Raini Hamdi asks hotel CEOs which brand in their portfolio best fits their personality
From left: Sonia Cheng, Simon C Barlow and Ricco M deBlank
Sonia Cheng
CEO, Rosewood Hotel Group, Hong Kong
Our three brands are a reflection of me in some ways. Rosewood for its appreciation of culture and a sense of place. New World Hotels – essentially contemporary Oriental – definitely my values and outlook. But since it’s the end-of-year holiday season and I’m feeling festive, if I had to choose which brand is most ‘me’, I’d have to say pentahotels – it’s fun, forward-thinking and grounded in the community – and I’d like to think I’m the same way.
Ricco M deBlank
CEO, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong
I AM A RITZ-SEASONS.
Editor’s Note: No, deBlank hasn’t created a new brand. He’s a mix between Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, brands in SHKP’s portfolio, which also includes a Crowne Plaza and a Holiday Inn Express, among others, in Hong Kong
Simon C Barlow
President, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Asia-Pacific, Singapore
I’m a Radisson Blu. It represents my passion for people, design, good food and of course, red wine!
From left: Glenn de Souza, with wife Lorna, and Brett Butcher
Glenn de Souza
Vice president international operations, Asia and the Middle East, Best Western International, Thailand
I’d like to think I’m a Best Western Premier (Best Western International’s top brand tier). It is designed for the adventurous traveller who appreciates unique experiences, but with all the comforts of home. That reflects me quite well, as I like to travel and my job takes me all across the world. But at the end of the day, I love to come home and enjoy life with my family and friends.
Brett Butcher
CEO, Langham Hospitality Group, Hong Kong
I’m a Langham Place. I like keeping it real and authentic yet still casual and not compromising on the quality of experience.
Langham Place is young at heart with a strong creative and less formal outlook but still delivering an excellent, luxury travel experience.
I personally enjoy art and am continuously inspired by the new ideas delivered by art. Walking through a Langham Place hotel is like walking through an art gallery.
From left: Jan Smits, Iqbal Jumabhoy and Bill Heinecke
Jan Smits
CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group, Asia, Middle East & Africa, Singapore
I’m a Holiday Inn Express, a brand grounded in strong roots yet is fresh, young at heart, exciting and represents a new way of thinking for both guests and the business. I’d like to think that we’re mixing things up in our region and paving the way for a bit of a game change in the industry.
It is also fast expanding in countries that hold a special place in my heart – namely Indonesia, where I grew up, and Australia, a place I will always call home no matter where I am in the world.
Iqbal Jumabhoy
Managing director & group CEO, SilverNeedle Hospitality, Singapore
I’m a Next Hotel, as it conjures everything modern, sophisticated and sleek where everything works seamlessly and efficiently. I’d like to think of myself as being as efficient while I multi-task, although that is perhaps best left to others to judge.
Editor’s Note: Next Hotel is a new brand by SilverNeedle Hospitality targeting modern business travellers. The first is scheduled to open in Brisbane in mid-2014.
Bill Heinecke
CEO & chairman, Minor Corporation, Thailand
I’m an Anantara. I created Anantara in 2001 because I felt there was a need for a hotel brand that combines luxury with a sense of adventure and discovery in exotic locations across the planet.
I take great pride in the destination experience philosophy that lies at the heart of the Anantara brand, and in my heart too. Each Anantara has been designed to capture the individual soul and culture of its location, be it in the mountains of the Golden Triangle, the unspoiled beauty of the Maldives, the towering red dunes of the Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi or the limestone cliffs of Uluwatu, Bali.
Having grown up in Asia, I have always been attracted to the perfect blend of adventure, discovery, exoticism and culture. Anantara reflects all of these things and – I guess it also reflects what I, too, really love about life!
From left: Thirayuth Chirathivat, Martin Rinck and Arthur Kiong
Thirayuth Chirathivat
CEO, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand
I’m a Centara Grand, as I feel I have a mature personality that appreciates and enjoys the luxuries of life, but I don’t feel the need to pay excessively for them. My office is at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, and I feel at home there, on top of the world every time I gaze out the window at the Bangkok cityscape.
But there is also a part of me that is Cosi, the brand we launched a year ago which is designed for those who want everything done quickly and are at ease with technology. Primarily, these are young people, and although I am now celebrating two years as CEO here, I like to think I’m still young and dynamic.
Martin Rinck
President, Hilton Worldwide Asia-Pacific, Singapore
If I were a brand, I’d be a Conrad because of its philosophy: The greatest luxury is the luxury of being yourself.
I too believe luxury is not about price or opulence but the quality and memory of the experience. Conrad offers a freedom of choice, allowing guests to tailor their stay according to personal preferences, down to small details like how they like their messages delivered, preferred bathroom amenities and pillow selection. This highly personalised approach is a reflection of my own travel behaviours.
Conrad’s contemporary design and service style also resonate strongly with me. I love the way Conrad strives to continue learning, growing and reinventing itself in a way that creates new opportunities and possibilities to engage with guests, similar to the philosophy of eternal learning I myself follow.
It is a brand for the future global luxury traveller. As well, it advocates Hilton Worldwide’s values of giving back to the communities we work and live in, which is a true reflection of my own personal values.
In the end, richness is not in what we have but in who we are.
Arthur Kiong
CEO, Far East Hospitality Management, Singapore
Personally, Oasia resonates the most with my personality. The brand offers discerning travellers an opportunity to rejuvenate – away from the hustle and bustle of the city – and anticipates their travel needs ahead of time. Likewise, it’s in my nature to enjoy tranquillity and comfort without excess.
I also love attention to details without being overstated. Similarly, Oasia presents just the right touch of world-class design without screaming for attention.
This article was first published in TTG Asia, December 13, 2013 – January 16, 2014 issue, on page 4. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.
