Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa is aiming to capitalise on the growing outbound Chinese tourism market by rolling out new specialist amenities.

Under the resort’s latest strategy, guests will be offered expanded Chinese breakfast and dinner menus, while the Sofitel is also hiring new Chinese-speaking staff. These include the resort’s first Chinese guest relations officer, Lynn Tian, who started work in March 2017.

Born in China and educated in France, Ms Tian will now be responsible for all Chinese guest arrivals, as well as developing relationships with Chinese tour operators.

China is the largest outbound tourism market in world, contributing 122 million visitors to the world’s destinations in 2016.

“It is impossible to ignore the Chinese outbound tourism figures and it is essential we do as much as we can to encourage these travellers to our shores,” said Sofitel Fiji’s general manager, Alan Burrows. “By having Chinese-speaking guest-facing employees to ensure a five-star level of service and comfort for our Chinese-speaking guests, we are able to give them peace of mind that language will not be a barrier.”

The resort’s Chinese activities will continue in the coming months. A second Chinese guest relations officer is due to start work in July, and Sofitel Fiji is joining the “China Ready & Accredited” certification organisation, which will provide additional training for staff on Chinese culture and travellers’ expectations.