The arrival of a slew of new hotels is fast changing the skyline of Taipei and beyond. This is certainly good news for Taiwan’s hospitality industry. It has experienced little activity in the past few years. It is also refreshing for frequent visitors eager for innovative and well priced products. Against this backdrop, healthy competition is encouraged to thrive, a situation that is benefiting both the players and business travellers.
“The current worldwide economic crisis and increasing numbers of Mainland Chinese travelling to Taiwan are challenges (facing the local hotel industry) and might well provide a good opportunity to test the capacity and ability of the hospitality trade in Taipei,” says Christophe Pairaud, general manager of Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
Last year, in particular, saw the opening of several hotels including French hotel chain Accor’s Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (www.novotel.com). The four-star hotel, which was launched on November 26, is a five-minute drive from the international airport in Taoyuan and 40 minutes from downtown Taipei.
Offering 360 rooms and suites, this Novotel welcomes guests into its spacious and light-infused lobby with a high ceiling – which helps especially after they have been confined for hours in a stuffy aircraft. The hotel interiors are modern and stylish – from sound-proof guestrooms with king-size beds, internet access, bathtubs and separate showers, plush sofas, flatscreen televisions and large workdesks, to the Square restaurant which opens 24 hours and caters for the jetlagged.
“Our main customers are transit passengers who stay for an average of one to two nights... Instead of having 20 restaurants that serve average food, at Novotel Taipei, we have two first-rate restaurants,” says Pairaud. Besides the Square, there is also The Wei restaurant for Chinese cuisine, complete with six private dining rooms and a terrace. These are in addition to two bars – Q-Bar and O2. Other leisure and entertainment choices include the 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed Tong Hwa Golf and Country Club near the hotel.
In downtown Taipei, the five-star Palais de Chine Hotel (www.palaisdechinehotel.com) is due to open soon, just months after local hotel chain L’Hotels de Chine launched its sister property Chateau de Chine. Palais de Chine, which is part of a new integrated development comprising shopping and entertainment facilities, starts accepting guests from March 16.
Business travellers and holidaymakers will appreciate the convenient location of this hotel, being minutes away from the Taiwan Railway linking to Hualian, Taitung and other parts of Taiwan, and also the Taiwan High Speed Rail that runs from Taipei City to Kaohsiung City. The Taipei MRT station, too, is within close proximity of the hotel.
Boasting an Art-Nouveau style, the Palais de Chine has 286 guestrooms including 97 Single Rooms, 175 Double Rooms, 12 suites, a Vice Presidential Suite and a President Suite. Rooms on the Executive Floors occupy levels 14 to 16 of the 17-floor hotel building. All guestrooms are equipped with wireless internet connection, queen-size or twin beds, minibars and flatscreen televisions with satellite, cable and movie channels.
Office needs are served in the 24-hour business centre. For social events and networking, a grand ballroom can accommodate 30 tables or 468 people theatre-style while boardrooms of varying sizes, when combined, can fit between four and eight tables or 40 people theatre-style.
Achim V Hake, general manager of Palais de Chine, says: “The hospitality trade in Taipei is booming with an increasing number of internationally known chain hotels, which means business travellers will have more choices than they had before. (Locally branded) hotels need to distinguish themselves from these chain hotels.”
One way to grab the attention of hotel guests is through the stomach, which is what Palais de Chine hopes to achieve, by offering an array of unique dining options.
“Unmatched dining experiences are an important territory for hoteliers to explore,” says Hake. “We define ourselves (Palais de Chine) as a ‘gourmet hotel’ offering superb dining extravaganza in our two authentic dining outlets (La Rotisserie, the hotel’s signature grill restaurant, and Le Palais for Cantonese food), a French-themed teahouse and an exotic Moroccan lounge bar.”
More hotel developments follow. Frequent travellers to Taipei are no strangers to Hsinyi Redevelopment Area, home to the famous Taipei 101, the Taipei International Convention Centre, the Grand Hyatt, major office towers and department stores. Spacious boulevards and manicured gardens are just some features of Hsinyi district. What’s new in the neighbourhood is the Le Méridien by Starwood, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year (www.starwoodhotels.com). The hotel will have 160 rooms and suites with internet access and flatscreen TVs, 1,700sqm of function space including a pillarless ballroom and six breakout rooms, two restaurants (continental and Chinese), an indoor heated swimming pool and a health club.
“We are actually in good timing to open Le Méridien Taipei during this period of economic recovery,” says Paul Fu, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “Business travellers are now looking for more than just accommodation and room amenities, but rather, they are more focused on service efficiency.
