Chinese hotels are united in the effort to improve their overall capacity to meet the challenges resulting from China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the globalization of the world economy, business insiders said.

As sharper competition approaches, more multinational hotels and corporations are uniting with Chinese hotels to realize benefits for all, said Xi Yanping, secretary-general of the China Famous Hotel Corporation (CFHC), whose meeting opened yesterday in Guilin, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

More than 100 general managers and sales managers of Chinese hotels participated in the CFHC 12th Council in Guilin yesterday.

An efficient network of brand hotels will help all members update operation concepts and decrease management costs, said Xi who is also general manager of the Qingdao Hai Tian Hotel.

According to the Three-Year Work Outline of the CFHC, the organization aims to become a successful federation famous at home and abroad and offer benefits to its members in three years.

Since its founding in 1991, the CFHC has so far set up eight professional committees focusing on different aspects of its strategic development, involving inspection, evaluation, human resources, dining, housekeeping, engineering and sales information. The total fixed assets of CFHC's member hotels have reached US$7.6 billion, with annual income surpassing US$2 billion.

Yan said the eight committees are expected to develop more efficient strategies to serve all the member hotels, such as perfecting its international booking centres, VIP club and sales networks. As one of the earliest fields opened to the outside, the hotel management industry will also further promote international exchanges and keep up with.

( China Daily April 16, 2002)