Hotel reaps rewards of focus on second-tier cities

The rapid development of Chongqing's economy and the philosophy of the hotel gives Christiane. D. Wasfy, general manager of JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing, much reason to sound optimistic about the future.

"The operating environment is healthier here compared to post-Olympics Beijing and pre-Expo Shanghai where new hotels are mushrooming all over the place," says Wasfy, who had earlier managed Marriott properties in Beijing, Shanghai and Sanya.

Although the economic downturn dealt a blow to luxury consumption worldwide, the Chongqing hotel has tried to maintain stable revenues.