“They expect hotel employees to deliver the quality services that they require.” Based on a 2010 travel trends report for hotel managers by BootsnAll, an online resource for independent travellers, “Travellers will always seek to have a good experience in the hotel they are staying.
It continues: “All of us are looking for upgrades and ‘quick fixes’ and ‘trading’ in order to get better services. But we are also looking to get value for money.”
That said, personalised value-added services are a trait of boutique hotels, an accommodation category that Taipei has not forgotten to explore and tap into. A newcomer to the scene is Hotel Quote (see opposite page, Hotel Check), which opened in September last year on Nanjing East Road.
It has 64 guestrooms, providing the nooks and crannies of a hotel experience. And that’s not all – a “homecoming” feel to it, which includes helping oneself to a host of complimentary guest benefits and products like toothbrushes and snacks in a lounge that operates round-the-clock, is what differentiates Hotel Quote from others, according to its general manager Amy Yu. “Hotel Quote Taipei represents a new modern style of accommodation – giving a sense of ‘returning to home’,” she explains.
“It is designed to provide (the guests with) all the privileges of an executive floor in a traditional five-star hotel, but for a less price.
“Our guests can enjoy the add-on benefits without spending a tremendous amount of money.” An entry-level Q Room starts from NT$7,900 (US$246) per night, inclusive of internet and minibar consumption in room, as well as access to the lounge for complimentary snacks all day, breakfast and concierge services.
Another player, Hotel Éclat (www.eclathotels.com/taipei) on Dunhua South Road is a sanctuary for art lovers, featuring pieces and sculptures by Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol and Chinese artists Yin Jun and Gao Xiao Wu among others. All the 60 guestrooms are avant-garde and lit with natural light. There are also four food and beverage outlets to choose from, and four meeting rooms of different sizes. An entry-level Deluxe Room starts from NT$6,250 (US$195), inclusive of breakfast, complimentary minibar consumption, daily newspapers and internet access.
Things are looking good for Taipei tourism and hospitality. Already, more hotel developments have been planned for the near future. One of them is the Mandarin Oriental Taipei, which will be part of a mixed-use luxury lifestyle complex.
Indeed, travellers today are spoilt with choices when it comes to accommodation, whether it is for a business trip or a well-deserved vacation. And it looks like the construction will continue. Watch this space.
PROMOTING HEALTHCARE
A taskforce on medical travel is promoting Taiwan for health tourism
Two years ago, the term “medical travel” was still new to Taiwan. Today, Taiwan is one step closer to becoming a centre for global healthcare, providing medical services to foreigners, particularly the Chinese-speaking community.
“Our purpose is to become the medical hub for all the Chinese people around the world,” says Dr Wu Ming-Yen, CEO of Taiwan Task Force on Medical Travel, which was formed by the Department of Health and the Taiwan Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association to promote Taiwan healthcare. Non-Chinese patients from Southeast Asia, the Americans and Europeans are also priority markets, Dr Wu adds.
“The taskforce (offers) a platform to integrate the related agencies like hospitals, travel agencies, airlines, hotels and government agencies to promote medical travel to Taiwan.” Medical specialisations in Taiwan include liver transplant (“The average length of stay in a hospital is about 45 days for living donor liver transplant,” Dr Wu reveals), joint replacement, cardiovascular surgery, craniofacial reconstruction and artificial reproduction. Traditional Chinese Medicine is also one of the strengths.
Taipei provides a host of quality hospitals including those accredited by the US Joint Commission International (the highest medical accreditation), with medical technology and English-speaking staff to handle medical travellers. Major hospitals with international patient care units include National Taiwan University Hospital (www.ntuh.gov.tw) and Cathay General Hospital (www.cgh.org.tw).
Visit www.medicaltravel.org.tw
Hotel Check – Taipei
QUOTE
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Glass doors slide open automatically to reveal a restaurant and bar with embossed decorative metal plates for walls and mirrors on the ceiling (pictured top right) – don’t be mistaken that the cab driver has just dropped you off at a chic restaurant in Taipei. This 64-room boutique hotel – previously a karaoke lounge – was designed by Taiwanese Ray Chen, who wanted to create an “understated and simple” look. Expect sleek and stylish interiors with wood furniture, wood and carpet flooring, mirrors and the use of wallpaper in guestrooms.
WHERE IS IT? Located on Nanjing East Road in Taipei’s business district, the hotel is next to Asia World mall and a minute’s walk from the Taipei Arena poopular for sport events and concerts. Nanjing East Road MRT station is a four-minute stroll away.
