Luxury / news
China's Luxury Hotel Guests Want Pets, Teapots and Personal Touches, Hang Lung Director Says
Chinese travellers are pushing the country's hospitality sector to raise its game, demanding cultural experiences, personalised service and pet-friendly stays, according to a senior director at Hong Kong developer Hang Lung Properties.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Herman Chui, Hang Lung Properties' senior director of office, hotel and residence, said the ideal hotel is one that can redefine hospitality through personal touches. He pointed to details such as letting guests choose a teapot to their liking and offering tailor-made key cards and other bespoke items.
Pet access was singled out as a key expectation. "More importantly, a client is allowed to bring their pet along," Chui said, describing a shift in what Chinese guests now look for when booking a luxury stay.
The remarks came ahead of the inauguration of Hilton's new Xi Zhe Wuxi hotel, which sits inside Hang Lung's Center 66 commercial complex in Wuxi, a city in eastern China's Jiangsu province.
Chui said Chinese customers' growing desire for personal expression and cultural experiences has lifted standards across the country's hospitality sector, opening opportunities for leading lifestyle hotel brands.
The briefing reflects how developers and international hotel operators are positioning new properties around experiential and lifestyle-led stays in China's tier-two cities as well as its largest urban markets.