Yang Sing hotel cuts rates
THE Yang Sing Oriental hotel in Manchester has been forced to slash its mid-week prices to improve occupancy rates.
The 48-room boutique hotel has had disappointing week-day occupancy levels since it launched in July and blames the economic climate for its failure to attract a stronger following from the business community.
To counter this it has launched a room-only rate, offering a saving of almost 50% for some rooms.
“We’ve had to change our strategy, because of the financial climate,” Anu Kaul, sales and marketing manager at the Yang Sing Oriental told TheBusinessDesk.
“Clients said the all-inclusive rates were great but not what they wanted or could afford from a business perspective. They have rates set by businesses that they can’t go above.”
The cheapest rooms are now £79 on a Sunday, rising to £99 on a week day at the room only rate, compared to the all-inclusive rate of £138. At the other end of the scale, the Emperor Suite costs £159 – almost half the price of the all inclusive at £350.
The new room-only rates will retain most of the inclusive features, such as free movie rental, Wifi, soft drinks and a choice of bathroom toiletries from Arran Aromatics, Clarins, Penhaligons & The White Company. Breakfast (£10 or £17) and use of the mini bar can be paid for separately.
“Business people have told us that they are able to claim that back separately,” said Ms Kaul.
Although the room only rate is advertised to run to end of April, Ms Kaul said it is most likely that it will become a permanent offering for Sundays through to Thursday.
“Fridays and Saturdays are doing really very well from a leisure perspective. The inclusive prices appeals to those guests, so there is no need to change it.”
Managing director Gerry Yeung said: “The new room-only rate still offers far and above the features that alternative hotels offer corporate travellers on a budget but the flexibility of the pricing plan means that guests can select the most important elements and stay on budget.”
Mr Yeung added that he expects turnover to hit £1.5m for the hotel’s first year to the end of August.
