Can you introduce Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental as a meeting destination?
Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental is a Luxury MICE and Resort hotel managed by Sofitel luxury hotels with 368 rooms and 7 private villas. It has an elegant and luxurious Mediterranean architecture with 4400 sqm2 outdoor swimming pools, man-made beaches, indoor-heated swimming pool, SPA and So FIT health club plus tennis courts.
A total of 3500 sqm2 meeting facilities complement this unique hotel, located 20 min from Hongqiao airport.
After having spent almost 17 years in China how has the market evolved?
I arrived in China in 1995 to work as a Director of F&B at the Jianguo Hotel Beijing. At that time, few foreign brands were available; our focus was the foreign market. Imported products were limited and we could delight our customers and Beijing expatriates with daily imports such as fresh oysters from France.
Today we have a domestic oriented market .Customers are product and quality savvy. They seek value for money and are very sensitive to personalized services.
Taking this is into account is very much important for hoteliers to cater to the needs of locals as the demand in hotels like ours is 90% domestic.
What are your hotel latest development and challenges?
The MICE Market demand is softening while competition is increasing. Customers have more and more options and pressure on rates is growing steadily.
We differentiate ourselves with excellent meeting facilities set in unique surroundings in combination with “Cousu-main” (tailor-made in French) service to meet with more and more demanding customers. We introduced new themed events, such as candle light dinners on our beaches but as well created unique
private villa packages suitable for company teambuilding, workshops or simply family gatherings.
As a Westerner, how does it feel like working in China? What are the challenges you face?
Being in China, I regard as a privilege. Having spent 17 years, China became my home, my kids go to school and all our friends live here. Nowadays I experience so much more tolerance with the other culture. Fewer misunderstandings arise due to Western and Chinese culture differences. This makes business and private relationships more effective.
One of our biggest challenges remains the recruitment of talent. With a constantly growing demand, it becomes harder and harder to attract and retain talents. At the same time, young people’s perception has changed. Many graduates do not want to choose a hotel career anymore and want to become managers very quickly without fully mastering the leadership and responsibility basics.
What is your favorite place in Shanghai?
If going downtown, I probably choose Xintiandi, I really love the hustle and bustle there. Hengshan road area is also quite nice, I like the architecture and the environment. The perfect place to live in Shanghai!
What is your career best memory?
I actually do have quite a few great memories, but one specifically comes out of my mind:
During the Chinese National Games 2009 I was in charge of Sofitel Jinan and our hotel was on a full scale renovation in order to be ready for the opening ceremony. We were appointed to host the International Olympic Committee delegation.
As it happens often, there was construction delay, rooms were not ready and the lobby was still a construction area 48 hours before D-day. On the eve of the Delegation arrival we finally received rooms and restaurants. The IOC president was already in the plane and we had only 8 hours to setup the premises.
When the committee arrived, rooms, the lobby, restaurants and the ballroom, were as new and ready! This was a lot of pressure, but overall a fantastic memory. It shows again, everything is possible in China.
The organization of a 1700-seater Oktoberfest was another highlight in my career during my time in Ho Chi Minh City as well the organization of the APEC Gala Dinner, where only the best was good enough for the 23 member countries.