High-end business hotels in Shanghai foresee a slack time during the upcoming week-long National Day holiday, in spite of the "golden time" for tourism from October 1-7.

However, the Formula One race just one week later, starting October 14, will help the hotels attain a big sales boom, with some claiming that there is already no room left for booking during that time.

"The first week of October, China's national holiday, means that there will be few business travelers, and few forums or business events," said Zhang Yun, communications manager for InterContinental Pudong. She was explaining why the sales situation often contradicts assumptions.

It is also the case with the Spring Festival as well as the first week in May, the Labor Day holiday, she added.

Zhang said that the hotel offers a special discount from September 30 to October 9, which is only 788 yuan (US$97), less than half of the current price in late September. The price is applicable to both foreign and Chinese customers.

The average price of St. Regis Shanghai during the National Day holiday is only around 1,000 yuan, also a half of the average normal price, according to Lu Qiwen, public relations manager of the hotel.

Lu said that the occupancy rate during the "Golden Week" is around 40 percent, which is true with most of the high-end hotels in the city.

However, the hotels will be able to recover the loss just one week later, thanks to the Formula One race from October 14 to October 16.

All the rooms at the St. Regis have been booked during the F1 race, despite the price of US$400, said Lu. The current price is around US$270, Lu added.

Zhang with InterContinental said few rooms were left for that period. The average price during the period will be almost double the current price. In fact, many racing fans had booked the hotels one year ago in view of the possible booking difficulties.

(Shanghai Daily September 24, 2005)