The Taiwan-based L'Hotel de Chine, established in 2008, has been seeking self-breakthroughs over the past five years and transformed itself into an international-class tourism hotel, the LDC Group, based on two core values: 1) innovation, and 2) arts and culture.  LDC has five major plans for future development: 1) international expansion to open three hotels respectively in Milan, Rome, and Venice as well as more presences in the years to come, 2) franchises in Jiaoxi, Yilan and Northwestern Taiwan, 3) off-premise dining with 8,000 seats in total, the highest in the Taiwan hospitality industry, including 品花苑, a buffet restaurant in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City as largest of its kind in Taiwan as well as頤品, Taiwan's largest single-floor banquet hall, 4) commissioned management in Mainland China, and 5) manpower development to provide the best compensation in the Taiwan hospitality industry and enable employees' ownership of LDC.

    The beginning of 2014 witnesses LDC's presences in Italy and Mainland China in addition to Taiwan, where the group has five brands of 13 hotels, including Palais de Chine in Taipei, Fleur de Chine in Sun Moon Lake, four Chateau de Chine respectively in Xinzhuang, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien, five Maison de Chine respectively in Miaoli, Taichung, Chiayi, Jiaoxi (to open in 2016), and Southern Taiwan (to open in 2016), two Chinatrust Hotels respectively in Jungli and Xindian.  In Mainland China, There is also a Chinatrust Hotel in Xiamen and a conference and recreation center in Cuiheng Village, Guangzhou in addition to Relais Sant' Uffizio, Relais Villa Monte Solare, and 水雲莊 in Italy.    There are eighteen hotels that are directly owned, franchised, or managed by commission with four off-premise dining brands, 頤品, Chinatrust Teahouse, Pin La Chuan Tai Cuisine Restaurant, and 品花苑 totaling seven off-premise dining businesses and 8,000 seats, making LDC the largest and most influential international-class hospitality conglomerate in Taiwan.

Italy, the origin of the Renaissance, as the starting point of international expansion

Nelson Chang, CEO of the LDC Group, has established an international hotel management consultancy in order to develop an international hotel chain by acquiring high-quality hotels and providing professional management support to the hotels acquired.  In the first quarter of 2013,two 100-year-old manors respectively in Asti near Milan and in the suburb of Rome were bought and renamed as Relais Sant’ Uffizio (which has a vineyard and winery) and Relais Villa Monte Solare (which has an olive yard that produces olive oil).  At the end of 2013, 水雲莊was established by the canal in downtown Venice, one of the world’s most romantic cities.  In the front and back of 水雲莊, there are very precious and rare gardens which used to be aristocratic residences and now are the property of the hotel  水雲莊will open in the first quarter of 2015.  L’Hotel de Chine Group’s new name LDC is an attempt to strengthen international brand awareness; LDC stands for love, design, and care.  The group will set up more presences in elsewhere of the world.

Concept restaurants providing off-premise dining in Greater Taipei Area

        Over the past five years, there have been 5.12 million guests staying at the hotels run by L’Hotel de Chine as well as 11.28 million diners.  The growth of the dinning business has been as high as 20%.  According to Emile Sheng, President of the group, he is optimistic of the Taiwan restaurant market; therefore, two new off-premise restaurants, 品花苑 and 頤品, will open in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, in the fourth quarter of 2014 after three off-premise dining brands, 頤品, Chinatrust Teahouse, and Pin La Chuan Tai Cuisine Restaurant were launched in Kaohsiung.  品花苑, 3,966 square meters with 750 seats, is the largest buffet restaurant in Taiwan.  The restaurant has 12 kitchens that prepare 80% of the dishes upon ordering.  頤品, Taiwan’s largest single-floor banquet hall whose high-rise ceiling is as high as 10 meters, accommodates 180 tables and 4,000 seats.  By the second quarter of 2015, LDC will have seven off-premise dining businesses with 8,000 seats in total, the highest in the Taiwan hospitality industry.

Recreation center management in Mainland China

LDC is also commissioned for recreation center management in Mainland China to make good use its professionalism in hotel planning, positioning, and management.  LDC is optimistic of its expansion to Mainland China.

Increasing presence of franchise operation, i.e., Maison de Chine in Jiaoxi and Northwestern Taiwan

        LDC has its franchise hotel Maison de Chine respectively in Northeastern and Northwestern Taiwan.  In Northeastern Taiwan, LDC has signed with a landlord in Jiaoxi, Yilan County to open Maison de Chine Jiaoxi in December 2016.  The Jiaoxi hotel, the first one located by Tangweigou Park, the local hot spring source, will have 182 guestrooms, two restaurants, as well as conference room, ballroom, and VIP room services to cater to both meetings and vacations.  In Northwestern Taiwan, Maison de Chine Miaoli opened in April 2009 and is only international-class tourism hotel there.  In January 2013, expansion of the second hall of the hotel commenced to add 83 guestrooms, and the second hall will open in April 2014.

Manpower development

        Given the rapid growth of the Taiwan tourism industry, LDC wants to attract and retain the best employees.  Its manpower development plan is the most comprehensive in the industry, including  a retirement pension saving and subsidy plan for middle executives, stock options for senior executives, free hotel accommodation for employees, a monthly bonus amounting to 10% of the value of alcohol and soft drinks employees help sell, bonuses for China New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival as well as performance bonuses to retain the best employees; e-learning enabled by the group’s knowledge banks and a five-star employee program launched in 2014v to strengthen, professionalism, service quality as well as employee loyalty to grow employees; and cooperation with twelve schools including the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism and the College of Foreign Language, Fu Jen Catholic University to provide internship, work-study, and employment opportunities to attract the best employees.。According to Emile Sheng, only happy employees can make customers happy, and the comprehensive manpower development plan is intended to make LDC an outstanding work environment where employees own their company.