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World Expo to boost hotel industry

By Tan Weiyun | November 16, 2009, Monday | Print Edition

SHANGHAI is expected to receive about 70 million visitors during World Expo 2010, creating a huge opportunity for the city's hotel industry.

It is estimated that budget hotels will raise room rates by 20 percent while luxury hotels will maintain prices or charge a slight increase.

The average five-star hotel will charge around 1,600 yuan (US$234) per night next May when the Expo opens, according to Ctrip. The online travel agency says four-star properties will charge 700 yuan per night. Both prices are similar to what was charged in May this year.

Pudong Shangri-La will keep its daily rates from 1,800 yuan to 2,000 yuan per night next May. The public relations manager of the Hyatt on the Bund says higher price is a trend, but exact prices will be adjusted based on occupancy during Expo 2010.

Shirley Xiao, public relations manager of Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, agrees that prices are rising. "We have to keep up with the market trend. There will be a small price rise, but we haven't decided how much yet," she says.

Other local hotels are saying that any change in rates will be minimal.

"Our rate won't change much and the price will remain stable for our long-term cooperative partners," says Vera Zhu, public relations manger of Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai, Daning, in Zhabei District.

Zhu admits the hotel's location - near the city center and far from the Expo site - might be a big reason for it. "But we will still have some special services to let our guests feel the Expo atmosphere in the hotel," she says.

The Four Points by Sheraton is going to prepare small gifts for its guests, such as notebooks, diary books, free tourist maps of the city, brochures of traffic routes between the Expo site and the hotel, among others. In addition, vehicle reservations and shuttle bus services will also be provided to the Expo.

Some luxury hotels plan to launch a series of promotions during the Expo, instead of raising prices.

Swissotel Grand Shanghai on Nanjing Road W. will offer a special deal for its guests who stay at the hotel between April 28 and October 31, 2010.

Its World Expo 2010 Shanghai Package includes a complimentary upgrade to the Executive Club Room. From now till March 31, guests who log on to its Website and book a Classic Room at the prevailing Best Available Rate for a minimum of two consecutive nights during the World Expo period can instantly enjoy a free upgrade to the Executive Club Room.

"We're also the only recommended hotel by the Shanghai Tourism Bureau and the World Expo Shanghai Committee," said Helen Song, the hotel's PR manager.

Early this month, Hanting Inns and Hotels, one of the country's largest budget hotel groups, announced it will raise prices at all its hotels and inns in Shanghai by 15 percent during the World Expo. It was the first hotel group to announce higher rates during the Expo period. The average price will rise to around 200 yuan per night, a 10 to 15 percent jump.

The inns and hotels in the Expo area and those with convenient transport to the Expo will increase rates the most - expect a 20 to 30 percent increase.

Shanghai-based Jinjiang Inns, another budget hotel chain, plans to lift its rates by 20 percent, though the exact price hasn't been announced.

Experts estimate that large crowds of visitors to Shanghai next May will also boost the hotel business in nearby cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, as well as Suzhou and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. Prices and occupancy rates are also expected to jump in hotels in these cities.

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