The Ambassador Hotel was built on the bank of Love River in Kaohsiung 40 years ago. It has been confirmed that the hotel is set to rebuild due to a combination of fierce competition from international hotel chains and a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists.
The Ambassador Hotel is perched on the bank of Love River and offers panoramic views. It has been there for 40 years and occupies a prominent place in the memories of Kaohsiung residents. The hotel is set to close and will be rebuilt. Residents had different reactions.
Resident: “It's probably due to the depression or the epidemic situation. My personal feeling is that it's a pity.”
Resident: “Visiting tourists probably all want to stay at newer and cooler hotels, so there probably won't be a big difference.”
The hotel, a constructor, and a third party are working together to apply for "dangerous old building" status and rebuild the hotel. The new building will have a hotel as well as luxury serviced apartments. Realtors say this will cause housing prices along the Love River to rise.
Chen Nong-chi, Realtor: “Right now, the buildings with unobstructed river views are all considered to be outdated. The new building will have a hotel in the lower part and luxury residences above it. I think there is an opportunity for new records to be set for luxury residences in Qianjin District.”
The hotel issued a statement saying international hotel chains have successively entered the city in recent years, resulting in fierce competition. This was the reason why it decided to rebuild and transition. Meanwhile, the hospitality industry said the border restrictions that Taiwan has had over the past two years have had an adverse impact on the hotel, which caters to foreign tourists. Many outdated hotels have closed.
Sun Chun-liang, Chief Secretary, Tourism Bureau, Kaohsiung City: “In October (after the epidemic situation improved), there was a sudden surge in hotel room bookings. The Kaohsiung City Government is also actively organizing many activities. ”
The city government said it will help the hospitality industry to get past the difficulties resulting from the pandemic. However, the city's tourism industry has been in a slump for quite a few years. The effects of the pandemic are already becoming unsustainable for hotels. If the global situation doesn't improve, many hotels may go out of business.
飯店坐落在愛河旁將河景盡收眼底，高雄國賓大飯店是有40年歷史的老牌子，也是高雄人的共同記憶，現在要熄燈改建，在地人感觸不一。
民眾說：「經濟不景氣，或者是說疫情的關係吧，我個人是感覺到蠻惋惜的。」、「外地客來都會應該想要住，比較文青風的那種新型的旅店，所以（影響）應該還好。」
國賓跟建設公司等三方合作，申請危老改建，準備重新打造飯店、加飯店式服務豪宅，要力拚轉型。房仲業界預期，這將帶動愛河周邊一帶的房價起漲。
房仲業者陳辳綦專案經理認為:「目前河景第一排的房子，其實都趨近老舊，除了一些豪宅級的產品，剛好搭配上這個國賓飯店，它下面是做飯店，又搭配住宅的產品，所以其實可以對整個前金區的，我覺得豪宅可以有機會創造一個新的高點。」
國賓飯店發出聲明表示，近年國際飯店陸續進到高雄，導致競爭激烈，才決定申請危老改建拚轉型。旅宿業認為除此之外，台灣這兩年因疫情實施邊境管制，也讓國賓這樣以國外觀光客為主的飯店受到衝擊，才會看到像華王、國賓等老牌飯店陸續熄燈。
高雄市觀光局主秘孫春良表示：「（疫情趨緩後）10月在飯店的一個銷售量有非常突飛猛進的一個增加，另外高雄市政府也積極辦理非常多的活動。」
市府表示會積極協助旅宿業，度過疫情這段難關。但高雄觀光業已經低迷好幾年，加上疫情影響，許多飯店都是咬牙苦撐中，就怕全球疫情若一直無法趨緩，恐怕會有更多業者撐不下去。