Access Asia is an independent research firm based in Shanghai. They publish an excellent weekly newsletter, but here's the catch: it's not a blog. You have to subscribe to it by email. So unfaddishly 1.0.

The below is from last week's email. You can read this week's newsletter online by clicking through from Access Asia's homepage - note the unfaddish absence of permalinks. This week's top story is about ambush marketing and the Olympics.

Is Anyone Actually Going?

It's a year to go till the glorious opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 - but is anyone actually planning to go?

In amid all the hype by the sponsors, the government, Beijing and the Chinese media few have asked whether there are actually large numbers of overseas visitors planning to go and swelter in Beijing next August on a diet of sulphur and smog. We suspect that, despite BOCOG's claim that 2mn people will visit the city, overseas ticket sales may actually be a bit of a bust. As of this week tickets were still available for the Spielberg-orchestrated opening ceremony.

We raise this question in the knowledge that of course lots of corporate types will be showing up to cash in on a jolly after laying out their sponsorship money and plenty of freebies will be around. Naturally lots of Chinese people will also attend on government-sponsored jollies - but will many ordinary punters show up?

An informal survey of friends, clients and colleagues in Shanghai and Beijing indicates to us that few if any know anyone who is actually planning to go to Beijing in August 2008. So far few queries about how to book, where to stay, any chance of your sofa or spare room? Indeed it's looking as if most of us will get through the event without having to auction our broom cupboards for the duration. And our apartments will be available - our same informal survey indicates that foreigners in Beijing and local residents with the cash are thinking Bali or Koh Samui for August 2008, rather than hurdles or long jump. Many will have the spare vacation time as several commercial areas such as the Jianwai SOHO development are likely to be forcibly closed for three weeks to allow IOC and CCP officials (not that much difference in their organising style actually) to attend the triple jump finals with ease.

And for those who are leaving it till later to make a decision, they may already have a problem as regards accommodation in Beijing. Even corporates planning to fly in all their higher-ups and big cheeses are finding accommodation hard to find and very expensive, if available at all - two week to one month minimum room bookings, and severely jacked up prices - some hotels are asking for a minimum one month booking (longer than the event!), 50% cash deposit and over US$1,400 a night for a pretty basic room. Jack ups of five or six times normal rack rates are common and set to get worse. Even the local budget hotel chains, who usually offer rooms at US$25-35 per night, are reportedly requiring minimum stays and expecting to receive up to US$250 per night. Any takers? Probably some will be willing to pay this (or write it off on expenses more likely). But for the average sports fan? It might not matter anyway as the vast bureaucracy of the Olympics have snapped all the best rooms already - the new Intercontinental Hotel is fully reserved for IOC personnel. And then there's securing a flight - Airfarewatchdog.com claims that there are not enough flights to accommodate the numbers of overseas visitors BOCOG anticipates anyway and hotels in Hebei are on alert to take up the expected overspill - what a pleasant day out that will be - commute from Hebei, watch the shot put and then get the bus back!

And for those saving their money to visit China, but unlikely to have enough by 2008 due to hyper inflating hotel rooms, don't forget that this month we passed the landmark 1,000-day countdown to Expo 2010 Shanghai - so just keep right on saving.