Cinnamon’s city hotels go all out to tap Chinese inbound tourist traffic
The Chinese outbound market has seen an expansive growth in the recent past; and nations from around the world have been aggressively contending to enjoy a large share of this promising market.
Sri Lanka t oo have j oined i n the queue, and have been wholly successful, with Chinese arrivals to the country recording a steady high; and with promise for an upward shift in the trend in the future as forecasted by global agencies.
Cinnamon’s city hotels – Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside and Cinnamon Red – have been on the receiving end of this influx and with assurance of more to welcome, have embarked on a unique campaign to ensure that the discerning Chinese travellers feel more at home in the busy Colombo metropolitan.
From among the key strategies developed for the year for the hotels’ is a China-specific campaign, carefully designed to ensure that the Chinese tourists flying to Colombo would lengthen their stay in the city and find no better abode to enjoy the luxuries of the island nation, than the Cinnamon’s city hotels.
“Given the advantage we have in offering a diverse products portfolio and hospitality concepts, we are going all out to tap the potential of the growing Chinese tourism market,” Executive Vice President John Keells Holdings and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Sector Head-City Hotels Rohan Karr said.
“We are aware of the distinctive requests of t hese travellers and are looking at product and service enhancements geared towards supporting them, breaking language barriers and offering unique city experiences.”
“We are fixed on making our hotels even more Chinese-friendly than it is at present. We want them to feel comfortable and know that they are understood, their needs met and where their language is spoken. We want them to come to us with the confidence that they will be well taken care of,” Karr asserted.
As part of the China strategy, the three hotels have recruited Chinese guest relations officers (GROs) fluent in Mandarin and English; and are training the front-line staff on basic Mandarin language skills. A special ‘Let’s Learn Chinese’ booklet has been developed by the Marketing Communications team of the City Hotels for the hotel staff with assistance of a Chinese language teacher.
Plans are also underway to dedicate a floor at each property for Chinese guests with accents to complement their travel requirements.
Having identified online marketing as a prime information source for those travelling from China, the hotels will unroll a dedicated digital campaign through social media.
The China strategy campaign will be officially launched to the hotels’ associates today, on World Tourism Day (27 September).