Guo Men Hotel Beijing
Guo Men Hotel Beijing, with its rural scenery combines both western and Chinese architecture, and provides 185 beautifully furnished rooms. The Guo Men Hotel is located 10km from the Beijing airport, and a 30-minute drive from the Beijing Railway Station. Situated near the Beigo Bridge Green Belt, this 3-star hotel is close to the airport expressway and has easy access to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Friendship Store. Guests can also dine at the on-site restaurant that serves a variety of western and Chinese dishes.
For more information see Beijing Hotels
Guo Men Hotel Beijing
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Royal Peacock Hotel Singapore
Royal Peacock Hotel Singapore is a charming boutique hotel offering extremely affordable accommodation in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. With easy access to the MRT, The Royal Peacock Hotel Singapore is a row of ten Chinese-style shophouses that were converted into a small but uniquely charming boutique hotel. Guest rooms are understandably small, but are full of character and equipped with all mod cons. Being located in Chinatown, the hotel is surrounded by eateries, offering authentic Asian dishes at very cheap prices. Two subway stations plus a bus stop are all less than a five-minute walk from the Royal Peacock, making traveling to the city’s attractions, including Orchard Road, very fast, convenient and inexpensive.
For more information see Singapore Hotels
Royal Peacock Hotel Singapore
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Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore
Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore has a warm and friendly service. A charming boutique hotel in Singapore, Harbour Ville is renowned for its excellent location and emphasis on guest satisfaction. This hotel offers great business and economy accommodation at very reasonable rates. The hotel is strategically located near a number of Singapore’s most essential business and tourist locales, including the business hub Raffles City (and the world-famous Raffles Hotel), Mount Faber, PSA Keppel Distripark and St. Teresa Church. Bus services are available in front of the hotel. You can catch local trains a short distance away and it is only minutes from fine dining, shopping and entertainment spots.
For more information see Singapore Hotels
Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore
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Fragrance Balestier Hotel Singapore
Fragrance Balestier Hotel Singapore offers a convenient location and a comfortable stay at affordable rates for the budget traveller. The hotel is only a 30 minutes drive from Changi Airport, with the nearest MRT and bus station within walking distance. The 48 guest rooms offer LCD TV, phone with IDD facilities and an en-suite bathroom with heater among other amenities. Orchard Road , Suntec City and Sentosa are between 10-20 minutes away by taxi from the hotel.
For more information see Singapore Hotels
Fragrance Balestier Hotel Singapore
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Ibis North Point Hotel Hong Kong
Ibis North Point Hotel Hong Kong opened in 2001. This 31-storey hotel has 210 modern, compact rooms in the commercial district of Hong Kong. Located in North Point, it is 46km from the international airport, and 4km from the city centre. It is also next to North Point MTR Station, providing guests with easy access to the city. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is also nearby. Guests appreciate the view of Victoria Harbor and close proximity to the ferry terminals. This 3-star hotel is specifically designed for budget-conscious travellers who desire all the modern amenities.
For more information see Hong Kong Hotels.
Ibis North Point Hotel Hong Kong
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Mingle Place Hotel Hong Kong
Mingle Place Hotel, Hong Kong, is a 3-star hotel in Hong Kong. It has 28 rooms. Mingle Place Hotel Hong Kong is located next to Knutsford Terrace. The hotel has been built with convenience and comfort in mind. The hotel has a cozy atmosphere with a range of quality amenities. Mingle Place Hotel features a bar, beauty salon, business centre and conference facilities. There is also a swimming pool, restaurant and laundry service. Airport transfers are offered and there are facilities for the disabled. Rooms are comfortably furnished with air conditioning and minibar.
For more information see Hong Kong Hotels.
Mingle Place Hotel Hong Kong
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Bridal Tea House Hotel
Bridal Tea House Hotel, Hong Kong is located in Kowloon. The Bridal Tea House Yau Ma Tei offers first-class accommodation at very competitive prices. It is a small boutique hotel with real atmosphere. The hotel is situated in the shopping district of Nathan Road. It has many attractions close by, such as the Temple Street Night Market, the Tin Haw Temple and Jade Market. The MTR station a short walk away, which is an perfect base to explore Kowloon. Each of the 63 rooms has air conditioning, a television, mini-refrigerator and an internet connection. You can choose to dine at any of Temple Street’s restaurants or enjoy western cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant.
For more information see Hong Kong Hotels
Bridal Tea House Hotel
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BP International House Hotel
B P International Hotel in Hong Kong in Tsimshatsui district is, above all, elegant with artistic design and a spacious environment. Every room features modern conveniences and most have stunning views of Victoria Harbour. Hotel facilities include a flight departure screen, currency exchange, IDD phone and tour desk. The cuisine is Cantonese, with European salads and a Japanese grill. There is also a hall which is is available for functions and business meetings.
For more information see Hong Kong Hotels
BP International House Hotel
Are serviced apartments becoming the norm for business travellers in Asia?
The concept of a luxurious and sophisticated apartment in the heart of the central business district, with cleaning services and access to high-class facilities and amenities is nothing new, but recently the service apartment, with its superior features and lower costs, is increasingly becoming the norm in Asia.
Thailand’s property outlook, for example, continues to remain very healthy, especially in the residential housing market and the office building sector. According to international property analysts CBRE, their second-half forecast for 2006 and a recent article in the Bangkok Post predicts: “The serviced apartment market in downtown Bangkok is expected to improve in the second half due to rising demand as reflected by the continued increase in number of expats. The rising number of expatriates in Thailand is boosting the demand for serviced apartments, especially in the mid-priced segment.
The Bangkok Post highlighted the increase in foreign nationals holding work permits this year: “According to the Alien Occupational Control Division of the Departments of Employment, the number of expatriates holding work permits in Bangkok totalled 64,352 as of May 2006, up 16.1% year-on-year.”
Theerathorn Prapunpong, associate director of leasing of residential leasing services for CBRE, said that most expats tended to rent rather than buy property in Bangkok because Thailand would be only a temporary posting for two to three years.
“The largest growth has bee in the Japanese community, which now accounts for 22% of foreigners with work permits in Bangkok,” he said.
Many of the new expats working in Bangkok were in mid-management or technical positions with mid-range housing allowances. “Therefore the bulk of expatriate demand will be for the mid-range market,” he said.
During the last 12 months, 463 apartments and 2,393 condominium units were contracted in Bangkok’s central business district (CBD) alone, which is the most popular location. And CBRE predicts that 850 new apartments and 13,100 condo unit6s will be constructed in the central areas in the next two years.
According to a recent report from James Lang La Salle on the Australian market: “Further supply additions in the form of serviced apartments are expected to have an impact on occupancy levels in this market. We predict that the higher standard of product will see rate growth continue to increase by approximately 3.0% per annum.”
The sector is booming, largely at the expense of the traditional hotel industry, with one decisive factor contributing to their success and growing popularity: cost effectiveness. Serviced apartments are generally much cheaper than hotel rooms and, when you consider how much more space a guest is getting, they offer excellent value for money.
Neil Simmons, formerly of CB Richard Ellis, and co-director of leading Bangkok real estate agent Soho Properties, said: “Typically, executives stay in temporary hotel accommodation where they feel isolated. The serviced apartment is changing all that.”
Up until recently, business travellers had little choice but to rely on familiar and indistinguishable hotels. Martin Haywood of IPC Consulting said: “My company has always relied on hotels for accommodation, which felt restrictive. Every night I had to battle with the tedium of pre-conceived surroundings and a predictable menu.” Now, with the emergence of the serviced apartment, a new alternative has been created for those who do not want to stay in hotels or commit themselves to private property rentals.
It has been a particular problem in Asia where there is a high proportion of expatriate personnel who are highly transient, moving between capital cities and factory sites, spending only days at a time in their Asian home-base. There is an increasing tendency for businessmen to lean towards the serviced apartment where they enjoy the freedom to work, entertain, cook, sleep and relax as they would in their own home. It’s a break from hotel rooms and travelling.
Serviced apartments are furnished properties with bathrooms, living rooms, fully-fitted kitchens and bedrooms. Most have daily maid services and nearly all have a 24-hour concierge and provide in-house maintenance. As such, serviced apartments provide a home away from home and are designed to make any period of time away as comfortable and homely as possible.
They are designed for the individual and their family who want high-quality living in short-, medium- and long-term stays, with a choice of rooms ranging from studio apartments to large 4-bedroom deluxe penthouses. In short, serviced apartments are ideal for people who enjoy catering for themselves and their own space.
This is not say there are not drawbacks to the business. As Mr Simmons points out: “Even though the serviced apartment industry has massive potential and will expand rapidly over the next five years, a cultural change is needed first. We have yet to see a large swathe of decision-makers adapt to the corporate housing market of lower-cost accommodation.
“One thing that is changing this is the emergence of a small number of global and regional online booking websites. This is helping to expand people’s awareness of the serviced apartment industry, particularly websites that offer transparent cost comparisons and immediate bookings, such as www.serviced-apartment.net.”
His co-director, Chris Heath, succinctly weighed in the advantages: “Choosing a serviced apartment allows businessmen to easily choose a suitable location, primarily in the heart of major cities in Asia, with a broad range of services, such as broadband internet, fully-equipped kitchens, private parking, international cable and plasma screen televisions, maid room, daily cleaning and linen services, international cuisine, swimming pools, health clubs, spas, a lounge, conference rooms and much more, all within a relaxing and elegant environment.”
One example of luxury living in Asia is The Ascott, which has a range of five-star serviced apartments in most capital cities in the region. Jacinta Teo, the Director of Sales, Indochina, commented: “We offer luxurious and spacious private apartments, complemented with comprehensive world-class services and facilities, ideal for corporate housing. This, coupled with the convenience of being located in a capital’s business and commercial district, next to embassies, shopping districts, restaurants and nightlife is increasing becoming a popular alternative.”
The benefits of the serviced apartment has a way to go before it is universally recognised as the corporate accommodation of choice, but its benefits are certainly starting to make an cultural impact in and around Asia.
serviced apartments asia, the ascott serviced apartments
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