Haiqing Hotel ready for Olympic effort

Haiqing Hotel says it is creating a home-like environment to make guests feel at ease during the Olympic Games.

"Our customers from different countries will enjoy fine food, drink and tailor-made services here," said Wang Xinmin, manager of the hotel's Building A.

As a coastal holiday resort in Qingdao the hotel has its own advantages to attract guests. It established its reputation for quality service during the 2006 and 2007 international sailing regattas held in Qingdao, which laid the foundation for the 2008 Olympics Games.

Xu Chongming, chief of the hotel office, shows many letters from athletes from various countries expressing praise and appreciation for the hotel.

"We touch our customers with love, which is the service idea of our hotel," says Xu.

The hotel accommodated more than 250 foreign competitors during the 2007 Qingdao regatta.

The athletes were very surprised and happy when they saw the pictures taken during the race hanging on the wall.

Because of the upcoming Games, the hotel has named its dining rooms after other Olympic host cities.

Photos of various countries and regions hang on the wall along the hotel's corridor, while national and regional flags decorate each guest room. The athlete customers last year were allowed to take away pillows as souvenirs when they left.

Special food and drinks were another appeal to foreign athletes.

The hotel has introduced many new dishes, such as one called the "Dragon looks forward to the Olympic Games". The dishes look so delicate that some athletes last year wanted to keep them or even hesitated to eat.

In addition to Chinese cuisines with a strong local flavor, the hotel has also developed a varied lineup for overseas customers, including Westerners and Muslims

"Thank you for all your hospitality. You did great!" said Jack Henzed from Western Australia in his letter.

The hotel has a tea garden in a typical ancient Chinese building style where guests have a relaxing time listening to the nearby brook and tasting tea scented with faint aroma.

The hotel made a special offering of 208 Pu'er tea bricks, each printed the design of 2008 Olympic sailing race.

"If any of the athletes staying at our hotel have a birthday during the race event, we will make a special yacht-design birthday cake and hold a party for him or her," says Yu Jing, manager of the hotel's Building C.

"One athlete from Poland was moved into tears when we had a party for her" during last year's regatta, she said.

"Thank you for the nice gift and sincere wishes. They came as a surprise to me and I really enjoy them all," said Kosia from Poland in her letter.

Haiqing Hotel is a four-star holiday resort situated on the Yellow Sea. The city government has given it awards for successful holding receptions for the 2006 and 2007 sailing race athletes.

The premium environment of the hotel has attracted more than 50 sports and film celebrities including Swedish table tennis player Jan-Ove Waldner and Chinese film star Tang Guoqiang.

The hotel also caters to company conferences. Thus far this year it has accommodated the annual meeting of Coca-Cola, Adidas and Siemens.

(China Daily 04/09/2008 page24)