The Beijing Olympic Games are only one year away from us. It is
expected that during the Beijing Olympic Games, about 1 million
domestic visitors and 500,000 foreign tourists will come to
Beijing. Right now, star-graded hotels in Beijing have made a lot
of reservations. Family hotels, which might not be comparable to
star-graded hotels for in luxury services, might remain appealing
to some visitors for their comfort and cheap price.
Ms. Hu, a Shanghai lady in her thirties, has already reserved a
ticket for the Olympic opening ceremony. She has planned to come to
Beijing to watch the opening ceremony together with her husband and
her parents. The couple have decided that they will let their
friends in Beijing to find an apartment with either two or three
bedrooms for them to have a short stay in Beijing in 2008.
"We prefer residential houses to hotels. The price will surely
be cheaper and residential houses are usually located in quiet
places and are comfortable to live in," Ms. Hu said.
The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee promised that 113
hotels had signed contracts as the Olympic partners in Beijing, the
price of their guest rooms would be lower than the price of hotel
rooms at the Athens Olympic Games and the Toronto Olympic Winter
Games. Even so, some experts predict that the price of hotel rooms
might still reach 1,500-2,000 yuan per night during the Games.
As hotel prices will become intolerably high, wage earners like
Ms. Hu plans to rent an ordinary residential apartment for her
short stay.
As Ms. Hu said, they can do the washing and cooking in these
places and the price will be a lot cheaper than equivalent services
in hotels. The money thus saved can be spent in touring more scenic
spots in Beijing or buying more souvenirs. The trip will surely
become economical and pleasant.
At present, an ordinary apartment with one bedroom located in
the downtown area of Beijing usually costs around 1,500-2,000 yuan
per month. During the Olympic Games, many of these vacant rooms
will be rented out. If such room charges at 1,000 yuan per night,
it will mean that in less than one month during the Olympic period,
the room can make money that is otherwise equal to total rental
fees of a whole year.
Although family hotels might become a good way to solve the
accommodation problem during the Olympic Games, experts predict
that they will not become the main form of hotels during the
Olympics.
(Chinanews.cn July 16, 2007)