Connect with us

News

Chinese become world’s biggest travel spenders

Published

on

Arrival

The second annual Chinese International Travel Monitor reveals significant insights into the changing behaviours of Chinese travellers and how the global hotel industry is adapting.

Surveying more than 3,000 Chinese international travelers and more than 1,500 hoteliers around the world, the Hotels.com report found 75 per cent of hoteliers globally say Chinese travellers now account for up to five per cent of their business and 45 per cent say they have experienced an increase in Chinese guests over last year, with the greatest increases coming in APAC (61 per cent).  Hoteliers see China as a positive growth market over the next three years with one in 10 expecting to see an increase of more than 50 per cent and almost half (47 per cent) anticipating an 11-50 per cent rise.

According to the Hotels.com report the majority of overseas Chinese travel (96 per cent) has been for leisure purposes, while just over half (52 per cent) have also visited other countries for business or education.

In a growing trend, nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of Chinese travellers say they prefer to travel independently and not as part of a group. This development has been confirmed by the hoteliers surveyed, who say 70 per cent of Chinese guests now travel independently, compared with a much more even split in 2012.

United Nations World Travel Organisation reflected that Chinese travellers spending US$102 billion on international travel in 2012, an increase of over 40% on 2011*

Johan Svanstrom, Managing Director of Hotels.com Asia Pacific, said, “The 2013 Chinese International Travel Monitor (CITM) shows the move to independent travel identified in the CITM last year is now preferred by the majority of Chinese travellers. While in-roads have been made in this area, governments will have to take this into account when organising their visa application infrastructure and processes.

In addition, the CITM highlights areas for continued improvement for accommodation providers. The ability to accept Chinese payment methods is seen as the single most important offering from hotels and over a quarter (26 per cent) of Chinese travellers feel this is a key area for improvement.

Three quarters (75 per cent) of Chinese travellers say hoteliers need to improve the provision of translated items, such as welcome literature, websites, TV programmes and newspapers, while almost half (42 per cent) say that they would like more Mandarin speaking staff in hotels.

Highlighting a disconnect between the desires of Chinese travellers and provisions made by hoteliers, a quarter (25 per cent) of hoteliers say they offer cultural awareness training to staff but only one in ten (11 per cent) offer welcome materials in Mandarin. Additionally, globally, just over half (56 per cent) of hotels have invested less than $10,000** in developing programmes and products specifically catering to Chinese guests over the past 12 months.

When it comes to researching and booking travel, personal recommendation plays an increasingly vital role, with almost a third (30 per cent) of Chinese travellers saying they rely on advice from family and friends, followed by online travel booking and review sites.

More than a quarter of Chinese travellers (27 per cent) use social media to help them make decisions on holiday destinations, with this figure rising to 33 per cent among younger travellers under 35.

“These insights highlight the need for hoteliers to adapt their marketing strategies, with a particular focus on online and social media channels, to attract Chinese travellers. While the CITM shows hoteliers are making positive steps towards catering to an increasingly mobile and savvy Chinese travel market, it also shows the need for the global hotel industry to adapt facilities and services to more extensively cater to the world’s largest market of travellers.

“In addition, programmes being implemented by many governments and tourism authorities to attract and facilitate for Chinese travellers are a positive step in the right direction, but the pace of growth in the volume of Chinese travellers appears to be outstripping the pace of change in the hotel industry,” Svanstrom concluded.

News

Amilla Maldives hosts ‘Around the World in Wonder’ New Year experience

Published

on

Amilla Maldives welcomed the New Year with Around the World in Wonder, a globally inspired celebration beneath the Maldivian night sky.

The evening began with Around the World in a Glass, a beachfront cocktail journey with flavours from across the globe. A gourmet dinner buffet followed under the stars, each dish reflecting Amilla’s signature artistry. During the evening, Morgan Martinello, General Manager of Amilla Maldives, addressed the island with a warm welcome, sharing a few words of gratitude and reflection to set the tone for the night ahead.

The main stage, set over the pool, became the heart of the night bringing together an international line-up of performers. World rhythms flowed through the evening with DJ Elaiva, layered with vibrant saxophone interludes by Sharif and live sets from Australia’s Hamilton Band. Visual theatre unfolded around the stage as acrobats, aerialists and fire-led performances by Fiesta Creations brought movement and light, while cultural dance moments gently invited guests to join in. Throughout the night, Sid, the emcee, guided the celebration with warmth and an easy charm.

