WILLIAM LIN HAS seen it all at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou. He has been working there for the 20 years it has existed, starting in the 'rank-and-file' and working up to the top as general manager. But the best is yet to come.
'We will revamp ourselves completely,' he said, describing the enormous hotel's plans for the future. 'We must, to face the coming competition of the next three to five years.'
The competition is at least five international-brand luxury chains: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-La, Sheraton and Marriott, which will open new hotels in Guangzhou within the next three years.
The Garden has not been sitting still, naturally. It has spent an average of 40 million yuan annually on renovations for the past few years. Emphasis has been placed on meeting facilities, with 20 million yuan spent on a gigantic convention hall and the recent upgrade of all of the meeting rooms.
Next up, Mr Lin said, were the podium-level facilities. Plans include fitting out a bigger fitness centre, renovating the swimming pool and bringing in an international group to establish a luxurious spa.
The hotel is already ahead of its older competitors, the White Swan and the China Hotel, in the size and scale of its renovation plan.
