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Luxury hotels flock to Hangzhou

By Tan Weiyun | May 6, 2009, Wednesday | Print Edition

HANGZHOU has become a competitive battlefield for the luxury hotel industry. The capital of Zhejiang Province is attracting flocks of international hotel chains ready to try for a slice of the city's huge tourism market. Tan Weiyun checks in.

Famous as a tourist destination with its beautiful setting and rich cultural heritage, Hangzhou, now named as one of "China's Best Tourism City," has become a competitive battlefield for the luxury hotel industry.

The capital of Zhejiang Province is attracting flocks of international hotel chains ready to try for a slice of the city's huge tourism market.

"Hangzhou has a good balance of leisure and business," said Michael Malik, chairman of the Shanghai Business Council Marriott International. "We don't think it is too late for us to enter the market. It is just about the right time as the market is maturing."

The hotel giant has two major two projects - the Courtyard by Marriott Hangzhou City Center and the JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou. The Courtyard will be open by the end of this year and the other hotel by the end of next year. It is the first time the Marriott group has set foot in the scenic city.

Located in Wulin, Hangzhou's business center, the 320-room JW Marriott and the 340-room Courtyard by Marriott Hangzhou City Center will offer travelers an even wider selection of accommodation.

As Marriott's luxury hotel brand, the JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou will provide a variety of dining options, including a casual all-day restaurant, a Chinese restaurant with 10 private dining rooms, a specialty restaurant with three private dining rooms and a lobby lounge and entertainment bar.

Marriott's Courtyard hotels are designed for businessmen and upmarket travelers. The Courtyard by Marriott Hangzhou City Center will have an executive floor and lounge, a business center and a gift shop. Guests of the Courtyard will have access to the JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou's conference rooms, restaurants and lounges, health club and spa.

Though the global economic crisis has cast a shadow over the industry, Marriot is sticking to its strategy in China with many other properties under construction.

Currently there are 17 hotels being built around the country, including five in Shanghai and others in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Tianjin and Macau.

"Though these are difficult times, we're continuing to do a good job," the chairman said. "To take good care of our customers, create value and deliver great service for them is our philosophy."

Another leading hotel chain, InterContinental Hotels Group, plunged into Hangzhou's tourism market early this year.

Last month the group opened the four-star Holiday Inn Hangzhou in the city's Thousand Island Lake area, providing conference facilities and a large banquet hall, broadband Internet access, video conferencing facilities and on-site technical support.

A few months earlier, the Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Grand Canal and Holiday Inn Express Grand Canal were opened close to the city's CBD and downtown.

The Crowne Plaza has 331 rooms including 106 executive rooms and suites equipped with ergonomically designed work areas, broadband Internet access, full-size individual baths and 37-inch flat screen LCD televisions.

It's business services include tailor-made conference programs. All six conference rooms and the ballroom have natural light and are designed to accommodate between 20 and 500 people and offer audio-visual systems, broadband Internet access and LCD projectors.

The newly opened Holiday Inn Express Hangzhou Grand Canal is 15 minutes' drive to the West Lake on the elevated highway and is tailored for thrifty tourists who still care about quality.

"Hangzhou has become an important market for us. It has its unique advantages," said Li Jing, the director of sales and marketing of Crowne Plaza. "Hangzhou is not only a long-famed tourist destination, but also a potential market for the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) close to the commercial center in Shanghai."

Another IHG hotel is scheduled to open in Hangzhou's Binjiang area at the end of this year.

The accommodation market in Hangzhou has become more heated as other hotels open. After a soft opening last December, the Oakwood Residence Hangzhou will have a grand opening in second half of this year.

Located on Jiaogong Road, and linked to the Europe America Center complex at the prime Yellow Dragon commercial circle, this 166-residence residency block claims to be the city's first international serviced apartments offering studios, one, two or three bedroom options and a kaleidoscope of facilities and services.

It might be luxurious for tourists but behind the glamor there is a fierce battle for customers going on around the picturesque West Lake and its neighboring landmarks.

Hangzhou


 

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