Hong Kong properties ready to meet increased demand

The Hong Kong Hotel Association (HKHA) does not expect the increase, an addition to the 5,000 new rooms introduced last year, to cause an oversupply.

HKHA executive director James Lu explained: "With visitor arrivals projected to increase by five per cent in 2010, the supply of new hotel rooms will be more than sufficient to handle increased visitor traffic...The overall sentiment is good and 2010 will be a good recovery year for Hong Kong."

Hong Kong Tourism Board statistics show hotel occupancy of 78 per cent in 2009, down seven per cent compared to 2008 with an average room rate of HK$1,023 (US$132), a 16.3 per cent decrease. In 2009, there were 3,062,651 visitor arrivals, a 0.3 per cent growth - versus the original projection of a 1.6 per cent drop.

The latest property offering is the 345-key East, at Taikoo Place in Island East. In November, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong will make its much anticipated comeback in West Kowloon.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong