Nigel R. Edwards has twenty years of diverse hospitality experience focusing on financial analysis, marketing, and team building, and he is currently general manager of Hotel Equatorial Qingdao.

Edwards started his career at White Heron Hotel Auckland, New Zealand in 1979 and worked in various locations throughout Europe for nearly 10 years. He joined Millennium & Copthorne as executive assistant manager of Copthorne Harbourcity Hotel Auckland in 2000.

How does your hotel differentiate itself from other hotels around the area, especially in MICE sector?
We are the best-located hotel in Qingdao, close to all the most interesting attractions and the city centre. This enables the MICE groups to enjoy both entertainment and leisure activities without having to travel far. We also are refurbishing our entire suite of banquet and meeting rooms to provide an improved experience. The hotel is well equipped with five restaurants and very large banqueting facilities.

How does your hotel cooperate with local government, tourism departments and other enterprises in the hospitality industry? 
We have a very good relationship with the government departments; all whom have been very supportive in the hotel’s plans for the future. We are fortunate enough to also have the support of the Olympic Committee as we are an official hotel for the Olympic Sailing Regatta. The close affiliations we have will help both the hotel and the region to provide an enhanced experience for the visitors to Qingdao.

What new plans does your hotel have for the MICE sector for 2008? 
We have commenced a refurbishment program that will encompass all public areas and F&B outlets. This will obviously be of huge benefit with contemporary facilities to host meetings and events. As we will become part of the Millennium and Copthorne group our sales offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Singapore will be able to help stimulate this market which is in growth mode – particularly from these regions.

With increasing numbers of tourists and company bookers looking for hotel discount information through websites, how are you using email marketing and internet to strengthen your online operation? 
We are re-branding this year and will enter the Millennium Copthorne family, which is very focused on electronic information delivery. Also the company provides superior web-booking systems. We will have the opportunity to use the database collated at our central marketing office in Singapore that interacts with many other FFP and reward programs.

What changes do you think will occur in Qingdao’s hotel industry during the Olympic year?  
The market is obviously heating up with new inventory coming on line. This will provide the biggest challenge for hotels – to manage their market share. Hotels should communicate more to ensure a “rate war” does not break out after the Olympics when business drops off. Qingdao hotels need to study Sydney and Athens to understand that it will require careful management to take full advantage of the events.

(average: 3.00 out of 5)

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