If we are talking about the best hotels chains in the world, we can come up with Four Seasons as No.1, Ritz-Carlton as No.2. Those two are definitely the most famous ones with regard to employees, service, standards, and especially, corporate culture. The Four Seasons' Golden Rule, and the Ritz's 'We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen' have been the most popular case studies for US college students.
However, when you are going to China mainland, there are not as many Four Seasons, Ritz and other world-recognized finest hotels as you may find in US. Currently, for example, Four Seasons only have one hotel in Shanghai, with three more in pipeline (Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing). Mandarin Oriental even has no hotels in China. Meanwhile, some low-end brands in US like Hyatt or Holiday Inn have totally different positioning strategies in China and are among the top brands. Let me introduce you some of the top brands and also famous boutique hotels you may choose:
Four Seasons available in Shanghai only
Ritz Carlton: available in Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Shenzhen
Peninsula Hotel: available in Beijing, Shanghai
Hyatt: available in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou.
Famous Boutique hotels:
Aman Resorts: available in Beijing, Hangzhou
Banyan Tree Hotel: available at Hangzhou, Lijiang, Ringha, Sanya
Last secret, you won't find any luxury hotels in Xi'an, the hometown of terra-cotta warriors. You do need to anticipate huge service and product quality drop when you leave Beijing or Shanghai for Xi'an. Good luck!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sustainable Tourism in China 2---Ecotourism
Ecotourism has four elements, nature-based, minimum-impact management, contribution to conservation and education. China is famous for its history, people, and unique architecture, nevertheless, it has a number of Ecotourism resources that are unseen to most of the people. If you are not the type of person just wanna see the Great Wall and Terra-Cotta warriors, or if you want to spend half of your time visiting some unique places that can only be made by the God, my recommendations are Yunnan, Sichuan, Tibet and Silk Road. And you know what, ecotourism trips are the cheapest, even cheaper than regular main city visits. It is mostly because of the relatively simple condition of the hotels.
For Yunnan, I would recommend WildChina tour operator. The reasons are simple. The founder, Mei, who is originally from Yunnan, has been the most passionate about spreading the word about Yunnan. Bird watching, climbing, excluded village visit, glaciers, and snow mountains, you name it. You can actually find any ecotourism activities in just one of the over 30 provinces in China. Some recommended tours include:
No. 1 pick: Pilgrimage Trail to Mt. Kawagebo
No. 2 pick: Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge
Picture credit: WildChina Travel
For Guizhou, very few tour operators have tours going there because of high costs, low profits, and difficulties in marketing and sales. If you search 'China tour' or 'China trip' on Google, you are going to find at least 7 pages of search results. On the contrary, if you search 'Guizhou tour', the results are only one page with just 6 paid results. Guizhou was just discovered by tourists and is famous for its ethnic groups, untouched scenery like waterfalls. 87% of its land is covered by plateaus and mountains. Other than WildChina, Odyssey Tours also have some very good tours going to Guizhou. Check it out here.
Tibet and Silk Road are not just known for their ecotourism resources but religion and history. If you are just interested in ecotourism activities like hiking, climbing, biking and bird watching, Yunnan and Guizhou are the two places that I highly recommend. Be one of the 8 million people visit Great Wall Badaling section alone or be one of the thousands of tourists going to remote areas in Yunnan, it is your choice!
For Yunnan, I would recommend WildChina tour operator. The reasons are simple. The founder, Mei, who is originally from Yunnan, has been the most passionate about spreading the word about Yunnan. Bird watching, climbing, excluded village visit, glaciers, and snow mountains, you name it. You can actually find any ecotourism activities in just one of the over 30 provinces in China. Some recommended tours include:
No. 1 pick: Pilgrimage Trail to Mt. Kawagebo
No. 2 pick: Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge
Picture credit: WildChina Travel
For Guizhou, very few tour operators have tours going there because of high costs, low profits, and difficulties in marketing and sales. If you search 'China tour' or 'China trip' on Google, you are going to find at least 7 pages of search results. On the contrary, if you search 'Guizhou tour', the results are only one page with just 6 paid results. Guizhou was just discovered by tourists and is famous for its ethnic groups, untouched scenery like waterfalls. 87% of its land is covered by plateaus and mountains. Other than WildChina, Odyssey Tours also have some very good tours going to Guizhou. Check it out here.
