Can you introduce Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao as a meeting destination?

Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao is the ideal venue for company meetings, events, banquets as well as exhibitions. Our hotel features a 1,100 sqm Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 800 guests for dinner.

Hotel boasts its 680sqm Winter Garden as a "Glass Garden" which is a best venue for a fashion event like cocktail party while you are tired of traditional party.

All our meeting rooms are equipped with state of the art audio visual systems, high speed cable and wireless internet and our professional catering sales team will be happy to accommodate all your requests for your tailor made event.

Featuring of 390 spacious guestrooms, hotel also offers 4 restaurants & bars, and recreation facilities to meet different needs of requirement.

Kangqiao destination is very new but seems to be developing quickly, what are the ongoing projects in the area?

Yes, Kangqiao area is developing at a quick pace.

Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao is strategically located in the center of Pudong New District.

The hotel is only 25 minutes away from both of the International Airports (Pudong and Hongqiao) and close to Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

There are quite a few projects under development including Disneyland Shanghai that will open its doors.

What are the main challenges of the hotel?

Finding talent is a major challenge for any post of the hospitality industry at the moment.

We have adopted an original recruiting process. For the junior staff, we actually pay more attention to the attitude and the willingness to work rather than their education background.

I believe that the staff attitude is a reflection of the management itself. If you want your staff to be punctual, just be punctual yourself.

Our core team was set last year, and up to now the same department heads are still there. No one has left.

You are also Area General Manager of Holiday Inns in Shanghai, what are the key trends and demand outline for MICE market in Shanghai in 2012?

Shanghai is probably the most cosmopolitan city in China, people are business minded.

Government has established broad development plans for MICE industry. Within a few years a new exhibition center offering more than 1M sqm will be added to the landscape of the city.

MICE market is supported by the authorities and we expect a upcoming development trend.

Where does your passion for hospitality comes from?

Hospitality is about people.

I like to think about it this way, how can we distinguish ourselves from our competitors, what makes us stand out?
Hardware is actually easy to replicate while staff and service are not so easy to copy. Bottom line is training and motivation. How can we motivate the staff into providing a distinguish experience to the guest?

I have been serving in hospitality for more than 30 years, which is a lifetime career. You have to be passionate about what you do, then people will feel passionate too.

I am very result-oriented, and I do my best to stand as an example for the staff day after day. For example, we ask staff to be Green engaged, we set them examples. I switch all lights off when nobody’s there all the time.

You have lived is many countries, you consider yourself as a citizen of which country?

I have spent my first 17 years in Hong Kong where I was born.

Then I have studied in Canada, and immigrated to Australia, now in Shanghai for 10 years.

I consider myself from a citizen of world!

What is your best memory as General Manager of Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao?

Last January, right after the hotel construction work, our owning company called upon us for their year-end party.

At that time, the hotel had not opened yet and we were just in the middle of the recruiting process. We only had 87 persons (we are 290 today) on board and were about to handle a 300 guests gala dinner coming with accommodation.

On the D Day we had absolutely everyone on board to serve this very first customer of ours and we managed very well.
Regardless of job position, every employee of the hotel took part in this event, from serving the 300 guests for the dinner to serving breakfast on the next day.

This lasted two days and I have to say that we managed the event very successfully thanks to everyone unbelievable input and efforts.

This amazing team building experience will remain forever as an unforgettable memory for everyone.