Sheraton Hong Kong expects rising numbers of Southeast Asians and Koreans to make up for a decline in the number of Japanese guests in coming years.
Sales and marketing director Connie Wong Lei-wai said Sheraton foresaw a Japanese downturn this year and had kicked-off a marketing strategy aimed at attracting Malaysian, Indonesian and South Korean guests.
She said about 40 per cent of rooms were occupied last year by Japanese guests.
'We are confident that the Southeast Asian guests will replenish the declining Japanese market in coming years,' she said.
General manager Ananda Arawwawela said the occupancy rate of the hotel, effectively controlled by Hutchison Whampoa, would be above 80 per cent this year.
For the two weeks straddling the handover, the rate would be higher than 95 per cent, he said.