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Peninsula aiming to attract Middle East visitors

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Situated on the Bund, The Peninsula Shanghai is the first new building in the city’s riverfront Bund district in more than 60 years.

The 15-story art deco-style hotel, which opened in October 2009, features 235 rooms, five restaurants and bars, an Espa facility and an indoor pool.

The Peninsula’s collection of restaurants and bars – The Lobby, Yi Long Court Chinese restaurant, Sir Elly’s Restaurant, Bar and Terrace, The Compass Bar, The Rose Ballroom, The Spa and Salon de Ning – offer local and international specialities.

Set across the Huangpu River from the Pudong district – home to the city’s bulbous Oriental Pearl Tower and skyscraping Shanghai World Financial Tower – the Peninsula Shanghai also offers some of the city’s finest views.

TTN caught up with general manager PAUL TCHEN to find out how this new landmark appeals to Arab travellers.

What kind of occupancies has the property witnessed since its opening?

As the hotel only opened in October 2009, The Peninsula managed to achieve its targeted occupancy budget for 2009 quickly becoming one of the rate leaders in the market – a significant achievement after being open for only three months in 2009. However during the winter months of 2010, the effect of the financial crisis was noticeable as business continued to decrease.

While 2010 still looks to be somewhat challenging, we are seeing signs of increasing business, especially with Expo 2010 taking place from May to October, 2010 with 72 million visitors expected and five per cent of that figure being international travellers.

We are already receiving bookings from national delegations and corporate sponsors and have already launched an Fit package, named ‘The Peninsula Expo-rience’ iIncluding accommodation and breakfast, Expo entry tickets and transportation to and from the Expo site.

Tchen…region important

What kind of response have you witnessed from the Middle East?

Having only been open for six months, our Middle Eastern market segment is currently very low - only about one per cent at present, but we expect this to grow significantly, especially with the increase in direct flights to Shanghai.

The Middle East is a very interesting market to target, with great potential for growth.  While the Middle East market tends to travel more to Southeast Asian countries, there is a noticeable increased travel presence from the region, mostly in the form of school delegations, oil companies and royal family visits. 

How does the property appeal to Middle Eastern clients?

Our property appeals to the Middle Eastern market as its decor – glamorous in the grand European tradition of London and Paris – complements their taste for luxury, while our service standards match their expectations. The Peninsula offers world-class shopping with more than 25 international luxury brands, including the China flagship stores of Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Berluti. The hotel also has a stunning glass-roofed swimming pool, ideal for families travelling with children.

Is the hotel equipped to accommodate the needs of Arab guests?

We are currently sourcing suppliers of Halal food in order to be able to cater to guests requesting Halal cuisine and offer prayer mats in the rooms with signage showing the correct direction to pray.  We are presently seeking Arabic-speaking staff as we realise the strong potential of the Middle Eastern market.

What are your offerings for local tour operators and agents?

We are very eager to promote our ‘Celebration Package’ in the Middle East market, which is ten per cent commissionable to bona fide travel agents.

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