To capitalize on the opening of independent travel for Chinese tourists, Taiwan’s hotel industry is pulling out all the stops to capture this growing market. Leading players in the tourism sector, such as Grand Formosa Regent and The Lalu, have joined forces to promote family-friendly packages, targeting the family travel segment among Chinese visitors.Meanwhile, hotels like Ambassador Hotel and The Luxury Collection are focusing on the culinary experience, aiming to ensure that Chinese tourists enjoy both memorable activities and safe, satisfying meals.
In response to concerns over plasticizer contamination, and to ensure food safety for the public, Grand Formosa Regent has taken the lead by launching the “Shennong Project,” offering Chinese tourists access to the freshest organic ingredients. Additionally, Taipei Grand Formosa Regent has introduced the “Zhongshan Renaissance Tour,” collaborating with local businesses in the Zhongshan District to revive the area’s cultural heritage.
To cater to Chinese tourists, Grand Formosa Regent Group also announced plans for continued expansion. Confirmed projects include the upcoming Kaohsiung Regent Hotel, expected to be completed in 2014, and the nearby Just Sleep Taipei Main Station, an affordable business hotel slated for completion in 2013. The group revealed that although Chinese tourists currently make up only 3% of their clientele, they anticipate this figure could rise to double digits in the future.
Recognizing the potential of the family travel market, both Grand Formosa Regent and The Lalu have launched family-friendly initiatives to tap into the summer travel boom for children. Among them, Regent’s Lucheng Regent Hotel has partnered with educational brand Tongxin Yuan and gaming giant Sony Computer Entertainment Taiwan to create a kid-focused hotel tailored for family trips.
With its popular theme park Leofoo Village Theme Park (Liu-Fu Village Theme Park)—dubbed the “Disneyland of Taiwan”—The Lalu Group boasts a wealth of family-oriented attractions.The company plans to integrate these resources and promote themed travel packages under slogans like “Stay with The Lalu, Explore All of Taiwan,” marketing directly to Chinese tourists. According to Liu Chun-hao, marketing director at The Lalu Travel Group, bookings and inquiries at Lalu hotels have surged following the introduction of independent travel for Chinese visitors.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Hotel and The Luxury Collection are gearing up to welcome Chinese tourists with a focus on gourmet experiences. Ambassador Hotel’s le bouquet patisserie has enlisted renowned Japanese baker Katsuhiko Nishikawa to oversee its pastry offerings. The Luxury Collection, on the other hand, has introduced a “Taiwanese Snack Platter Set,” allowing Chinese guests to sample authentic local delicacies from across Taiwan in one meal.