Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Ctrip sets up its own hotel group brand

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone


On 9 October 2018, ITB China and ITB Asia exhibitor Ctrip officially announced the establishment of Licheng Hotel Group. According to reports, Licheng Hotel Group has formed a “alliance” by high-star hotels in first- and second-tier cities across the country, and leveraged the big data analysis and services of Ctrip Group to strengthen the accommodation market. 

This year, there will be about 50 high-star hotels joining the “Licheng Hotel Group”, which are located in first-tier cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. According to industry insiders, the purpose of Ctrip setting up its own hotel group is to leverage on the strengths of individual hotels, so that brand hotels with weak brands have brand support. At the same time, through the background data, these hotels are more accurately positioned to help them compete in the accommodation industry. 

According to Li Cheng, COO Sun Gang, Licheng Hotel will subdivide the hotel into three major brands according to different service positions, namely “Licheng Huating Hotel”, which locates ultra-high-end hotel brands, and “Lize”, which is positioned as a high-end full-service hotel brand. "Hotel" and positioning of high-end specialty hotel brand "Li Cheng Rui Xuan Hotel". According to the current plan of Licheng Hotel, the number of franchise hotels will exceed 50 at the end of this year, reaching 250 next year and reaching more than 500 in the following year.

It is worth noting that Licheng can bring replicable systematic management, systematic marketing experience and modular tools to high-star single hotels and hotel groups to help Licheng's partners quickly expand in market size and competition.

In recent years, the competition in the hotel industry market has become increasingly fierce, and hotel branding has become more and more obvious. On the one hand, budget hotels are constantly upgrading, diverting the flow of customers in the mid-end market. On the other hand, the brand grouping of high-end hotels is gradually increasing. Insiders pointed out that compared to single-hotels, hotel group management can not only form a brand effect, but also form group management, intensive procurement, and save hotel expenses.

A hotel group management said that in the current domestic high-end hotel market, domestic brand groups account for a relatively low proportion, mainstream high-end hotel brands are foreign brands, and due to the existence of a large number of domestic single hotels, for domestic high-end hotels, hotels Branding still has a lot of room for growth.

Insiders pointed out that Ctrip's move to establish a hotel brand is to enter the hotel industry through the background data and strengthen its control of hotel resources. Besides Ctrip,  other OTAs such as Alibaba and Shiji  are interested to enter the hotel industry too. There will be more competition in the hotel reservation market.

Friday, October 5, 2018

The new Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel opens in Haikou Airport City

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone




The new Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel has finally opened, replacing the former HNA's Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel. It does not have an external sign indicating the airport hotel name. It is part of and linked to the gigantic integrated airport transportation, accommodation, duty-free shopping and dining complex known as Haikou Airport City which has high-speed railway link to Sanya and other parts of Hainan.



In order to reach the hotel, one needs to reach the second level of Haikou Aviation City, access through an inner pathway, a lift down to the basement and reach one level up.



Unlike the former HNA Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel, the new airport hotel does not provide HNA Group inflight magazine for reading. The hotel reception area which covers a lobby resting area however is larger than the previous premise. Here one can see the largest hotel collection of Haikou aircraft models.






The shower room is huge with a variety of toiletries  including shaver, shampoo, bath gel and sanitary kit. The bed is cosy.





The airport hotel does not have a business centre but it is as expensive as an Ibis hotel. The high price is due to the location of Haikou Aviation City, which is directly opposite the domestic airport terminal building. It is only at this airport hotel where one can see China passenger aircraft landing and departing at closer range than other airport hotels in China.



The new Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel is the best airport hotel for aircraft spotting in China. There is no necessity to inform the concierge that you want to take snapshots of aircraft landing and departing in this airport if you are the hotel guest.



The hotel provides complimentary organic breakfast to its guests. Its dining area is larger than the previous hotel location. Expect to pay room key deposit of 500 RMB if one does not have an on-line booking via Agoda, Ctrip or Trip.

