Sunday, April 10, 2011

Marco Polo Wuhan General Manager , Mr. Michael Yixi Tan Han -off

     The beauty of the ancient city of luxury

    - Marco Polo Wuhan General Manager, Mr. Michael Yixi Tan Han passenger Marco Polo,mac makeup, the Jewel in the Hospitality Crown of Wuhan

    Grand Hotels Interview with Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Marco Polo Wuhan





    Interview: Cherry Li Chinese Version: Vivian English Version: Linda

    Photos: by Zhu Xiao Ci & Marco Polo Wuhan

    it is Shanghai, Beijing and another was outside the known as the It is a dragon with a 3500 year old city, walking in the streets,mac makeup wholesale, ancient civilization heritage and the city's avant-garde blend of harmony, it is true It is our location of the interview, Wuhan.

    If writing a city building movement, and that our hotel to be a pleasant one chord. As the oldest in central cities, Wuhan, melodious tone should be thick and full of a sense of history, and the name of Marco Polo seems to be easy to think of who the great 13th century traveler, brought together Chinese and Western cultures , we become more curious about whether it is a kind of hotel? Marco Polo Wuhan is located in the pleasant scenery of the Yangtze River, Yangtze River bird's-eye view full panoramic views. Wuhan Times Square hotel and residential center of trade an important part of many international brands in flagship stores in central China, including Louis • Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tuo Desi, and relying on such Glsstique under Hotels 'luxury accompanied by' a principle of service has been the embodiment of dripping, which is just as Marco Polo Hotel Group's president, Mr. Kang Sijie's commitment: We are committed to the Marco Polo Wuhan, Wuhan to become the preferred brand for business travelers.

    Marco Polo Hotel has excellent location, it is from Wuhan Airport about 30 minutes, Wuhan is also the main tour entertainment areas within a radius of area, including Riverside, Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Yangtze River cruise ship terminal, Qintai Jianghan Road Pedestrian Street and the Grand Theatre. Hotel has 380 decorated the province's largest and most luxurious rooms and suites, and equipped with modern business facilities and services, including express check-in and check-out, free broadband, wireless Internet access, indoor swimming pool, fitness center and massage facilities, senior . The hotel has modern meeting and banquet space, including the business center, travel desk and conference room with a private club bar. Hotel is committed to offering a unique taste wide selection of dishes and drinks. Marco Polo coffee shop with an open kitchen and serves Asian buffet and a variety of characteristics of Chinese and Western cuisine; on both Yuen Cantonese restaurant is full of Wuhan City in the most authentic Cantonese restaurants, the chef cooking fine cuisine in Hong Kong , the restaurant has a hall and three private VIP rooms; Elegant Gallery elegant environment, good music, unique coffee and tea, fine dots with you to enjoy the health of the Yangtze view. In particular, all rooms are equipped with a unique fresh air system, famous hand-built large oil paintings for the hotel and works of art, there are iPod player, surround sound system.

    to fragrance tulips and windmills mysterious civilization, the Netherlands is the home of Mr. Michael Han-off. As a growing business in the hotel's young family, he chose to inherit the mantle of the family,mac brushes, engaged in hotel business. Mr. Han Mak has 25 years of customer experience in hotel management, he took office at the Hilton Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, The Peninsula Group, working extensively in Europe, America, Middle East and Far East. 2002, joined the Marco Polo Hotel Group, from 2002 to 2005 as more 南奥丽西贡 hotel general manager. 2005 to 2007 in Shenzhen Marco Polo Hotel general manager, responsible for the hotel opening preparation. April 2007 was transferred to Wuhan, Wuhan to assist the opening of Marco Polo work. Dutch pay attention to order, pay attention to efficiency, very rational and pragmatic, serious and responsible work. These qualities in him was the ultimate expression. Long-term diversified experience in hotel management to Mr. Michael Han formed a set of customers operating their own philosophy, he believes the hardware facilities of the hotel gorgeous appearance, which attracted curious people came, but the ability to retain these come and gone passing, it depends on what the hotel has intrinsic value. As the founder of the core values ​​of the general manager of the hotel must have the kind of management philosophy? Marco Polo Wuhan, what should be a hotel? Mr. Michael Han customer what kind of management culture advocating? As a general manager also has the idol of ordinary complex, you want to know what they are? These questions in subsequent interviews will be announced one by one.

