Cityview hotel's biggest asset revealed

The Cityview in Yau Ma Tei is on a famous site in Kowloon, the place where the Waterloo Road YMCA facility used to be. When it was still called “YMCA International House”, many young backpackers and independent
travellers often chose it as the first stop when coming to Hong Kong because of its location and low costs.

At September 2008, the YMCA management has renovated the place to a four-star hotel called “The Cityview”, trying to rejuvenate the hotel by upgrading both hardware and software to make it more welcoming and a fantastic location for travelers especially business and corporate clients. Now guests will be impressed by the intimate atrium lobby that offers a laid-back friendly atmosphere with a bright skylight and comfortable chairs. All the staff are smiling and greeting guests with warmth. Still part of the YMCA group, the healthy image associated with the brand of YMCA gives the clients more confidence and they believe the hotel is capable of serving them with good quality and reliable service.

Alex Wu, general manager of the hotel, said, “After completing our renovation since 2008, we keep on generating stable and high yield business by exploring profitable market segments and now we can have a good balance of 40  percent business guests and 60 percent leisure travelers from all over the world. We are also very proud of the mix of nationalities that come to our hotel, around 13 percent from Europe and the same percentage from the USA mingled with the 27 percent of folks from South and South East Asia. We get a fair representation of guests from Taiwan, China, Australia and New Zealand too.” He stressed that the staff has contributed to the success of the hotel business. He said, “Our biggest asset is our staff, who receives many guest compliments for their personal and friendly service. Some businessmen come and stay here year after year as the hotel staff begins to feel like family to them. We train our employees and managers to love their work and to show more than the professional  hospitality ‘smile’ but rather how to express feelings from the heart.”

He added, “To make our guests feel like home when staying in hotel, we must firstly make hotel as staff’s second home and so they are able to serve guests with warmth. To enhance staff’s sense of belonging, we arrange regular company activities like football matches, birthday parties, annual dinners and outings to maintain good staff relationships. In between, we encourage feedback from our staff and ensure two-way communications, like conducting an annual staff survey and see what difficulties they are facing. There is also a ‘Talk to GM’ meeting carried out regularly to encourage our staff to express their opinions directly to me.”

“We engage our staff in charity and community services as well, not only for brand building but also provide our staff with personal growth. For example we set up a volunteer team that is committed to a charity walk or donation activities”, Wu added.

After years of business, the hotel is now one of the official hotels for conventions and exhibitions that works with Hong Kong Trade Development Council and is a sponsor hotel for many events hosted by the city, so the hotel is usually very busy.

In addition, the young and retired visitors are growing in number, especially since the hotel offers packages along with big airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Qantas, China Airlines and British airways that represent good deals. There is also quite an increase in mainland visitors as well. Wu said that the package travellers also get free breakfast and the hotel usually serves around 300 people their morning meal every day.

Ideally nestled above Tsim Sha Tsui and adjacent to the bustling Nathan Road, The Cityview, is only a one-minute walk to MTR’s  au Ma Tei Station that interconnects popular shopping and commercial districts as well as many tourist attractions in Hong Kong. It is convenient to other transportation as well, served by city busses, public light busses and many taxis. Since it is close to Temple Street with its famous Night Market, and the Ladies’ Market in Mong  ok, guests can experience the older parts of Hong Kong to get a feel for the city’s past.

The 25-storey hotel features 413 modern guestrooms and suites with a full range of in-room amenities, including a personal safe, large-screen TV with many channels, bathroom items, mini-fridge and much more. Guests can enjoy fine dining at The Balcony offering Chinese cuisine or taste delights in international buffet at City Café, or just unwind at the Atrium lounge with a drink and a snack. The open kitchen at the café creates an interactive dining experience, while The Balcony is renowned for its exquisite Cantonese dim sum, seasonal dishes, double-boiled soup, and more favourites.

A variety of recreational facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, fitness room and sauna are also included. The ballrooms were designed with contemporary features to be suitable for many special occasions including special dinners, large conferences and incentive events. The business centre located  at the lobby offers a full range of supporting services and plans are underway to allow access to Wi-Fi throughout the hotel by June of 2012.

“Our future plans include going ‘green’ as much as we can. Plastic, used cooking oil and paper recycling and water conservation measures are already underway and next year we plan to join ‘EarthCheck’ and work towards our environmental certification and we encourage our partners, i.e. our guests and suppliers, to help us reach our goals. We love to make business but we have to love our earth,” Wu concluded.

FAST FACTS
• Dec 11- Golden Pearl Award awarded the Cityview as The Best Economical Hotel 2011 in Guangdong Hong Kong Macau

• Nov-11 City Cafe received recognition of “2011-12 Discount Catering Yearbook Awards – International Buffet Restaurant – Seafood”

• May 11- Chef Awarded Gold in Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 2011 

• Jun-11 City Cafe acquired the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) qualification administered by Hong Kong Tourism Board 

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Tags: Alex Wu, The Cityview, Hong Kong Business High-Flyers awardees