If you are a hotel asset manager and investor representative working with owners and operators to improve their hotel room occupancies, now is the time to target both business and leisure guests coming from mainland China. Unlike the United States, the Chinese economy has been growing almost 10% per year and there is a strong appetite to travel outside the country with those domestic incomes on the rise. Published yesterday in the New York Times, here are some excerpts with four reasons why: “Earlier this year, some 14,000 members of Amway China arrived in waves of 2,800 each for a series of meetings in Anaheim, Calif. — just one example, travel industry professionals say, of a growing number of Chinese business travelers flocking to the United States to meet with potential customers, study American business practices and attend conferences and trade shows.” “In fiscal year 2010, the State Department issued nearly half a million visas to mainland-born Chinese nationals coming to the United States either for business or for a combination of business and pleasure, despite what can be an expensive, months-long process to obtain a visa. The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries said it expected a 232 percent increase in Chinese visitors over the next five years.” “Hotel companies are also betting that China’s growing domestic travel industry will increase bookings in the United States. “We’re expanding within China, so the recognition of the Hilton name was becoming increasingly strong,” said Andrew Flack, vice president of global brand marketing for Hilton Hotels & Resorts.” Investors, owners and your hotel asset manager can read the full story here. Another example of an international hotel management company building name recognition in China is Hyatt. Other ideas on building Chinese room nights and foodservice by our hotel restaurant management consultant group is available at this blog. Or, if you are an owner or hotel asset manager and have unique ways in which you are working to attract more business from China. Please share it here