Tibet and Silk Road are not just known for their ecotourism resources but religion and history. If you are just interested in ecotourism activities like hiking, climbing, biking and bird watching, Yunnan and Guizhou are the two places that I highly recommend. Be one of the 8 million people visit Great Wall Badaling section alone or be one of the thousands of tourists going to remote areas in Yunnan, it is your choice!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sustainable Tourism in China 1---Community Based Tourism
Although for most of the first time visitors to China, the big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guilin and the Yangtze River are must-sees, some people are really interested in the experiential type of tourism. They would like to go to the unseen and intact places in China that have fewer tourists and authentic local tastes like culture, architecture, ethnic group people, so on and so forth.
Community based tourism (CBT) is a very effective way to achieve the goal of sustainable tourism development. It means that tourism activities are mainly happening in the communities. Tour operators can help connect the travelers with the local people by sending the travelers directly to the local communities. Through this kind of interaction, the travelers can experience the most authentic things. CBT has an important merit that it does not require the travelers to only go to the remote places in China. Instead, CBT can happen in major cities too. For example, in Beijing, travelers can go to Simatai and Jinshanling section of Great Wall instead of the crowded Badaling section. After a 6-10 miles walk from Jinshanling to Simatai, the travelers will end up with visiting a local community at the foot of the great wall and learn making authentic dumplings with the local people. It may only cost an additional $30pp or so but these costs may directly go to the pocket of the local people, which may mean a lot to these poor families.
Absolutely CBT activities are more significant in remote areas. Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet and Silk Road are famous for CBT activities. Yunnan and Guizhou is rich in the number of ethnic groups while Silk Road and Tibet are famous for its unique culture. If it is going to be your first time to China, I would recommend you spend 7 days for a quick look at the major cities and spend the rest to one of the destinations I just mentioned. This combined tour will make it once-in-a-life.
Oh, last point, forget about the Yangtze River Cruise. Since the Three Gorges Dam, a lot of famous heritages and beautiful scenes are buried under the water...
Community based tourism (CBT) is a very effective way to achieve the goal of sustainable tourism development. It means that tourism activities are mainly happening in the communities. Tour operators can help connect the travelers with the local people by sending the travelers directly to the local communities. Through this kind of interaction, the travelers can experience the most authentic things. CBT has an important merit that it does not require the travelers to only go to the remote places in China. Instead, CBT can happen in major cities too. For example, in Beijing, travelers can go to Simatai and Jinshanling section of Great Wall instead of the crowded Badaling section. After a 6-10 miles walk from Jinshanling to Simatai, the travelers will end up with visiting a local community at the foot of the great wall and learn making authentic dumplings with the local people. It may only cost an additional $30pp or so but these costs may directly go to the pocket of the local people, which may mean a lot to these poor families.
Absolutely CBT activities are more significant in remote areas. Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet and Silk Road are famous for CBT activities. Yunnan and Guizhou is rich in the number of ethnic groups while Silk Road and Tibet are famous for its unique culture. If it is going to be your first time to China, I would recommend you spend 7 days for a quick look at the major cities and spend the rest to one of the destinations I just mentioned. This combined tour will make it once-in-a-life.
Oh, last point, forget about the Yangtze River Cruise. Since the Three Gorges Dam, a lot of famous heritages and beautiful scenes are buried under the water...
Monday, March 8, 2010
China Tour Operator 2: Virtuoso China tour operators
Today, my picks are three Virtuoso China Tour Operators: A&K, Absolute and Imperial Travel. According to its website, Virtuoso is a network of the world’s finest travel agencies and tour operators who have the skills to craft perfect vacations for travelers. To me, I think Virtuoso stands for both luxury and exclusiveness. I really appreciate Virtuoso’s idea to invite only the TOP 1% of travel operators into its network.
