A new hotel run by the Marriott group in northwestern China is using imported seafood as a marketing ploy to draw customers.
The W Hotel in Xi’an is marketing Irish oysters, crab claws from Alaska and “Boston lobster,” among other premium products on offer at its “Wei” restaurant, which just opened in what is one of China’s largest inland cities.
Western hotel management chains like Marriott have been expanding quickly in China and are serving as an important distribution channel for seafood suppliers. Built by local real estate firm Van Zhong, the 80,000-square-meter property is clad in neon lights that brighten Xi’an’s skyline at night.
Regional cities like Xi’an are driving demand for imported seafood. The W Hotel opening comes as another regional city, Fuzhou, reported a 63 percent increase in value of seafood imports in the first three quarters of this year with imports valued at USD 300 million (EUR 260.7 million) for 200,000 metric tons. The total represents an increase of 43.7 percent year-on-year, according to local customs.
Federal authorization of smaller regional cities in recent years allowing them to handle imports of food has opened up new channels for seafood imports into growing regional cities in China.
Photo courtesy of Marriott Group
