• Could you please give us a brief introduction about Raffles Hainan？

Our spectacular property features 289 elegant guestrooms and suites, starting from 80 square meters. Each room enjoys magnificent ocean and golf course views from private balconies. Offering even greater levels of privacy and exclusivity, our 32 exquisitely appointed private villas are located by the beach, each offering private pools and gardens. Dining is a highlight at Raffles Hainan with five superb restaurants including Italian, Chinese, Asian and Western cuisines, while the legendary Raffles’ Long Bar has also travelled to Hainan. An ideal destination for high-level meetings, events and paradise weddings, Raffles Hainan has a 790 square meter ballroom, complemented by seven multifunctional meeting rooms. The beachfront Pavilion is a uniquely romantic venue for beach weddings, banquets and anniversary celebrations. The first Raffles Spa in China is a sumptuous 1,400 square meter sensory retreat designed to resemble a small Chinese village. Finally, I cannot complete any description of our beautiful property without highlighting the unbeatable beach we have. The sand is for sure among the purist and finest you will find anywhere in the world, and it is one of the key elements of our property that sets us apart from the rest in Sanya.

• Could you please give us an introduction about the meeting facilities?

We are an ideal destination for high-level meetings, events and paradise weddings, the resort features almost 2,000 square meters of distinctive indoor event venues that include 790 square meter ballroom and and 7 multifunctional meeting rooms equipped with the latest audio-visual technology, accommodating from 10 to 500 guests. The beachfront Pavilion is a uniquely romantic venue for beach weddings, banquets and anniversary celebrations. Meanwhile we have beautiful gardens throughout the hotel that offer outstanding outdoor opportunities for receptions, dinners and team building events. In addition I always enjoy showing our prospective clients to other unique spaces such as our Presidential Villa at 4000 sq meters in size. Our Presidential Villa is equipped with 2 boardroom meeting facilities and residential spaces that can be converted for any kind of meeting or event. It is an all in one private space for our clients to be able to get out of the conventional meeting rooms and into a more creative and engaging environment.

• How does the hotel give great support to the MICE?

We cater for every guest or group to their individual requirements and always keep ourselves updated and look at new trends and needs of the client. For us it is very important that we are able to personalize each group’s needs. Our team has many products to offer but one of our strengths is we can surprise the guests and the organizers with unexpected touches and authentic local experiences through our offerings. No meeting organizer or group is the same, so nothing from our team is a cookie cutter experience. We want our clients to remember how special a place this really is and how engaged our people are.

• What’s the recent development and challenge to your hotel?

Sanya is the best resort destination in the China and has one the densest populations of hotels in Asia with many more on the way. With this, clients looking at Sanya have so many choices to consider from economy through Luxury when deciding to come. The biggest challenge for us is how to attract new guests and earn their loyalty to Raffles Hainan. Fortunate for our resort we have so many differentiators and we are so well equipped to handle anything with the best in class experience that we forge ahead with total confidence. Upon any clients first impression of Raffles Hainan we know we can have an advantage in such a competitive market.

• As a westerner, how do you feel about your work in China? What’s the main challenge you’ve got?

I love China. In fact I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to come here many years ago and meet my wife who is a native of Guangxi Province. So needless to say China is now a home for me. The main challenge I am constantly aware of is to be respectful of Chinese culture and ensuring that I am always communicating well and understanding that right ways to move forward and improve what we do each and everyday.

• According to your stay at hotel industry all these years, what’s the biggest change of the hotel market?

Today’s guests and especially Chinese guests are much more focused on emotional experiences and the expectation of high-end quality service. Fortunately through one of our brands key identities the “Raffles Butlers”, we are able to meet the needs of our guest in every way. Elegantly presented private butlers are a traditional hallmark of Raffles culture. As consummate ambassadors for Raffles Hainan, they provide a range of bespoke services to ensure that guests enjoy their stay to the fullest.