In comparison with the arrival of the largest tourism service provider in the global Olympic market in 2006, the Carlsen Group in the United States is obviously too weak in China, even not even its five-star hotel brand “Radisson†and catering. The brand "Friday Restaurant" is loud.
However, with the approaching of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, this super hotel predator with more than 2,000 hotels in 68 countries has also begun to comprehensively arrange the Chinese hotel market.
Layout China
Talking about Carlson's development in China, PaulKirwin, the director of Carlson's Asia Pacific region, is well-versed.
He told the "First Financial Daily", Carlson's business in China will proceed from three aspects. One is to focus on secondary cities in China and focus on developing economic brands. The "PARKINN" brand of two of its budget hotel brands will be introduced to China this year and will quickly build a budget hotel of the same size. In this way, Carlson's investment will be smaller, but the development will be faster. Followed by continuing to develop urban hotel brands. In 2006, Carlson plans to open a five-star luxury brand “Regent International Hotel†in Beijing. The hotel will combine “Regent†and “PARK PLAZA†brands. This is also the strategy of Carlson in China's big cities. At least one first-line brand hotel must be established in each big city. These hotels have "TGI Fridays" and Carlson's travel agencies.
Since 1992, Carlson has invested in the establishment of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Beijing. Since then, this service provider has positioned itself as a comprehensive and integrated travel solution for travelers. He has already transferred his Carlson Jensen travel, holiday, and Karl. Sen Food and Li Qiqi Sea Cruises Company etc. are all introduced into China.
"To become a true global market leader, Carlson must fully strengthen the strategic development in China." Ke Haowen said, "And Carlson's advantage is that we can provide the best and most comprehensive travel services."
Brand investment
At present, Carlson has 7 hotels in China, all of which are five-star brand hotels. According to the current worksheet, six hotels have signed a hotel management agreement with Carlson. It is expected that by the end of this year, Carlson will have no fewer than 13 hotels opened in China. Among them, 12 are five-star hotels and the other is a four-star hotel.
Ke Haowen frankly stated that he is optimistic about the high-star hotel market in China because of the increasing number of international conferences, exhibitions and large-scale international events like the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. These are all for high-star hotels. The market puts forward new demands. He revealed that in the next 10 years, another 7 Regency hotels and 5 Radisson hotels will also be completed one after another. This is only a preliminary plan, because the final figure may change every day.
Ke Haowen said that Carlson has not yet invested in high-star hotel properties, and hotels in China are mainly "hotel management". While refusing to disclose specific management fees, he said with a smile that Carlson will reinvest his profits in the Chinese hotel market. He explained that these investments will be reflected in three major areas: the renewal of the hotel management system, the promotion of the market, and the training of hotel management personnel.
He revealed that as the largest tourism service provider in the global Olympic market, Carlson will spend a billion dollars to establish an efficient hotel management system within five years. “We will be fully prepared for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.†Ke Haowen explained, “As a market leader, Carlson is unmatched in terms of the variety and diversity of business products. For such important events as the Olympic Games and the World Expo, we can provide a series of strategic services, including overseas promotion and ticket sales, and provide reservations for hotels with different budgets."
"In Carson China's plan, making money is not the first goal. We are the first to do brand investment and prepare for the future." Ke Haowen finally said.