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Virtuoso is a by-invitation-only organization so its over 300 agencies in 22 countries must have established their recognition and reputation over a long time, which ensures the quality and service of their programs.It is not surprising to see that Ms. Kristi Jones, the President of Virtuoso, were selected as one of the TOP 25 influential women in the travel industry by Forbes.
After talking about all the positive things about these three renowned China tour operators, A&K, Absolute and Imperial Travel, I have to point out that their challenges are their prices. A&K considers itself as the ultimate luxury tour operator in the world. Its China programs can easily cost you about $10,000 per person, but when talking about the most luxury tour operator providing the best services, A&K is definitely No.1. You know what, the best guides in China are competing to work for A&K.
I want to say that I don’t like Imperial’s website. I think travel is a piece of art. If a company can not perfectly design its website, they may not be the perfect tailor for the tour programs. Browse both the websites of A&K and Imperial, you may immediately see the difference.
My scores for these Virtuoso tour operators:
4.A&K:
Price: 10
Comfort: 20
Service: 20
Value: 13
Experience: 18
Total: 81
5. Absolute:
Price: 8
Comfort: 19
Service: 19
Value: 11
Experience: 18
Total: 75
6. Imperial:
Price: 9
Comfort: 18
Service: 18
Value: 10
Experience: 17
Total: 72
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Virtuoso is a by-invitation-only organization so its over 300 agencies in 22 countries must have established their recognition and reputation over a long time, which ensures the quality and service of their programs.It is not surprising to see that Ms. Kristi Jones, the President of Virtuoso, were selected as one of the TOP 25 influential women in the travel industry by Forbes.
After talking about all the positive things about these three renowned China tour operators, A&K, Absolute and Imperial Travel, I have to point out that their challenges are their prices. A&K considers itself as the ultimate luxury tour operator in the world. Its China programs can easily cost you about $10,000 per person, but when talking about the most luxury tour operator providing the best services, A&K is definitely No.1. You know what, the best guides in China are competing to work for A&K.
I want to say that I don’t like Imperial’s website. I think travel is a piece of art. If a company can not perfectly design its website, they may not be the perfect tailor for the tour programs. Browse both the websites of A&K and Imperial, you may immediately see the difference.
My scores for these Virtuoso tour operators:
4.A&K:
Price: 10
Comfort: 20
Service: 20
Value: 13
Experience: 18
Total: 81
5. Absolute:
Price: 8
Comfort: 19
Service: 19
Value: 11
Experience: 18
Total: 75
6. Imperial:
Price: 9
Comfort: 18
Service: 18
Value: 10
Experience: 17
Total: 72
Monday, March 1, 2010
China Tour Operator Comparison 1
Today I am going to discuss three well-known China tour operators mainly about their price, comfort, quality of service, value and experience. And then I am going to give a score (0-20) to each category so that the best tour operator can gain 100.
A. Pacific Delight Tours (PDT)
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PDT has been in this business for almost 40 years. Although it changed ownership in 2006, it remains as one of the main player in China tour industry. Over 10,000 US travelers are traveling to China with PDT services every year. From PDT, you can find lots of journeys to mainly the major cities and Yangtze River, mostly from 13-17 days.
Top Strengths:
1. Reputation: Great reputation after almost four decades in service.
2. Options: With its advantage of huge agents and customers base, PDT is able to classify its tours into three basic categories: Gold (expensive but with better accommodation and National Guide), Escapade (to second-tier cities), and SuperValue.
3. Good Guides: Because PDT allows commissioned shopping to bring their costs and prices down and its bigger group size, they can attract very good guides to work for them in China.
Top Weaknesses:
1. Commissioned Shopping: You will have to go into stores at every destination.
2. Touring Experience: Since most of its destinations are major cities, Yangtze River and stores, you will miss many other exciting places all over China…
Price: 16
Comfort: 14
Service: 14
Value: 17
Experience: 11
Total: 72
B. China Spree
This is a US based travel company managed by Chinese. It has invested a lot of resources doing online marketing so you may wonder why you can find them everywhere on the internet! They also pay a lot to Google by its online ads.
