China recognises there’s a new ‘way to stay’ when travelling in the UK... serviced apartments

‘China Daily’, leading English-language newspaper in China (daily circulation 500,000 in 150 countries/regions) ran a special report about the phenomenal growth in Chinese visitors to the UK using serviced apartments as their accommodation of choice.

The serviced apartment product – a self-contained apartment with living and sleeping areas along with a fitted kitchen and bathroom (sizes vary from studio to 3 or 4 bedroom apartments) meets the needs of Chinese guests exactly, as they so enjoy having an accommodation base which delivers a true home-from-home experience and especially having the flexibility to be able to cook for themselves.

VisitBritain – the national tourist board - reported earlier this month that inbound visitors from China to the UK had grown a staggering +47% in the first 6 months of 2017 to 115,000 visitors and expenditure similarly reached record levels at £231 million, up 54%  year on year.

James Foice, CEO of The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) – the not-for-profit-trade-body for the serviced apartment sector – confirms: "Our member operators right across the UK are reporting a very strong uptake in Chinese inbound business between January and the end of August this year. The profile of the Chinese visitor covers all market segments including business, leisure and visiting friends and family (there are significant numbers of Chinese students studying at UK universities and their friends/family come to visit them) and clearly the favourable exchange rate is also helping."

ASAP’s members in Scotland in particular report a very strong Increase in Chinese business.  For one member in Edinburgh - The Knight Residence by Mansley Apartments (33 serviced apartments in the city centre) – Chinese visitors are up 18% year on year and China now represents their single biggest overseas market for the very first time; so much so that they have invested in a special app in Mandarin, a Mandarin language information pack and a special breakfast welcome pack including noodles, chopsticks and a selection of Chinese teas. And their vending machine is stocked with Chinese snacks and drinks!

Similarly the Chinese business is up 30% year on year at Premier Suites in Glasgow - and again covers the full age spectrum of visitors – the older generation as well as younger travellers. They too have invested time and resource to be part of the GREAT China Welcome Charter with information in Mandarin on their website. A total of xx of ASAP’s UK members are part of the CHINA Read Welcome charter.

Read more...