HONG Kong has overtaken India to become Britain's second largest tourist market in Asia after Japan, and visitors from the territory are among the highest spenders at an average of GBP720 per person (about HK$8,200).
Visits from Hong Kong grew 18 per cent last year to 132,000 and tourism from mainland China doubled to 20,000, newly-released figures show.
ITT Sheraton has launched a Silk Road winter package until March 31 next year. It includes a superior room for double or single occupancy, buffet breakfast, airport transfers and check-out at 4pm.
Room rates vary from US$70 per night to US$139 and the package covers Sheratin hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guilin and Xian.
WHERE else would you see ducks waddling through your hotel lobby with the full approval of guests and management, but America? The Peabody Orlando hotel has a March of the Ducks daily. The birds live in a US$100,000 'Royal Duck Palace' that the public can visit and pass from the elevator through the lobby and into the hotel fountain for a swim twice a day.
Continuing the theme, the hotel has an award-winning restaurant named Dux, a pizza service called Papa Duck's and a gathering area called Mallards. There is no duck on the menu . . .
A SPLENDID China will open in the Orlando area of Florida this month. It occupies a 76-acre site and features 60 replicas of Chinese landmarks as well as entertainment, dining and shopping.