Shanghai
IF CHANGE IS good, then the luxury hotel industry in Shanghai will reap the benefits. Room rates are rising, more people are visiting, world-class events are increasing and the city's economy continues to lead China's surge.
Four- and five-star properties say occupancy rates have been steady this year, averaging 80 per cent or above. While that may indicate high-end hotels can accommodate travellers at short notice, do not count on it.
William Hall, chairman of International Branded Hotels Shanghai, said getting a room depended on the timing of the visit. The company represented more than 10,000 rooms.
'Shanghai is like any modern city,' said Mr Hall, who is also general manager of Equatorial Hotel Shanghai. 'There will always be peaks and troughs, based on what is happening. If you arrive during Formula One week, of course it's going to be more difficult to find a room if you haven't booked well in advance.'
Wong Wyeleng, the Westin Shanghai's director of marketing and communications, said demand for the top five-star hotels exceeded supply at times (March to May and September through November), forcing some visitors to seek accommodation at lower-rated hotels.
Meanwhile, insiders said the city's strong growth would absorb additional rooms without causing a glut. The Regent Shanghai, Crowne Plaza Pudong Shanghai and Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World opened this year. Pudong Shangri-La added 375 rooms with its Tower 2 extension. Another Shangri-La is scheduled to open in Jingan district in 2008.