[photopress:gloriainternationalhotel.jpg,full,alignright]Gloria International Hotels has spread itself throughout China with four different brands. Heading the group’s transformation is Willie K.H. Ooi, who has worked for Gloria for almost five years and is originally from Malaysia. In an interview he said:
‘We basically manage four different brands, namely Gloria Grand, Gloria Plaza, Gloria Inn and Gloria Resort.
‘Our Gloria Plaza Hotels have been positioned to cater more for the domestic mid-range business travelers and meeting groups due to our good location. However, at certain Gloria Plaza Hotels, we have seen an increase in international arrivals overtaking our traditional domestic markets.
‘On the other hand, our Gloria Inns are well-positioned to meet the lesser demands from cost-conscious domestic travelers by providing clean and comfortable accommodation.
‘Our more diversified Gloria Resort products range from the 5-star Gloria Resort and the 4-star Cactus Resort, both in Sanya, to a smaller 3-star Gloria Holiday Villas in Qinhuangdao.’
‘Having four different brands carrying the Gloria name comes with a lot of challenges as guests who have experienced our 5-star product expect a similar experience and welcome at our smaller 3-star products as well.
‘Our strategy over the next few years would be to focus on the high-end product carrying Gloria’s brand and the low-end products carrying a different brand name.’
Asked what are some challenges to operating in China he said, ‘Human resources would be the single biggest challenge facing operating hotels in China today. This is due partly to the booming development and opening of new hotels all over China today. The lack of qualified staff coupled with the high staff turnover has forced our hotel group to embark on more innovative and creative ways to secure and retain our workforce.’
Source: China Hospitality News
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