"Chinese people should drink congee for breakfast," a level of understanding that seems out of place in the hotel industry today.
It's not uncommon for European and American tourists to think, "I hope I can at least leave my cell phone behind on a long vacation. But for younger Chinese, who are used to smartphones, they don't want to be offline for even a moment. If they stay in a fancy hotel, they immediately want to connect to the free Wi-Fi and get in touch with friends via WeChat or Qzone, or else they feel unsettled. A staggering 65 percent of Chinese respondents to the survey said they would like to have free Wi-Fi, more than any other country.
At the same time, 29 percent of Chinese respondents said they would "like to have" docking stations that charge their iPhones and iPads and double as speakers.
Additionally, food and beverage is very important to Chinese travelers, with 51 percent of Chinese respondents saying they would "like to see Michelin-rated restaurants" and 48 percent saying they would value a rooftop bar with a night view.
Increasingly, people want to travel with their pets, with 7 percent of Chinese respondents saying they would like hotels to accommodate pets as well. There were even respondents who said they would "like to have Iberian ham and caviar for their dogs".
The most popular destination for Chinese tourists is the Maldives, and the most popular brand for shopping in the destination is Hermes.
Hotels around the world have begun preparing congee and soybean milk in breakfast restaurants, performing lion dances in hotel lobbies or preparing Chinese tea in rooms in order to welcome the rapidly increasing number of Chinese customers. But it looks like more work may be needed to capture the hearts and minds of a younger generation of Chinese who have become accustomed to traveling.