Business travellers come to Hong Kong to work: the leisurely pace of a sight-seeing tourist is not for them. Therefore, the hotel in which they stay must be efficient and provide immediate access to a wide range of facilities and services. New World Harbour View Hong Kong, next to the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), is the first hotel in Asia to equip all of its 862 guest rooms with InnFax machines. 'Our location and facilities are of the utmost importance in our role as a commercial hotel,' said Belinda Franz, the hotel's public relations officer. 'We emphasise our strategic sit in North Wan Chai in our marketing.' At Hotel Furama Hong Kong, a business traveller's package, priced from $2,500 to $3,500, has been introduced. Benefits include daily American breakfast, round trip transfer to and from the airport, airport tax, daily laundry and valet service (up to five pieces per day per person), no surcharge on calling card calls and free local calls. In Tsim Sha Tsui, The Hong Kong Hotel has a 24-hour business centre which assists executives with a range of secretarial services. In the rooms, a separate fax/modem line has been installed for those working from their laptops. A personal voice message service allows guests to check messages from outside the hotel. Apart from hotels, serviced apartments provide another option for business travellers. Managed by The Peninsula Group, the Repulse Bay Residential Complex comprises four towers with flats ranging in size from 1,585 square feet to 5,868 sq ft. All apartments have the latest audio/visual equipment, satellite TV, IDD phone, electronic safes and full kitchen facilities. 'We try to make busy business executives' lives as comfortable as possible at our home away from home,' said John Barnes, general manager of The Repulse Bay Company. 'In attracting business travellers for stays from one month onwards, our tranquil resort location, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, allows them to really relax,' Mr Barnes said.
