Guangzhou hotels benefit from stranded European guests

THE EUROPEAN flight ban last week may have dampened attendance at the 107th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, from mid April to early May, but hoteliers say extended stays from stranded European guests kept occupancy buoyant.

28/04/2010 10:34

Sunny Paw, general manager of Shangri-La Guangzhou, which suffered cancellations from European guests, said the recent gradual reinstatement of flights from Guangzhou to major European cities since last Wednesday were not enough to help stranded guests. Some have extended their stays and Paw expects more over the next few days.

Sue Gan, director of sales and marketing for InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong, which has been tapping regular stopover traffic from Europe enroute to Guangzhou, added that the "vacuum was easily filled up by the huge bookings from airlines' layover passengers, which have also has boosted the hotel's food and beverage revenues".

Asked whether hotels in Guangzhou raised room rates, Paw explained that rates had to adhere to stringent rules set by the Guangzhou Municipality Price Control Administration. This year, standard rooms go for RMB1,990 (US$291); deluxe rooms for RMB2,200; and business rooms for RMB3,300.

(Source: Prudence Lui, Hong Kong, TTG Asia)

Subject:

Tag: