Hotel, industry and travel news from around Greater China; this week: Beijing sees tourism decline, a Burger King for South-West China, Langham opens Haining and more....

SERVICE SECTORS SEE GRADUAL GROWTH
 
According to China Daily, the British financial group HSBC reported that July's service purchasing managers index was 51.3, signalling a modest increase in business activity in the service sector. This demonstrates that the service sector is tipped to replace the manufacturing industry and become the strongest driver of the Chinese economy. 
 
SHANGHAI TO INCREASE WATER FEES
 
According to China Daily, residents in Shanghai will pay much more for water starting from August due to the implementation of a new multi-tier water pricing system. The rising costs of water treatment and the government's desire to conserve water are said to be behind the price rise. Shanghai has set three price brackets for residential users. A household that consumes 220 cubic meters of water or less a year will pay RMB3.45 (US$0.56) per cubic meter, up 23.2 percent from the previous price. Households whose annual water consumption falls between 220 and 300 cubic meters will pay RMB4.83 per cubic meter, while those consuming more than 300 cubic meters a year will pay RMB5.83 per cubic meter.  
 
BEIJING WITNESSES DECLINE IN TOURISTS
 
According to China Daily and China.org.cn, Beijing is attracting fewer tourists compared to this time last year and tourist complaints concerning the city have risen over the last six months. The capital attracted 2.14 million tourists during the first six months of this year, a 14.3 percent decrease from the same period last year, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. A China Tourism Academy survey also shows that in the second quarter, the complaint rate of inbound tourists nationwide was 7.20 percent, rising from 5.77 percent of the first quarter. This is mainly caused by services in many Chinese cities do not meet the standards of the West.  
 
LANGHAM PLACE HOTEL TO OPEN IN HAINING IN 2014
 
According to Langham Hospitality Group, the group will manage the first new luxury city centre hotel under the Langham Place brand in Haining, a bustling metropolis in the Zhejiang coastal province. The property, which is being developed by Hong Kong-based Mingly Real Estate Corporation, is scheduled to open in 2014. Featuring 266 spacious guest rooms and suites, Langham Place, Haining will be part of an integrated complex comprising a retail shopping centre, commercial offices and residential apartments. The hotel's meeting and banqueting facilities will feature a 900 square-metre pillar-free grand ballroom, a junior ballroom of 300 square metres, and eight multi-function rooms ranging from 45 to 100 square metres.  
 
BURGER KING OPENS FIRST RESTAURANT IN SOUTHWEST CHINA

According to China Retail News, fast food chain Burger King expanded into the south-western market in China by locating its first regional restaurant in Chengdu, Sichuan province. This new restaurant opened its doors over the weekend. Meanwhile, its second store in this region recently started preparing for its imminent opening in an as-yet undisclosed location.  
 
JIN JIANG ACQUIRES PROPERITES AND TO DEBUT METROPOLO BRAND
 
According to East Day and Jin Jiang, Jin Jiang, through a subsidiary, signed an agreement to acquire 21 Smart hotels from Tianjin Huasheng Tourism Equity Investment Partners (LLP) and China Wallink Holding for RMB710 million (US$115 million). The 21 Smart hotels are 99 percent owned by Tianjin Huasheng and 1 percent owned by Wallink Holding. The 21 Smart hotels in 18 cities, along with other hotels managed by Jin Jiang, will be rebranded as Metropolo.

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