THE Empire Hotel & Country Club is looking to corner more of the Chinese tourist market, its general manager said.
“China is definitely the largest market for Brunei and we need to tap into that. The direct flight between Brunei and Shanghai by the Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) is very important for us,” said Desmond Acheson.
RBA is resuming direct flights between Bandar Seri Begawan and Shanghai from March 28, reducing flying time between the two cities to just over four hours.
Acheson said Empire is set to send its sales manager to China, visiting cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, even Taipei and Kaoshiung in Taiwan.
“Our sales manager will be meeting up with travel agents and tour operators in China to negotiate packages for them to bring their tour groups to our hotel.”
RBA invited travel agents from China to visit more than a month ago, and Empire also hosted them to give them a feel of the “Empire experience”.
When asked on the business activity of Empire during the recent Chinese New Year festivities, Acheson said occupancy was up to 90 per cent due mainly to an influx of tourists from China, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Brunei’s hosting of the Asean Tourism Forum in January and the visit of China State Councillor Dai Bingguo also helped Empire achieve full occupancy, he said.
Desmond Acheson, general manager of The Empire Hotel & Country Club. Picture: BT/Rudolf Portillo
The Empire Hotel & Country Club had just hosted the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, which saw stars like Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance gracing the greens in Brunei.
Another star in action was Formula 1 legend Nigel Mansell.
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