ROOM FACILITIES The 64 rooms and suites have been thoughtfully designed to provide a space for relaxation and sleep, which explains the dim lighting and big and comfortable bed. Guestrooms come in six categories – Q, U, O, T, E and QUOTE – and range from 22sqm to 53sqm.
A point to note is the view from the room. Although rooms have windows with curtains, only about one-fifth of them provide views of the area. I stayed in a T Room (37sqm) that looked out onto the wall of a building next door. Those who are claustrophobic may consider checking into any of the 27 U Rooms (25-33sqm), six of which have balconies. Three E Rooms (53sqm) have Jacuzzis, while QUOTE Rooms consist of Q and U Rooms (22sqm and 25sqm respectively) with a common corridor and are ideal for families.
Room luxuries include a DVD player, LCD TV and a custom-made jacket stand with a small accessories holder. A foot massager can be requested for free. The bathroom has a vanity mirror and a cabinet under the sink for storing toiletries and towels.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The long workdesk, complimentary wired and wireless internet, automatic toilet, free minibar consumption, Nespresso coffeemaker (except for Q Room guests) and a huge comfy bed.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The ground-floor 333 Restaurant and Bar – which is named after the hotel address, 333 on Nanjing East Road – comprises a waterscape bar, a communal table for up to 12 diners and more seating. It is open for lunch, dinner and late-night drinks (with live DJ-spun music on Thursdays).
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES H.Q. Lounge on level two is open round the clock for check-in and check-out services and office needs, as well as space for breakfast and snacks (complimentary, too) and reading (a range of newspapers and magazines was offered in English and Chinese). Guests can also help themselves to the jars of free bathroom amenities such as showercaps, emery boards and toothbrushes.
There is a separate area in H.Q. Lounge for meetings of six to eight people, and a rooftop outdoor space for events.
LEISURE FACILITIES There is none, but the staff can help suggest where to go for workouts and spa services.
PRICES Nightly rates range from NT$7,900 (US$246) for a Q Room to NT$16,000 (US$498) for the QUOTE pair of rooms which can accommodate at least four guests.
CONTACT 333, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City, tel 886 2 2175 5588, www.hotel-quote.com
VERDICT: The Hotel’s prominent Nanjing Road location provides easy access to business and leisure options. The staff were cheerful and willingly helped with directions. The attention to detail is commendable andmy only grouse would be the dim lighting to the room. Which I hope the management will improve on.
TIP OFF
Smart Travel Intelligence
TAIPEI is an interesting city with its share of traffic jam and crowds, vibrant night markets, a strong reading culture and reputable hospitals that provide quick health checks
FREE INTERNET IN THE MRT
It’s web surfing on the go – this time, in the Taipei MRT train. Commuters can hook up to the Net using WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) services, a mobile broadband wireless access network. The technology became available middle of last year, with eight trains on the Muzha line equipped with laptops that offer connectivity. Data is processed at “a speed three to four times faster than ADSL, allowing users to download a 2G film in only 20 to 30 seconds”, it was reported.
DIAL A CAR
Taxi fares in Taipei are relatively low – and it helps that the driver speaks English, if conversing in Mandarin isn’t your forte. A ride to the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport in a regular taxi can cost you NT$900 (US$28) one way. What we found out on a recent trip to Taipei is that a car can be rented at the same cost. So why not get one and be chauffeured to the airport, or even around the city? Ask your hotel concierge to recommend a good car rental company.
GET CHECKED
While you’re on a business trip to Taipei, allocate some time in between meetings and get an executive health check. Plan ahead – and it’s all for your own good. Hospitals with foreign patient care units include Cathay General Hospital (www.cgh.org.tw), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (www.cgmh.org.tw) and the National Taiwan University Hospital (www.ntuh.gov.tw).
For more travellers’ tips, visit http://eng.taiwan.net.tw
DO SOME READING
One of the must-dos in Taipei is going to the Eslite 24-hour bookstore (pictured above). It stocks a variety of English-language books, and the place is big so you can wander and browse till your heart’s content. 2/F, 245 Dunhua South Road, Section 1, tel 886 2 2775 5979
NIGHT MARKETS
Visiting a city on business doesn’t always allow you the luxury of time to explore the place. More often than not, you’ll find some “me time” at the end of day – that is, when night falls. In Taipei, going to the night markets – a locals’ pastime – is the thing to do. You can pick up cheap souvenirs there, and while you’re at it, remember to bargain and embrace the consumer culture at the same time.
