Fullon Hotels and Resorts has utilized distinctive ideas about hotel siting to expand rapidly across Taiwan. Now the company is on a hiring spree. (­Chuang Kung-ju)

With the number of visitors to Taiwan rising to record heights, international hotel chains are vying for space on the island while local hotels expand and renovate. Relative newcomer Fullon Hotels and Resorts got an early jump on the competition, expanded rapidly, and now owns a large number of hotels. This local chain is garnering a good deal of attention.

Founded by Lih Pao Construction, Fullon took over Ya­may Recreation World in 2006. Over the next five years, the company opened 12 international-class hotels across Taiwan, giving travelers access to the whole island via a single phone call.

What’s behind the rise of this hotel-industry dark horse? What’s its take on tourism’s future in Taiwan?

Tam­sui is mobbed on holidays, and when ­Fullon Hotels and Resorts opened its blue-and-white cruise-liner-shaped resort next to Fisherman’s Wharf last June, the hotel became an instant hit. Perhaps its most eye-catching feature is the “Lovers’ Tower,” a 100-meter-tall “mast.” A fully enclosed platform carries up to 80 passengers at a time to the top of the mast for unobstructed 360° views of Tamsui and the sea.

The hotel opened the Happy Garden restaurant in early 2012, hiring the renowned Cheng Yen-chi as its executive chef. Happy Garden combines fine dining and intimate décor, but its main draw is its Cantonese cuisine, Chef Cheng’s specialty. With a menu that features seasonal ingredients, healthy soups, and innovative dishes, the restaurant provides diners with delicious meals and fantastic views of the Dan­shui River and Mt. Guan­yin. A very popular dining destination, tables can be hard to come by on weekends and holidays.