Worldhotels hosts first China conference
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Three hundred leading independent hoteliers converged on the first Worldhotels Global Annual Conference to be staged in China. Hosted at Beijing’s Loong Palace Hotel & Resort from 20-23 January, the 2011 conference themed ‘One’ focused on how to capitalise on the world’s No 1 emerging market through both outreach to the unique market and “new realities” facing the industry from both technology and consumerism.
Worldhotels also welcomed the latest hospitality brand to join as affiliate -Sunshine Hotels Group which added its four hotels in Sanya, Changsha, Zhangjiajie and Shenzhen.
Other attending hoteliers included representatives of 73 new hotels becoming affiliates of the fast-growing brand in 2010, including RIHGA Hotels in Japan, Brazil’s Othon Hotels, Bern’s Hotel in Stockholm, The Manhattan in Rotterdam and the famous Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles.
Keynote speakers, Harry Hui, Managing Partner of CP Equity Asia and CSR Consultant to PepsiCo International in Greater China and Chandran Nair, founder & CEO of The Global Institute for Tomorrow, provided insights on reaching out to the Chinese consumer and into the challenges and constraints that lie ahead for those entering the China market. The conference also updated affiliate hoteliers on latest Worldhotels sales and marketing initiatives.
Worldhotels Managing Director Rob Hornman presented the 2011 “Fast Forward” sales strategy taking the leading sales and marketing organisation for independent hotels to new heights, positioned as the most dynamic and cutting edge in providing new sales and technology solutions.
Newly-appointed Vice President Global Sales & Distribution, Paulo Salvador, said the main focus in 2011 will be development of a CRM and its further expansion of on-line strategies with new initiatives in direct and indirect marketing. These include OTA 360, connecting affiliate hotels to over 400 on line travel agencies with a new distribution channel - complementing another new channel connecting to China’s leading GDS network, Travelsky.
Another system named Spider will bring a fully integrated and cost efficient package solution to hotels, spanning from most advanced web design to optimise on-line marketing for their own websites.
Face-to-face exchanges were provided with industry marketing and distribution specialists and technology experts on latest products, services and solutions.
For regional advice, Worldhotels sales offices were represented from all over the world: Australia & New Zealand, BeNeLux, China, France, Germany, Austria & Switzerland, Italy & Eastern Mediterranean, Japan, North America, Russia, Scandinavia, Singapore, South America, Spain & Portugal, United Kingdom & Ireland.
Social highlights included a taste of the atmosphere of the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, discovering the Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium where delegates represented their countries in national colour or costume at a dinner.
The gathering closed with a Chinese Emperor Banquet at the Loong Palace, and ONE 2011 Award Ceremony, followed by a party sponsored by Pommery champagne at the hotel’s nightclub.
Established in 1971, the Worldhotels Annual Conference provide’s the group’s affiliate hotels with local and global market travel industry updates and insights into market trends, but also offering opportunities and solutions. Three conferences a year on different continents underline the global nature of Worldhotels, which currently represents almost 450 affiliate properties in 250 destinations across 65 countries worldwide.
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