引进“银联” 伦敦丽思营收创记录

More luxury-seeking Chinese tourists helped the Ritzreap record revenues last year after it became one of the first UK hotels to accept credit cards from the world’s second-largest economy.

在成为首批接受中国信用卡的英国酒店之后，丽思(Ritz)去年迎来了更多追求奢华享受的中国游客，营收创下记录。

The iconic St James hotel said the number of Chinese guests, who used to pay in cash, increased by 17 per cent last year after it introduced a Chinese credit card payment system in an effort to boost eastern trade.

这家位于伦敦圣詹姆斯(St James)地区的标志性酒店表示，它为了增加东方人的生意而引入了中国的银联支付系统，从而使得过去只能支付现金的中国客人数量在去年增加17%。

“We’re the first hotel to introduce China UnionPay credit cards, said Stephen Boxall, the Ritz’s managing director.

“我们是第一家引入中国银联信用卡支付的酒店，丽思酒店常务董事史蒂芬·博克索尔(Stephen Boxall)说。

“As a result the Chinese market became big for us over 2011 and we’re looking at a double-digit increase [in Chinese guest numbers] this year.

“结果是，中国在2011年成为了我们的重要市常我们希望在今年取得（中国客人数量的）两位数增长。

China UnionPay terminals deal with cards from across the country’s banking card industry. As Chinese cards are not compatible with western chip-and-pin terminals, previously customers would have had no option but to pay in cash.

中国的银联终端能够接受中国国内发行的所有银行卡。由于中国银行卡与西方的芯片加密码式(chip-and-pin)终端不匹配，顾客此前只能选择使用现金付款。

As a result the Ritz, which is owned by Sir David and Frederick Barclay, said spending by Chinese guests increased by 25 per cent during 2011 as more customers opted for expensive suites rather than standard rooms.

丽思酒店表示，由于有更多的中国客人选择昂贵的套房而非标准间，中国客人的支出在2011年增加25%。这家酒店由大卫·巴克莱(David Barclay)爵士和弗雷德里克·巴克莱(Frederick Barclay)爵士拥有。

“Their spending increase was largely in rooms instead of food and beverages?.?.?.?they were booking suites, said Mr Boxall. “[The Chinese] don’t mind spending. When they come over they want to spend the money they’ve saved.

“他们的支出增长领域不是餐饮，而是酒店房间……他们倾向预订套房，博克索尔说。“（中国人）不在乎花钱。他们过来，就是要花掉存下来的钱。

Wealthy Chinese visitors are becoming an increasingly lucrative niche for the UK’s tourist trade.

对于英国旅游业而言，富有的中国游客正在成为一块越来越有利可图的香饽饽。