China Hotel, a witness of the close relation between GD and HK

2017-Jun-30       Source: Newsgd.com

China Hotel, one of the five-star hotels that opened in Guangzhou in the 1980s, is located right next to the Liuhua Complex, which is once a main exhibition venue of China’s largest trade fair, Canton

Exterior of China Hotel [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

China Hotel, one of the five-star hotels that opened in Guangzhou in the 1980s, is located right next to the Liuhua Complex, which is once a main exhibition venue of China’s largest trade fair, Canton Fair. Thus, this hotel has flourished with the area and witnessed the close connection between Guangdong and Hong Kong for over 30 years.

In the early 1980s, when the hotel was founded, Hong Kong investors were attracted by the opportunists and support policy from the local government. Since then, highly motivated investment have continued went to huge projects such as highway, bridge and real estate in Guangdong.

As Guangzhou continues to further its opening-up, China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel, with the advanced experience in hotel management, been well ahead in the luxury hotel industry and made a legendary profit. And for Guangzhou, the fact that many high-end hotels have set up their branches and borne fruit in Guangzhou means a lot to the city, but the large number of management talents, managerial experience and brand equity of these hotels, to some extent, outweigh the mere return of capital and mean a greater deal.

“Innovations have always been what I and my coworkers are thinking,” said Arics Lam, General Manager of China Hotel, in response to the new round of market competition of the transformation and upgrading of the hotel industry.

Arics Lam, General Manager of China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A witness of the close relation between Guangdong and Hong Kong

When talking about the past three decades, Lam said that he witnessed the country underwent earth-shaking changes and how close Guangdong and Hong Kong is.

With its excellent geographical location, China Hotel received many inbound guests in the 1980s and 1990s, many of whom were from Hong Kong and Macao. Among them, a great many are celebrities and political VIPs from Hong Kong, according to Lam.

“Invested by several financially strong Hong Kong people back then, China Hotel is known by a lot of people in Hong Kong and Macao. Therefore, numerous Hong Kong people, including the investors, their staff, friends and partners, would stay in China Hotel when they came to Guangzhou to attend the Canton Fair or to promote their products,” said Arics Lam.

Apart from that, Guangzhou was a very important window city in China, many people flied to Guangzhou via Hong Kong first, and then transferred to other cities in mainland China, Lam said.

As a result, the hotel provides more than 120 round-trip shuttle buses towards Hong Kong, Macao and Baiyun Airport every day, offering convenience for the guests coming and going between Guangdong and Hong Kong.


China Hotel's newly upgraded Crystal Ballroom [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Upgrade to meet industry challenge

Starting from 2008, Canton Fair is no longer held in Liuhua Complex. The old Baiyun Airport was also shut down in 2004. Gradually, the city center shifted to Tainhe District, especially Zhujiang New Town, known as the CBD of the city. Without the previous geographical position advantage, China Hotel faced “reshaping and upgrading”, Lam pointed out.

Before 2000, China Hotel was managed by a Hong Kong hotel company. At the beginning of 2000, China Hotel changed its management partner and has been managed by Marriott International, Inc. since then.

Lam revealed that as an old brand hotel, China Hotel still has a very close relation with Hong Kong and Macao and known by many regular customers, and with five-star hotels mushrooming in Guangzhou, China Hotel needs to differentiate itself from others and find its own road to development.

A food street in China Hotel [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

“Innovations have always been what I and my coworkers are thinking,” Lam said with a smile, “First, we need to make a voice in the market and vitalize the community, such as hosting German beer festival Oktoberfest for years in the hotel and other venues. Then we keep providing fresh experience for our guests and helping our employees improve self-value. Another one is to build a commercial district centering on the hotel and get through between the hotel underground and the subway, so as to attract more passenger flow.”

In the upcoming months and years, Guangzhou will hold a series of international conventions including 2017 Fortune Global Forum in this December, World Route Development Forum in 2018, 31st World Ports Conference in 2019, and 13th Metropolis World Congress in 2020. This is, no doubt, a real challenge for hotel industry in Guangzhou.

Lam alleged that with over 30 years in the industry and highly acknowledged by the public, China Hotel absolutely has the confidence and ability to receive the guests of international conferences well.

(By Monica & Jecey)


An old photo shows the opening ceremony of China Hotel in 1984. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

An old photo shows a man wipes the logo of China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Exteriorof China Hotel [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Exteriorof China Hotel [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


The “Black Tie Dinner” held last year, serving over 200 public figures, is an innovative act China Hotel tried to make a voice in the market. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Arics Lam says the “Black Tie Dinner” has a positive effect on the hotel operation, making the hotel known to more people and receiving more business. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Oktoberfest, an authentic German beer festival which has been held by China Hotel along with its partners since 2005, is one of the flagship activities and innovative acts of the hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Arics Lam expresses his hope to promote cultural exchange and bring more popular events to the city via this kind of activities, and in return more and more people know more about Guangzhou, which definitely has a positive effect on our hotel operation. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


China Hotel's newly upgraded Crystal Ballroom meeting [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

China Hotel's newly upgraded foyer [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Hakka salty chicken served at the food street in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A Hakka dish served at the food street in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


 

A Sichuan dish served at the food street in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A Sichuan dish served at the food street in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Steak offered at the PRIME restaurant in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A dish offered at the PRIME restaurant in China Hotel. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Editor: Monica Liu

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