It is recommended to stay in the new Haikou Meilan Airport Hotel at least once in a lifetime if there is an opportunity to do so. One will not regret.



Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Winner Inn to renovate its restaurant in 2019 canvasses for recommendations

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
              / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone



Winner Inn (as above), the oldest hotel of Bahan Township, Yangon, will renovate its restaurant in 2019. The renovated restaurant will be located beside its lobby. The hotel is canvassing for suggestions to improve the dining atmosphere for its guests.

Ei Khine, the reception of Winner Inn, asked:

"What kind of F&B outlet would you like to see at Winner Inn? .
It is very important for us that you feel like home at Winner Inn. Food is a major part of our lives and we want to create a space you would love to dine, have coffee, work or just hang out in.
Your recommendations are very important to us."
Guests who have stayed in Winner Inn are invited to email suggestions to Ei Khine at reservation@winnerinnmyanmar.com.

Winner Inn
42 Than Lwin Road
Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar 11041
Tel: +95-1-535205

Monday, October 1, 2018

Hotel Review : Louis' Tavern Dayrooms (Transit Hotel), Suvarnabhumi

Hotel Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                             / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone



Louis' Tavern Dayrooms (Transit Hotel) or Miracle Transit Hotel at Suvarnabhumi Airport provides transit travelers with affordable accommodation. Travelers do not need to approach and leave the Thai Immigration if one is on transit at Suvarnabhumi Airport to another international city, not a Thai city. 








In contrast with The Haven of Changi Airport Terminal 3, each dayroom at this transit hotel is bigger and cozier than The Haven. Maximum 6 hours stay cost around 180 Singapore Dollars but the roomier space, shower facility, toilet in the room, complimentary tea pack, complimentary body lotion, complimentary toiletries in the room, sleepwear for room use and a huge range of complimentary breakfast at the hotel coffee shop justify the accommodation cost. 



It is better to stay here than taking risks to clear the Thai Immigration if one does not have 20000 Thai Baht in cash to prove to the Thai Immigration officers adequate finance while staying or transit in Bangkok for one night since the cash policy is now an enforced requirement on all tourists holding entry visa or no entry visa that intend to stay in Thailand. 

I stayed here after arriving from Narita on transit to Singapore. I will stay here next time if ever on transit in Suvarnabhumi to another international city also because it is not a noisy hotel. The staff are friendly and are able to speak in English to transit travelers. 

Refundable room-key deposit is between 250 to 500 Thai Baht. Check with the staff on the day of transit arrival.

Hotel Review : Regal Hotel, Taipei

Hotel Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                             / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone



携程网站翻译酒店名称有误。 酒店名称正式名称为“瑞格商务酒店”(Regal Hotel;注册名称“瑞格纳大酒店”), 不是“瑞格商务会馆”。乘坐桃园机场地铁从第一航厦直达台北车站, 转台北捷运板南线(台北车站)到忠孝复兴站, 转搭文湖线(忠孝复兴站)到中山国中站下车。转右, 走一分钟, 过红绿灯 (复兴北路), 转左走一分钟即到酒店。房型类似香港苏豪假日智选酒店, 有剃须刀和浴品但无热水供应, 无法连WiFi。往松山机场站, 过马路往回头走即到中山国中站, 前往松山机场站。





Simplified Translation:

Ctrip.com translates the hotel name incorrectly. Regal Executive Suites is actually known as Regal Hotel. To reach the hotel, travel by Taoyuan MRT from Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 to Taipei Station, transfer to Taipei Metro Bannan Line (Taipei Station) to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station where you should transfer to Wenhu Line (Zhongxiao Fuxing Station). Turn to the right, walk for one minute and cross the traffic lights on Fuxing North Road. Then turn to the left and walk for one minute to reach Regal Hotel. The room is similar to Holiday Inn Express Hong Kong Soho. Shaver and toiletries are available for room use but there is no water heater and no connection to WiFi. To travel to Songshan Airport Station, cross the road outside, reverse and walk towards Zhongshan Guozhong Station to board the Metro. 




























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