Hospitality giant Accor is slashing rates by 50 percent in 300 hotels in 16 countries across Asia-Pacific.
The “super sale” runs from March 7 until March 9, 2010 and applies to stays between April 1 and August 31, 2010 in all the brands (except Sofitel) – from the five-star Pullman properties to the budget Ibis hotels. The half-price discount is calculated from “the rate of the day” with lead-in prices from US$16.
Demand for accommodation has been intensifying since October of last year, Accor Asia-Pacific executives observed. Graham Wilson, senior vice-president sales and marketing, said: “Leisure travel volumes were on the increase prior to this (month), and combined with stronger business travel have had a notable positive impact on the trading levels of our hotels.”
Wilson said their mid and upscale products, particularly Novotel and Pullman hotels had benefited from the recent rise in passenger movements, with economy-oriented Ibis the least affected by the financial downturn. However, he warned, as demand rose so would rate levels, a trend now noticeable in primary gateways such as "Hongkong, Singapore, Mumbai and Delhi".
Secondary cities and some leisure destinations "will take a little longer to recover", Wilson said.
Here's a sample of the prices in some destinations:
• Jakarta – from US$49
• Shanghai – from US$19
• Beijing – from US$22
• Hongkong – from US$116
• Singapore – from US$53
• Taipei – from US$55
Accor loyalty card holders A/Club and Advantage Plus members have access to a pre-sale period from March 5, 2010. Book by logging onto www.accorhotels.com/supersale
Margie T Logarta
