What’s in a Name?

Consumers often have preconceived notions about hotels based on the name on the front door (“When Not to Judge a Hotel by Its Name,” Travel Insider, Dec. 4). For example, the Holiday Inn Lido Beijing, where I worked for two years as public relations manager, is a four-star hotel but constantly faces quality perception problems from American guests because of its Holiday Inn brand name.

Consumers also are often unaware that competing hotels are owned by the same investors. The Lido, for example, is a joint venture between China Travel Service and Cheong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. Cheong Kong is the real estate investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing who also owns Hutchinson Hotels. So, in effect, a competitor hotel company owns the Holiday Inn Lido and they also own the soon-to-be-torn-down Hong Kong Hilton. And to confuse things even more, the Beijing Hilton is also owned by China Travel Service.

TEH-HAN P. CHOW

Northridge