As midnight approached, the Hamilton Band led the countdown. Fireworks lit the sky above the lagoon, adding a dazzling finale to fire-lit performances and marking the arrival of 2026.

The celebration flowed into the early hours at Tessera, where DJ Kushan kept the rhythm alive, letting guests move seamlessly between music, conversation, and quiet moments by the sea.

Amilla Maldives’ Around the World in Wonder offered immersive, elegant, and personalised luxury, setting the tone for a year of connection, discovery, and island magic.

Continue Reading

Drink

Huvafen Maldives hosts exclusive Riedel Wine experience led by Maximilian J. Riedel

Published

on

Huvafen Maldives is hosting an extraordinary wine experience in collaboration with Riedel, the world-renowned Austrian glassware company, led by 11th-generation CEO Maximilian J. Riedel. The exclusive event will take place in Vinum, Huvafen’s underground wine cellar – the first of its kind in the Maldives – offering guests a uniquely immersive setting to explore the art of wine enjoyment.

Over two evenings, Maximilian J. Riedel, the eleventh generation of family owned company RIEDEL, will personally guide an intimate group of guests through a sensory tasting of iconic wines using four distinct glasses from the RIEDEL Veloce collection, highlighting how the shape and size of each glass considerably influences aroma, texture and flavour – a hallmark of Riedel’s renowned approach to wine enjoyment.

Carrying forward a remarkable family legacy, Maximilian leads the Austrian glassware company with great success and a keen spirit for the Zeitgeist. He continues to redefine the so called Riedel Wine Glass Experience. Each year, these comparative tastings inspire, educate, and entertain more than 50,000 participants all over the world.

“Maximilian Riedel’s expertise brings an extraordinary dimension to wine enjoyment,” said General Manager, Noel Cameron. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our philosophy of curating unforgettable, refined experiences for our guests, where every detail, from the wine to the glass, is considered.”

“A glass can make the wine shine or destroy its magic. This is why we at Riedel offer exclusively functional tools. Their only purpose is to support and present the wine in its best possible way,” said Maximilian Riedel. “I am looking very much forward to demonstrate which enormous difference glasses make, in this extraordinary underground setting of Huvafen Fushi. Guests will experience and enjoy how the functional glasses enhance their wine enjoyment.”

For reservations or to explore exclusive packages, please contact the resort’s reservations team at stay@huvafenfushi.com.

Continue Reading

News

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau rings in 2026 with ocean-inspired festive programme

Published

on

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort welcomed 2026 with an extraordinary festive season inspired by the mysteries of the ocean, culminating in a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration themed “Atlantis: The Lost Kingdom.” Set against the turquoise backdrop of the Indian Ocean, the resort transformed into a world of myth, artistry, and immersive island experiences.

Throughout the festive period, guests were invited to journey through a thoughtfully curated programme that blended refined celebration with meaningful connection. From the ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting and joyful family moments to hands-on creative workshops, wellness experiences, and ocean-led adventures, the season unfolded as a celebration of togetherness, discovery, and mindful luxury.

The highlight of the festivities arrived on New Year’s Eve, where guests gathered for an elegant cocktail reception followed by a grand gala dinner beneath the stars. Inspired by the mythical splendour of Atlantis, the evening featured captivating live performances, artistic choreography, and immersive entertainment that brought the underwater legend to life. As midnight approached, the shoreline became the stage for a breath-taking starlit drone show, illuminating the night sky and marking the arrival of the New Year in radiant style.

Wellness and creativity were also woven seamlessly into the programme, with visiting specialists offering personalised movement sessions, celestial journeys under the night sky, and ocean-inspired art experiences that invited guests to slow down, reconnect, and create lasting memories.

Reflecting InterContinental Maldives’ commitment to True Hospitality for Good, the festive celebrations honoured both indulgence and intention, bringing guests together in a setting where celebration, nature, and storytelling coexist in perfect harmony.

As the final moments of the festive season faded into golden island mornings, Maamunagau stood as a place where meaningful experiences, shared joy, and timeless memories defined the start of a new year.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.