The hotel computer is now an essential tool

The word ‘informatization’ exists in English in no dictionary consulted. It does exist in Russia and some of the Baltic countries. It is probably a management-speak way of saying information.

A group of figures in the statistics report 2008 China Hotel Industry Study said: the single-room profit ratio of five-star hotels with three management models, namely international brand, domestic brand and self-management, is 1:0.86:0.77. Frightening figures.

Han Ming, president of China Hotel Association, expressed that the application level of hotel informatization technology was a key reason for this difference. The application level of hotel informatization technology in China has a great impact on hotel operation.

From 2000 to the end of 2006, the number of star-hotel in China increased from 6,029 to 12,751, with an annual rate of increase of 15.3%. Up to 2007, there were 361 five-star hotels and 1631 four-star hotels.
It is estimated that from 2006 to 2010, the investment in the hotel industry of China will be RMB340 billion.

At which point the more the operation is stream-lined and computerized the greater the profit.
Informatization technology has also become an important way to save energy and reduce consumption.
Much more HERE.
Source: CE.com

Home Inn Nanjing

Chinese budget chain Home Inns & Hotels Management said third quarter net profit rose to $4.34 million with the gain supported by expansion.

The company gave no comparative data but based on figures from last year’s third quarter financial report, net profit for the third quarter of 2008 rose about 27%.

Home Inns added that its mature hotels continued to provide stable revenues.

It had opened 148 new hotels as of the end of September, with a target of 200 for 2008.

Revenue increased 98.0% to $77.7 million in the third
quarter, including revenue of $5.7 million from the
Top Star hotel chain which the company acquired
last November.

The company said revenue in the fourth quarter is expected to come in at between $78.8 million and $81.7 million.
Source: Forbes

A spacious Aloft room

Aloft hotels announce the opening of Aloft Beijing, Haidian. The 186 room, new-build hotel owned by Yong Tai Real Estate is the first Aloft in Asia Pacific and the first Aloft to open outside North America.

The Aloft Beijing, Haidian is in line with the brand’s global expansion with more than 500 hotels scheduled to open the next five years. The Aloft Beijing, Haidian is the first of nine Alofts currently in development in Asia Pacific, and the first of two listed to open in China in the next two years.

Why is it called Aloft?

Because the signature of the hotels are rooms with a loft-inspired design which makes the room feel much roomier.

Aloft Beijing, Haidian is located in the Zhongguancun Science Park near the 4th Ring Road. Surrounded by numerous high-tech businesses, research centers and leading universities, the hotel is just minutes from Asia Pacific’s largest shopping arcade, the Golden Resources Shopping Mall.

Guest rooms feature the brand’s signature nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows. Each Aloft room is also a combination of high-tech office and entertainment center equipped with wireless internet access and a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry all linked to a 42″ flat-panel, HDTV-ready television.
Source: MarketWatch

An unrealistic picture of Yangshuo but so beautiful, so charming, so China

Yangshuo county in Guangxi, China is attracting an increasing number of tourists. While it has traditionally been overshadowed by attractions such as the scenic Guilin city, Yangshuo attracted over five million visitors last year.

This new tourism destination brought in about S$260 million in 2007, up 45% from 2006.

A show, which has been choreographed by director Zhang Yimou, and which is performed ‘live’ everyday, has been drawing the crowds to Yangshuo.

Steven Yin, rooms director, Yangshuo Tangrenjie Hotel, explained: ‘At night, after they watch the show, many will choose to stay overnight in Yangshuo. So that has helped to boost the hotel industry.

‘Previously, the tourists will just sail along the Li River and shop on West Street before returning to Guilin.’

There are over 380 hotels in Yangshuo to cater to the growing number of local and foreign tourists.
Source: Channel NewsAsia

Macau's leader, Edmund Ho

Macau has announced measures to ease the public tax burden and boost fiscal spending to kick-start the enclave’s growth, as Chinese travel curbs and the financial crisis cool the gaming haven’s three-year boom.

