, renowned for quality and service. We wish that he would lead Hilton Xi’an from good to great.”
You may have noticed that Chinese travelers are everywhere. Almost 100 million Chinese traveled out of China in 2013, and this number is expected to reach 200 million by 2018. These staggering figures can be attributed to China's growing middle class, more annual leave, easier visa applications to more countries and increased air travel routes to overseas destinations. A lot more can be done to understand and court this fast-growing demographic. By Martin Rinck. Martin Rinck is the President, Asia Pacific for Hilton Worldwide.
The Luxury Collection, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), announces that the famed European-inspired castle overlooking Dalian's Xinghai Bay is undergoing a transformation to become The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian. Set to open in 2014, The Castle Hotel will join the legendary Astor Hotel in Tianjin, Twelve at Hengshan and The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai, and The Royal Begonia Resort in Sanya, as an enchanting and iconic landmark along the Dalian coast in Northern China.