Giving gratitude

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Gingerbread village attracts global attention

"It's a great opportunity to meet premiere hoteliers and share our unique flavor with more consumers," Xue says.

He's also thankful for a good business year. Chateau Hansen's sales volume doubled in 2013.

"Today's discussions mean next year might be even better," he says.

Xue, who's also a biology professor at Inner Mongolia University when he's not working as Hansen's chief culture counselor, thanked China Daily for the opportunity.

Hansen's operation has also been credited with counteracting desertification since its 2001 founding.

"What we have back in Inner Mongolia is a carbond-eduction economy," says Xue.

"Organic food is the future of the high-end catering industry, which cares more about where and how the materials are produced. That also goes for wine. China doesn't lack fine wines but needs more influential brands."

Hansen entered the Beijing market in 2009 and now serves as the pillar supplier for hotels owned by Inner Mongolians in the city.

Han Junliang, chief marketing manager in Hansen's Beijing office, says: "We're proud of what we produce in the desert, which distinguishes us nationally - even globally."

All attendees agreed, they truly do have a lot to be thankful for.