Macau’s leader Edmund Ho said he would continue to cut taxes on salaries by 25 percent and raise the tax exemption limit by 26% from 95,000 patacas ($11,900) to 120,000 patacas, given the bleak economic outlook.

This and other tax reduction measures would mean reduced taxation revenue of 1.1 billion patacas, he said.

Ho said the Macau government would spend 10.2 billion patacas on public investment in the coming year, while offering more financial assistance
to small and medium-sized enterprises, electricity and rental subsidies,
and soon propose lowering of stamp duties for property purchases
from three to one percent.

‘(Macau will) actively develop the economy and protect people’s livelihood, to collectively tide over the relative difficulties together,’ Ho told Macau legislators.
More HERE.
Source: Forbes

Where have all the travelers gone?

Two separate reports compare September travel numbers with the downturn that accompanied the SARS scare of 2003.

The International Air Transport Association put out a strongly worded press release headlined ‘Alarming Drop for September International Traffic.’

Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO  said, ‘The deterioration in traffic is alarmingly fast-paced and widespread. We have not seen such a decline in passenger traffic since SARS in 2003.’

Another analysis — from business consultant Deloitte — this one from the British hotel industry, also references the SARS era, saying ‘September was the worst month since August 2003 when SARS scares reduced travel.’
More HERE.
Source: Wall Street Journal

Intercontinental Hotels Group Chief Executive Andrew Cosslett and the new Holiday Inn image

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a deal with Shimao Group to open six new hotels under three brands in four cities in China by 2013.

The hotels will carry the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts brands.

The six new hotels are: InterContinental Beijing City Centre, (to open in 2012 with 330 rooms), InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (to open in 2013 with 380 rooms), InterContinental Fuzhou (to open in 2013 with 360 rooms).

Then there is Crowne Plaza Shaoxing (to open in 2013 with 460 rooms), Holiday Inn, also in Shaoxing (to open in 2012 with 310 rooms) and Holiday Inn Mudanjiang (to open in 2012 with 260 rooms.)
Source: Hospitality India

Farmers creating art in China helping tourism

A program that helps farmers brush up on painting skills is becoming a tourist attraction.

A group of farmers-turned-artists in Jinshan county is bringing prominence to folk art. Home to 15 households, the Jinshan village is located 80 kilometres from downtown Shanghai.

There are some 70 such communities dotted across China as local governments are keen to set up these groups to bring in tourism dollars.

In 2006, one of the painting villages got US$1.2 million to help peasant painters set up shop.

Hu Bo Fang, vice general manager, Shanghai Fengjing Historical Town Tourist Developing Company, said: ‘In 2006, we invited them to live in the village for free. We did not charge them or take a commission from their sales of artwork.

‘We did not make a profit from it. But after half a year, when sales got better and tourists started to visit, we started to charge them rent.’
More HERE.
Source: Channel News Asia

Fuzhou Tai Jiang

China Yida, a leading media and tourism management company, will work with the Yongtai County Government to develop the largest leisure and tourism destination in the city of Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province. China

Yida has submitted the proposed transaction to the local government for approval and expects to reach a definitive agreement by the end of 2008.

It has the potential to become a world-class resort attracting visitors from neighboring coastal areas such as Xiamen, Quanzhou and Putian, as well as from other regions of China. In addition, the cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen are both popular destinations for business functions and conferences.

The leisure and tourism destination is located near the capital city of Fuzhou in Yongtai County and the entire scenic site has a total area of 48 square kilometers.
More HERE.
Source: PR NewsWire

The edge of the golf course at Sanya Bay

Raffles Hotels & Resorts will manage a new resort at Qingshui Bay in Sanya, China’s rapidly growing resort destination.

Raffles Sanya, Qingshui Bay, will have 250 guestrooms, a beach-front location and offer residents direct access to an adjacent championship golf course.

The resort will be developed by Hong Kong-listed Agile Property Holdings.

The resort be distinguished by the luxury of space and its commanding views of the bay.

All rooms are generously sized at 70 square meters, and are laid out in a stepped configuration to ensure that all residents have a view of the clear waters for which Qingshui Bay is renowned.
More HERE
Source: HotelsMag