Shanghaiist: China's first seven star hotel to be built in Sanya, Hainan

Pirx

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:18:45 +0800

Isn't the hotel that Shui On are building in Xintiandi Chinas first 7-star hostel?

taihanasie

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:30:36 +0800

"they are not trying to compete with Dubai or attract foreigners there. " I did not say they were. I said it would not be economically viable because of the considerations I mentioned, and that this sort of project is more economically viable in a place like Dubai because of the same considerations. See: 1) Most of Sanya's visitors (Chinese) won't be able to afford it. Do you really think there are enough Chinese who can afford 6-star accommodation on vacation to fill up two enormous new hotels AND 18 other 5-star ones?

Pirx

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:10:02 +0800

Isn't the hotel that Shui On are building in Xintiandi Chinas first 7-star hostel?

eastman

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:48:25 +0800

I think more of standard 2-star hotels are badly needed, considering the ever growing population of so-called expats whose number one reason to be in China is to live and travel cheap.

ShanghaiLife

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:41:16 +0800

Taihanasie: they are not trying to compete with Dubai or attract foreigners there. It's gonna be mostly for rich Chinese people who don't want to fly abroad because they don't like the hassle / can't speak the language / etc. We all know how many rich Chinese guys there are, and how they usually love to buy the most expensive thing on the menu. I think this will work quite well.

taihanasie

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:25:07 +0800

This sounds like a huge money loser. 1) Most of Sanya's visitors (Chinese) won't be able to afford it. 2) Sanya is not nearly as "hot" a destination as other tropical paradises yet. Those with the cash simply still go to Bali, Fiji, Phuket, etc. Sanya may be nice, but it doesn't have the name for itself yet. 3) Dubai has made a "brand" for itself in these kinds of over-the-top products. You expect to look for the luxury hotels and brand-name goods when you go there. 4) Dubai is also a financial centre, meaning there are many rich people going there anyways. 5) A SECOND one? So it would almost instantly have competition in the luxury category. There are tons of glitzy attempts to rake in the bucks in China. They are rarely successful, and usually are located in central locations (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc.) Am I wrong? Is Sanya just THE place to go for rich tourists (from China or otherwise).... enough that a 150-sq.-km hotel WITH a second one nearby (and competing with 18 other five-star hotels no less) will recoup its investment?

EL JEFE

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:03:30 +0800

This article should give this some perspective: Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

jiminycricket

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:41:13 +0800

Not to nitpick, but in the world of hotels, this "7-star" ranking is purely a BS marketing gimmick. The Burj is a 7 star hotel because they deemed it so. That said, the level of service there is surely beyond the means of most mainland hoteliers. On another note, China should work on actually provide 4 star service in their 5 star hotels. Or just through reality overboard and make that enormous stingray or whatever the hell it is an 8 Star Hotel! Maybe install the world's fastest elevators, just to make a point.

jenming

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:28:03 +0800

It seems like a 7-star hotel should at least have a non-greyscale Artist's Rendering.

anton

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:16:26 +0800

Pangu Plaza, Beijing. 7 star hotel. Research for this article?