A well-known hotel brand is offering to train non-branded small hotels in Beijing to ensure tourists get international quality service next year when the Summer Olympics will be held in the capital city.

Super 8, one of the world's largest economy hotel chains in the United States, wants to make a contribution toward the Games.

"Even if we cannot support the Olympic Games as sponsors, we can do something in our own small way," said the company's CEO and Chairman Mitchell A Presnick.

"We want to make sure all our hotels in China provide guests with international quality service," he said.

"In addition, we are drafting plans to help train other non-branded hotels in Beijing to achieve that goal too."

Beijing is expected to receive about 500,000 foreign visitors, as well as a huge number of domestic visitors during the Games.

At present, Beijing's 3,981 small hotels, which are not rated, offer varying standards of service.

The municipal tourism administration set standards for lodgings last year, and asked non-rated hotels to improve their facilities and service.

The administration plans to hold training courses for all hotel managers this year, and to pass on that training to their employees. It has published three textbooks on etiquette, service and language.

Super 8's offer will lend support to the government's initiative.

"This is what our company can, and should do, as a responsible citizen with 'patriotic feelings' for China," Presnick said.

"If you are operating in China and you are a responsible citizen, you have to take a look at what you can give to the Olympics and make sure it's a success. That's a requirement we put on ourselves."

Super 8 has 46 hotels in China and plans to open 90 more in 70 cities across the country.

As a foreigner who has lived in China for 19 years, Presnick said he is optimistic about the growth of the hotel industry here.

"There will be a demand for budget hotels. The sector's growth is already among the highest in the leisure industry. As domestic travel demand increases in the next five years, business opportunities in China are just beginning," he said.

The Olympic Games will be followed by the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

"It is rare for a country to hold two big events one directly after the other," Presnick said, adding he has already begun preparing for the 2010 event.

(China Daily 05/30/2007 page5)