The Huizhan North area, also known as Exhibition Center North Area, in Siming district, the formerly less developed suburb of Xiamen, is taking on a new look as an international commercial center, ready to serve visitors from around the world.

Wang Ting, who works at the Wyndham Grand Xiamen, said the role the area might take in the future might be both as a port financial center and a cluster area for multinational companies.

The United States Wyndham Hotel Group brand settled in the city last year, mainly tailoring itself to the needs of domestic and overseas high-end clients on business trips or on personal travels, she said.

"Xiamen is transforming itself from a tourism-driven economy to a conferenced-riven one, which conforms to the role of our brand," she said.

As the nearest hotel from the main venue of the ninth BRICS Summit, the hotel is providing accommodation for many officials and ambassadors.

It trained its employees for months to better meet the various demands of customers from different countries in such areas as catering, languages and reception etiquette, she said.

Siming district, the central area of Xiamen with a long and rich history, only occupies 5 percent of the total city area.

Now it is developing a headquarters economy, attempting to attract more major companies to establish their headquarters there, constructing commercial centers and related facilities to serve them.

Six industries are being targeted in the development initiative, as the Siming government indicated in 2015. These include internet finance, e-commerce and conference-related services.

Xing Yue, director of marketing at the Xiamen Junshang Shopping Mall, said the newly established central business district had created a diverse and attractive environment.

The many restaurants, cinema, social gathering spaces and children's entertainment facilities in the mall filled a gap in the eastern region of Xiamen, she said.

Xing said the number of visitors grew at an average 15 to 25 percent every day in July and August as a result of the summer vacation.

"I believe the place has great potential," she said.

(China Daily 09/04/2017 page11)