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Interview with Helen Du

Helen Du
Helen Du
Deputy Director
Hotel Plus – HDE
Hotel Plus – HDE

Individualisation, technology and ecology have become mainstream
Shanghai International Hospitality Design & Supplies Expo (HDE) is the most important part of Hotel Plus-Total Solution for Hotels and Commercial Space. Hived off from Expo Build China, and integrated with Hotelex, which has more than 20 years history, the show has become the one-stop platform for sourcing hospitality design materials and supplies to the world. Deputy Director Helen Du discusses disruptions and trends in hotel textiles.

How big is the hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress categories at Hotel Plus-HDE? How many exhibitors display each year in these categories?

Hotel Plus-HDE has a wide range of exhibits. It covers all aspects of hotel design, construction and operation. The exhibition area can reach 210,000 sq m. In 2019, there are about 100 hotel linen companies exhibiting 13,000 square meters, 30 hotel uniform manufacturers exhibiting 2,000 square meters, and 40 mattress companies exhibiting 8,000 sq m.
 

What innovations are Chinese manufacturers bringing into hospitality design materials and supplies?

Many innovations in linen have occurred since 2018. For example, to meet the environmental protection policy, the upgraded natural textiles debuted at Hotel Plus-HDE 2019. In addition, the coloured washable fabric manufacturers brought more innovative products. The innovative dyeing provided more choices for hotel rooms.

Did the trade war with the US have any effect on the nature of the fair?

At present, the impact seems manageable. Since 2017, Hotel Plus-HDE has experienced rapid growth. Even under the tough economic situation, the event kept moving forward. Up to now, 80 per cent booths at Hotel Plus-HDE 2020 have been sold out, and the signing rate of hotel linen, uniform and mattress categories has reached 90 per cent. It's closely related to the precise market positioning and brand effect of Hotel Plus-HDE. We hope to explore the market potential and help the industry cope with crisis.

What percentage do the hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress categories occupy at Hotel Plus-HDE?

The exhibit category is to satisfy buyers' sourcing needs. If we calculate according to exhibition area, hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress accounted for 6.2, 1 and 3.8 per cent respectively. 

What is the USP of Chinese manufacturers at the fair?

The textile industry chain is very mature in China. It can provide standardised products and personalised customisation at lower costs. In the whole industry chain, the lead companies are promoting technological innovation, business mode innovation and sustainable production. We as organisers will present the industry achievements and developments at the fair. What is the USP of Chinese manufacturers at the fair?

From which countries is the representation the strongest in the hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress categories? Which countries are the buyers from?

China has rich resources, whether as buyer or as supplier; it plays an irreplaceable role in hotel textiles market. At present, Chinese manufacturers mainly produce middle-level hotel linen products. Of course, there are some high-end brands like Canasin. They are supplier of five-star hotels in Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East, including JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and The Ritz-Carlton Dubai. European linen is mostly from luxury brands like Frette which is commonly seen in St Regis. From which countries is the representation the strongest in the hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress categories? Which countries are the buyers from?

What are the key trends in the hotel industries? Can you share trends in hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress in the industry?

In recent years, there have been many trends in the hotel industry. The rise of medium and boutique hotels and high-end residences are typical cases. In order to help them create features different from traditional high-end hotels, linen and clothing focus on customisation. It has formed a very mature supply chain in the hotel linen, uniform and mattress industry. Under the background of Internet+ and consumption upgrading, standardisation can no longer meet customers' needs, and individualisation, technology and ecology have become the mainstream. Customers' diversified demands are gradually resulting in the change from supply chain to value chain. However, business competition, waste of resources and increasing costs caused by information asymmetry will turn into the profit and responsibility of both sides on the Internet, and build up equality, trust and respect. When we define or classify a company in the future, it may depend not on product functions or features but on connection with consumers.

Which are the biggest markets (in terms of geography) for hotel linen, mattresses and uniforms?

China is the largest market in the world, followed by some developing countries in Southeast Asia, South America and Africa where the cultural tourism and hotel industry is developing fast.

What is the focus of Hotel Plus-HDE 2020?

With the rise of experience economy and the development of diversified hotel brands. Hotel Plus-HDE 2020 will focus on presenting innovative products with higher quality and better design.

Do you see the use of sustainable materials growing in this industry?

The trend has become more obvious in the last two years. Ecological bleaching and dyeing are becoming more mature and has been widely used in hotels. ATour Hotel Group is a typical case. They have promoted the ecological products in member hotels. Industry leaders have recognised the importance of the sustainable development of the industry chain, and in the production process, they have paid more attention to the traceability, environmental protection and the rights of animals as raw material. It embodies and values consumers' benefits. The industry leaders, like SIDEFU, have increased investment in the replacement of eco-friendly chemicals in dyeing and finishing. They have also cooperated with National Cotton Council of America and Badminton Europe and established strategic cooperation with universities to produce energy-saving, sustainable and renewable functional fibre materials.

What major disruptions do you see in the hotel linen, uniform and hotel mattress niches?

There are three major disruptions. First is the malicious low-price competition. Although the linen and uniform market is highly standardised and transparent, it can still cause homogeneity due to the information asymmetry between suppliers and buyers. It leads to both industry deactivation and reshuffle. Some manufacturers get orders by offering low prices but make trouble because of quality problems. Second is the requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection. As a result, production costs increase while profits decrease. Some small and medium-sized enterprises may even go bust due to the excessive operational pressure. Third is the weak protection of patent technology. It weakens the energy of production and research and will be harmful to long time development of the whole industry. (HO)

How many exhibitors participated in the 2019 edition and what was the footfall at the show?

In 2019, Hotel Plus-HDE attracted over 3,000 exhibitors from home and abroad to participate in. The visitors reached the highest number of 147,166. How many exhibitors participated in the 2019 edition and what was the footfall at the show?

What were the star attractions in Hotel Plus-HDE 2019?

We created featured events for each exhibition hall, like Hotel Uniform Show and Hotel Housekeeping Competition in Textile & Uniform hall, which provided exhibitors more opportunities to present their exhibits. Another highlight was the industry gathering of lead companies and renowned brands from home and abroad. Among them, Canasin's booth was really the hottest. They received about 2,700 visitors in three days.

How has Hotel Plus-HDE evolved through the years?

Hotel Plus-HDE originated from Hotelex. Hotelex has a history of more than 20 years. As the exhibition area is expanding, since 2017, hotel supplies, linen, uniform, mattress and building materials, combined as HDE, have been separated from food, coffee, drinks and other exhibit categories, and integrated with hotel cleaning products of CCE into Hotel Plus.  It provides a one-stop purchasing platform of construction and operation for hotels and commercial space. The concurrent events, including Design Week Shanghai Series Conferences, Hotel Plus Mockup Room Show, Hotel Uniform Show and Hotel Housekeeping Competition, are held to build a platform for information sharing and experience exchange for the upstream and downstream companies in hotel industry. In the past three years, vending machines, kiosks and franchise shows were added. Since then, Hotel Plus has expanded to the whole exhibition hall of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre and reached 200,000 sq m. Every year, the show attracts over 100,000 professional buyers in the hotel and commercial space industry.
Published on: 23/10/2019

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.