The significance of hospitality and tourism in the fast-growing global economy has become evident for both profit-seeking businessmen and leisure-seeking individuals. This understanding resulted in the emergence of major hotel chains during the 20th century, as people acknowledged the economic worth of hotels.
As someone who works in the hotel industry and also enjoys traveling, I want to discuss the pros and cons of staying at the Holiday Inn Express Causeway Bay Hotel in Hong Kong’s bustling commercial area. This hotel’s prime location near the Causeway Bay MTR metro station and renowned shopping centers like Times Square and SOGO make it a convenient choice for both tourists and locals seeking retail therapy or dining experiences.
Despite being situated in Causeway Bay, one of the world’s priciest rental districts, Holiday Inn Express faces stiff competition due to its high profitability. To stand out in this fiercely competitive area, the hotel adopts a limited service hotel concept to attract guests. Since its inception in 2005, Holiday Inn Express has offered round-the-clock front desk assistance along with laundry cleaning and currency exchange services.
The hotel is conveniently located 40 minutes away from Hong Kong International Airport and provides an airport pick-up service at regular 30-minute intervals for a fee. It has a total of 282 guest rooms spread across 27 floors, and guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast every morning. The hotel offers basic amenities such as satellite TV, in-room safe, attached bathroom with a hairdryer, and other facilities including free internet and WIFI service in the guest rooms. Additionally, for business travelers, the hotel has a functional meeting room and business center.
The hotel’s location is considered a major advantage and a deciding factor for guests. Many online reviews praise the hotel’s location in Causeway Bay, which allows tourists to experience the prosperity of Hong Kong. The convenience of the hotel’s location is highly appreciated as well. According to a guest review on “Trip advisor,” although the rooms are compact, they were sufficient for sleeping purposes as guests spent most of their time outside.
The hotel is situated in the shopping area of Causeway Bay and just a two-minute walk from Times Square shopping mall, which can also be accessed by MTR. This advantageous location caters to shoppers seeking convenient access to their desired destinations. Furthermore, the hotel provides a tranquil stay in a bustling and dynamic area, making it attractive to all kinds of travelers – whether they are attending a conference, on a business trip, or simply on vacation. It is the excellent location of the hotel that draws such diverse clientele.
The Holiday Inn, located in the same district as its hotel competitors, faces the challenge of pricing rooms competitively. Customers typically prefer affordable prices without compromising on service quality. Being a limited service hotel, certain departments like housekeeping, security, and engineering are outsourced to reduce management resources and alleviate workload for other department colleagues. This outsourcing strategy enables the hotel to offer lower room rates compared to its competitors due to reduced costs.
Despite the higher cost of room rentals in this area, it is important and worthwhile for some guests to stay as close to the city as possible. Therefore, the hotel’s reasonable price is a significant advantage. Furthermore, being part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), an international chain with over 4,500 hotels in 100 countries worldwide, adds to its appeal. This extensive group caters to diverse travel preferences, offering luxury, family-friendly, and extended stay accommodations. As a result, guests can find their ideal hotel within the IHG family of brands.
Because of their fame and prestige in the industry, many guests who have never been to the hotel before already have a certain perception of the hotel’s image and service standard, which is their advantage as a chain hotel. A good reputation not only serves as a form of advertising, but also attracts guests. Although Holiday Inn Express has some strengths that can help them surpass their competitors, it is not without flaws. The main weaknesses include the size of the rooms and the level of care for in-room property.
The scarcity of land in Hong Kong poses a major challenge for the hotel industry, particularly for hotels located in the town center such as the Holiday Inn Express. A guest review from “Trip advisor” highlights this issue: “After staying at the Holiday Inn Hong Kong a few years ago, I recently returned. The room we were given this time was quite different from what I had imagined. It had a dusty, musty smell and was far from being luxurious.”
This hotel, located in Causeway Bay with Lane Crawford and Times Square shops nearby, may not be ideal for extended stays. Its downtown location is both a positive and negative aspect, since the high cost of land has led to smaller rooms to cut expenses. Consequently, some guests may perceive the rooms as cramped and the service as limited, making it more suitable for stays of up to two nights.
I propose that the hotel expand their new establishment in secondary areas of New Territories, such as Tsuen Wan and Shatin. These areas are well-developed, with amenities such as large shopping malls, hospitals, cinemas, supermarkets, and accessible metro stations. Although these areas may be slightly farther from the city, the distance is only around 15 to 20 minutes more. The cost of renting land here is significantly lower than in Causeway Bay. Expanding to these areas would allow the hotel to enhance its software and hardware, including human resources, room size, facilities, and more, in order to attract and retain a larger customer base.
