Last year, according to the
United Nations World Tourism Organization, 83 million Mainland Chinese spent
$102 billion abroad – overtaking Americans and Germans – making them the world’s
biggest tourism spenders. A closer look uncovers the reason: there were 107
million outbound Chinese travelers in 2015, an increase of almost 20 percent on
the previous year.
The growth in number of Chinese
travelers, both from China as well as Chinese people from other countries including
Indonesia, has been making headlines. Hotels and hospitality businesses around
the world have rolled out new products and services to adapt to and address
this market shift.
Foreign and Unfamiliar
Surrounded by foreign sights and
sounds, especially when traveling out of the country for the first time, many may
yearn for a taste of home. To make Chinese travelers feel comfortable, it is
important to create for them a home away from home; part of creating this
experience is to understand the cultural nuances and expectations of Chinese
travelers.
For example, Chinese consider
dining in large groups auspicious. Many restaurants overseas arrange separate dining
tables. For those traveling in large groups, dining in such settings – in the
Chinese sense, in isolation – is an unfamiliar, almost alien, cultural norm.
And for most, the sight of Chinese food, after many a western meal is a welcome
respite – and a fond reminder of home.
Peng You by Meliá Programme
Throughout our 60-year history,
Meliá Hotels International has been at the forefront of the hotel industry both
in products and services. And because we are family-grown hotel group, we know
the importance of having a place to call home.
To provide these travelers with
familiar comforts, attention must be paid in both the overall experience and details.
Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman
and CEO Meliá Hotels International explained, “Extending this experience to our
hotels, we recently launched Peng You by Meliá globally. Peng You by Meliá is
a consistent benchmark of amenity and service standards to meet the unique
needs and expectations of Chinese travelers when they travel overseas.”
He added “All seven brands in
Meliá Hotels International portfolio can choose to enroll in the program. Asia
Pacific, as well as those Meliá Madrid Princesa and Meliá Barcelona Sarria,
have rolled out the initiative. Gradually we will introduce this to 80 hotels
around the world by this summer, in line with our expansion.”
Currently all our hotels in Peng
You is the Chinese word for friend; Peng You by Meliá is a genuine undertaking
to create a welcoming experience for our Chinese guests, from the check-in
process, in-room amenities, culinary offerings and services, to preferred
payment modes.
Guests are greeted at the front
desk by Chinese-speaking staff. Our guest accommodations are outfitted with amenities,
such as tea stations and slippers. For breakfast, guests have the choice of
traditional Chinese items, such as congee, fried noodles, dim sum, and dough
fritters. “In 2016, Meliá Hotels
International celebrates its 60th Anniversary and we are proud to be doing so
in a position that is stronger than ever before. And we certainly look forward
to welcoming Chinese guests – to their home away from home,” said Garbriel
Escarrer.
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