Hong Kong may be next to boast capsule hotels
30 January 2012
Hong Kong may soon be adding capsule hotels to its accommodation offer if local company Galaxy Stars has its way.
According to a report by msnbc.com, the Hong Kong company has begun offering pod-beds for sale – a capsule sized accommodation format targeted at budget travellers.
The pod-beds, which are currently on display in the company’s show room, are six-foot long and three-foot wide sleeping units offering various high tech touches including power outlets, a fold-out flat-screen TV, and a small air conditioner.
Founder of Galaxy Stars Eric Wong told msnbc.com that he expects to rent the beds to franchisees for approximately US$250 a month, but to make a return of US$1,300. Hoteliers can customize the units and let them to guests for approximately US$30 a night, significantly less than a standard hotel room price which can fetch as much as US$150.
The capsule units are not yet on the market but Wong said he anticipated that a capsule hotel will be launched in Hong Kong within six months.
The trend for capsule hotels which started in Japan is slowly garnering interest in other parts of Asia, but Galaxy Stars would do well to take into account the outcome of the last foray into capsule hotels in Asia. A year ago, hotel owner Ta Zhan opened the Xital Capsule Hotel in Shanghai, again targeting budget travellers. The capsule hotel boasted 68 rooms with each capsule measuring 1.1metres in breadth and width and 2.2 metres in length.
Just a few months later, however, local media reported that the hotel had failed to attract a single guest.
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