Global hotel chain expands tailor-made service as it embraces Chinese tourists
The InterContinental Hotels Group rolls out scheme featuring Putonghua-speaking staff and Chinese TV channels as hotel brands worldwide compete for a greater share of the Chinese tourism pie
The InterContinental Hotels Group is expanding its hospitality services to draw more Chinese customers, as a tourist boom intensifies competition among leading hotel brands.
The global hotel chain’s tailor-made service – called “China Ready”, or “Zhou Dao” in Putonghua – was well received by Chinese tourists when a pilot programme was launched last month, the group’s CEO Richard Solomons said.
Hotels under the programme have Putonghua-speaking staff members manning their front desks, accept China UnionPay cards, feature Chinese television channels in their rooms, and offer Chinese cuisine and beverages as food options, among other things.
“It’s not about reinventing hospitality; it’s about making people feel comfortable. It makes a difference,” Solomons told the South China Morning Post.
The pilot programme covered about 100 hotels in cities around the world that are major holiday destinations for Chinese travellers. The group owns 10 hotel brands, including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and InterContinental.
Given the warm reception to the programme, Solomons said, the chain will expand the service to more than 200 hotels in cities worldwide by the end of the year.