Life of Guangzhou - Ritz-Carlton in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU: The mainland will be the second most important market for hotel operator Ritz-Carlton after the United States, said Simon F. Cooper, president and Chief Operating Officer of the company.

"Besides the United States, we put in most effort in expanding the market in China," Cooper told China Daily.

The world's top luxury hotel now operates four hotels in China - in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong - and the fifth will start operations in Guangzhou in November, which will be the 67th hotel of the global chain.

Other four hotels in China under construction are in Shenzhen, Sanya, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The business in China occupies 10 to 15 percent of its global business currently, but the rate will increase sharply in the near future, he said.

Ritz-Carlton is very confident that the hotel's occupancy rate in Guangzhou will be around 80 percent.

According to Cooper, the average occupancy of Ritz-Carlton's global hotels is 75 percent. Some hotels in Europe even reach 85-percent rate. The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai is having an 80-percent occupancy rate all along, he added.

Ritz-Carlton attaches great importance to the location of each hotel.

"All of our hotels in China are located in big cities, which have advanced international airports and a large number of international luxury travelers." Cooper said.

The hotel in Guangzhou will be in the city's new Central Business District (CBD), Pearl River New Town, which has convenient transportation and a large number of luxury business people. (By Liang Qiwen)