Upscale hotels cater to the needs of business and leisure travellers
Xiamen has a wide selection of hotels to choose from, some of which cast a wide net in terms of the guests they hope to attract, while others focus on particular segments
Blessed with vibrant commercial, meeting and leisure travel industries, it’s no surprise that the city offers a surfeit of upscale hotels, with more than two dozen five-star hotels now gracing the city, according to David Katemopoulos, general manager of Le Meridien Xiamen.
It’s a number that’s sure to grow. Millie Tsui, general manager of the Marco Polo Xiamen, notes that an additional 22 premium hotels are set to open in the city in 2020.
Even individual neighbourhoods in Xiamen have a surfeit of top-flight hotels. Johnny Wu, deputy director of operations, Fliport Hotels and Resorts, notes that compact areas such as the Wuyuanwan district and its nearby software park alone have more than 1,000 rooms spread over four international brand name hotels.
Some hotels tend to drill down in certain segments of the market while others cast a wide net. Richard Hng, general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel Xiamen, says that his guests are frequently business travellers during the week and leisure guests on the weekend.
The Marco Polo has long focused on “corporate travellers and free independent travellers”, Tsui says. She adds that “we are focused on being a business hotel [because] once a hotel begins to rely on groups, it cannot go back”. Likewise, Fliport primarily focuses on business travellers, with a secondary emphasis on leisure travel.
Intense competition also drives the city’s hotels to differentiate their products and services. Katemopoulos emphasises Le Meridien Xiamen’s unique location on Xianyue Mountain, adding that “it’s the only hotel both in the city centre and in a country environment”. All rooms include high-end amenities such as rainforest showers and a balcony to enjoy the view. Guests also have access to the hotel’s Discovery programme, a custom-made walking and discovery map that helps travellers explore the area.