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Top Strengths:
1. Price: Can’t believe 7-day Beijing trip all inclusive (w/ intl. air) will only cost $588.
2. Travel Options
Weaknesses:
1. Comfort: It says it will use 4-star hotels in China. I want to remind you that 4-star hotels in China are not appealing at all… Only a few of them are just fine… I won’t recommend 4-star hotels especially in second-tier cities.
2. Touring Experience: You have to admit that one can’t get good quality service when it is offering such a low price.
Price: 19
Comfort: 11
Service: 12
Value: 17
Experience: 11
Total: 70
C. WildChina Travel
I have introduced in my previous article about WildChina. I personally like WildChina because it offers off-the-beaten path journeys to not only big cities, but also most of the remote but exciting places in China. If you are a traveler looking for some different, in-depth or cultural immersion travel to China, WildChina may be your best choice. However, since it is too unique, it can’t get large groups signing up its tours, so the price is so high…
Top Strengths:
1. Reputation: A lot of rewards earned from National Geographic Traveler magazine, Travel + Leisure magazine, National Geographic Adventure magazine, Conde Nast Traveler magazine, etc.
2. Tour experience: no commissioned shopping will be conducted
3. Quality of service
Weaknesses:
1. Expensive
2. Poor guides: because WildChina pays its guides instead of allowing them to do commissioned shopping. The good guides in China are reluctant to work for them.
Price: 11
Comfort: 19
Service: 16
Value: 15
Experience: 19
Total: 80
To continue...
A. Pacific Delight Tours (PDT)
.jpg)
PDT has been in this business for almost 40 years. Although it changed ownership in 2006, it remains as one of the main player in China tour industry. Over 10,000 US travelers are traveling to China with PDT services every year. From PDT, you can find lots of journeys to mainly the major cities and Yangtze River, mostly from 13-17 days.
Top Strengths:
1. Reputation: Great reputation after almost four decades in service.
2. Options: With its advantage of huge agents and customers base, PDT is able to classify its tours into three basic categories: Gold (expensive but with better accommodation and National Guide), Escapade (to second-tier cities), and SuperValue.
3. Good Guides: Because PDT allows commissioned shopping to bring their costs and prices down and its bigger group size, they can attract very good guides to work for them in China.
Top Weaknesses:
1. Commissioned Shopping: You will have to go into stores at every destination.
2. Touring Experience: Since most of its destinations are major cities, Yangtze River and stores, you will miss many other exciting places all over China…
Price: 16
Comfort: 14
Service: 14
Value: 17
Experience: 11
Total: 72
B. China Spree
This is a US based travel company managed by Chinese. It has invested a lot of resources doing online marketing so you may wonder why you can find them everywhere on the internet! They also pay a lot to Google by its online ads.
.jpg)
Top Strengths:
1. Price: Can’t believe 7-day Beijing trip all inclusive (w/ intl. air) will only cost $588.
2. Travel Options
Weaknesses:
1. Comfort: It says it will use 4-star hotels in China. I want to remind you that 4-star hotels in China are not appealing at all… Only a few of them are just fine… I won’t recommend 4-star hotels especially in second-tier cities.
2. Touring Experience: You have to admit that one can’t get good quality service when it is offering such a low price.
Price: 19
Comfort: 11
Service: 12
Value: 17
Experience: 11
Total: 70
C. WildChina Travel
I have introduced in my previous article about WildChina. I personally like WildChina because it offers off-the-beaten path journeys to not only big cities, but also most of the remote but exciting places in China. If you are a traveler looking for some different, in-depth or cultural immersion travel to China, WildChina may be your best choice. However, since it is too unique, it can’t get large groups signing up its tours, so the price is so high…
Top Strengths:
1. Reputation: A lot of rewards earned from National Geographic Traveler magazine, Travel + Leisure magazine, National Geographic Adventure magazine, Conde Nast Traveler magazine, etc.
2. Tour experience: no commissioned shopping will be conducted
3. Quality of service
Weaknesses:
1. Expensive
2. Poor guides: because WildChina pays its guides instead of allowing them to do commissioned shopping. The good guides in China are reluctant to work for them.
Price: 11
Comfort: 19
Service: 16
Value: 15
Experience: 19
Total: 80
To continue...
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