The Taipei City Government yesterday rewarded 13 local hotels for offering excellent English or Japanese-language services and invited local and foreign travelers to choose from dozens of hotels with discounts of up to 55 percent this month.
The award ceremony was part of the “Taipei Hotel Festival” organized by Taipei City’s Information and Tourism Department to promote high-quality budget hotels to attract independent travelers and businesspeople. The festival runs until the end of the month.
The 13 hotels were recognized for providing bilingual signs at all facilities, employing hotel staff with basic English or Japanese skills and offering comprehensive information in foreign languages on their Web sites.
Mike Chang (張東豪), director of the idea and design department at Cosmos Hotel, which won awards for excellence in both English and Japanese services said the hotel required staff members to take English or Japanese classes. The hotel also offers promotions or bonuses to those who earn certificates for English or Japanese proficiency.
“Business customers and individual travelers from Japan, the US and Hong Kong are the hotel’s main client base, so we want to speak their languages and meet their needs,” Chang said after receiving the award at Taipei City Hall.
The other 12 hotels that were awarded were Grand Victoria Hotel, Sunworld Dynasty Hotel, Tango Linsen Hotel, Tango Xinyi Hotel, Taipei Kyoto Hotel, Yomi Hotel, Charming Castle Hotel, Welcome Hotel, Hope City Fushing Hotel, Beauty Hotel, Silken Hotel and Delight Hotel.
A total of 56 participating hotels, including the 13 recognized for their foreign language services, are offering discounts of up to 55 percent this month, the department said.
Travelers can pick up booklets about the festival with hotel information and discount coupons at nine travel service centers and 12 district offices and at MRT stations and participating hotels, the department said.
More information is available on the festival’s Web site at www.taipeihotel.tw/home.html, or by phone at 1999.
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