    In the interview, Mr Michael Han-off most frequently mentioned word is The hotel industry is one of the city's core business, people are the core of the hotel, while innovation is the core of the quality of the hotel practitioners. Mr. Han Mak never doubted customer innovation is an important reason for the hotel to attract guests. First of all, innovation is reflected in the service, when you walked into the room, you will be surprised at that sleek IPOD speakers, intimate feeling wells up. The hotel, everywhere you are called Many of these imaginative ideas from the hotel general staff, as long as you have ideas, and general manager of communications at any time, this is Michael Han-off approach to innovation. Jimmy Han Comparison customers appreciate that some They will provide a variety of proposals, their unfettered creativity that is Mr. Michael Han customer wants. These outspoken and highly personalized to give adequate staff training, to make that other employees to learn from. They will create an extraordinary hotel.

    absolute power makes sense of direction. Understand this, Mr. Mak Han customer selected to observe how others operate the hotel, the outside world to see what changes are taking place, and always keep an open mind yourself. In the interior, he allowed everyone to express their views fully trust the primary management

    personnel and encourage some of the innovations of its promoting or marketing project. Risks and benefits are always co-exist, 10 innovations may fail 9 times, but that is successful enough to create an objective value. If hesitant because of fear of failure, and that the hotel era of progress will also be eliminated.

    Today, advanced information technology, media, numerous, varied, customers often feel confused. Mr. Michael Han-off point, and his selection is based on the recommendation of friends, he chose what he saw and felt. I believe that to be its marketing and promotional ads, we might as well have been there to listen to the views of friends given. Mr. Michael Han-off so smart that an exception would also be more rational this hotel customers. Do not underestimate the customer networks, and their annual evaluation of the role of no less than a good marketing staff. So we must listen to the voice of God. Mr. Han and his team off Jimmy never stop to explore the pace of customer aspirations. Why do they think of the hotel after the CHECK OUT so that customers can not leave something? That's when the feedback cards, guest satisfaction or not, comments and suggestions have been preserved. And then, in addition to the feedback cards, the guests but also for his loyalty in exchange for something? So welcome card appeared, when the guests visit the hotel again, spend with your Card can enjoy the benefits. In the dining area, Mr Michael Han thought to cook off, At the same time, the team has carefully built a new interactive The menu made, the form will soon be born. There are sort of hand, accompanied shopping, tour guides, golf, etc. So, the issue is not only the guests know the importance of word of mouth, but also know that customers want, how can I do it.

    already entered the mature phase of their career off the wheat Han, in our eyes seem to be already a Idol may be only a religion, it can be a spirit, long life customers in China, Mr. Han Mak, there are many cross-loved local entrepreneurs, such as SOHO China Ltd Pan Shiyi, chairman and co-founder. Mr Michael Han customer evaluation of his wisdom, honesty, perseverance. He was born poor but worked hard on their own efforts to a successful career, this is not only an example of Mr. Michael Han-off, as he wants to Pan Shiyi, the contemporary young people who can play a leading role.

    conversation draws to a close, but we can not stop thinking. Although only a short one-hour interview, but it feels like to listen to a hotel management MBA program, benefit. Mr. Michael Han-off reason, logic, vision and pragmatism to have left a deep impression. We are very eager to Mr. Michael Han-off operation of the Road to let our readers and all those interested in the hotel industry to understand and put into practice, it would be fortunate the hotel industry.

    Wuhan, the third city in China after Shanghai and Beijing to be dubbed as : Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. The traditional and the cutting-edge live in harmony here. Strolling along the main streets or narrow alleys,vibram 5 fingers, we find ourselves surrounded by the vestiges of the traditional culture; while at the same time can feel the pulse of a vibrant modern city. This is Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province.

    If we compare the architecture of a city to the movements of a symphony, Marco Polo Wuhan must be an impressive chord. We are burning with curiosity about the hotel, which is situated in one of the oldest cities in Central China, but has adopted the name of the well-known 13-century Italian traveler, Marco Polo. The luxury hotel is ideally located on the edge of an urban riverfront park that overlooks the famous Yangtze River. As part of the Times Square Wuhan, an upscale residential and commercial complex which houses the flagship stores of a Number of the international brand names, including Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tod's and Glasstique, the hotel is designed to cater for a new generation of discerning tourists and corporate travelers, demonstrating Marco Polo's promise of Creating Moments of Luxury for successful interactions. , President of Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong.

    Thanks to its central location, Marco Polo Wuhan is easily accessible within a 30-min drive from the airport. Local tourist attractions including the Wuhan Bund by the River, Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan Harbor, Yangtze River Cruise Dock, Jianghan Road Marina and Qintai Grand Theatre are in the vicinity of the hotel, which offers 380 rooms and suites that are amongst the largest and best-appointed in Wuhan, as well as amenities and services such as express check-in & check -out, complimentary broadband / wireless internet access throughout the hotel and a fully-equipped fitness center with indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi. A full range of business facilities including a full-service business center, travel desk and the exclusive Club Lounge with private meeting rooms are prepared to cater to business travelers. With well-equipped ballrooms and function rooms, Marco Polo Wuhan is ideal for corporate meetings, seminars and glittering social Events.

    The hotel features a variety of novel food and beverage choices for guests with discerning taste. Café Marco, Marco Polo's signature restaurant with open kitchens, offers Asian buffet and international a-la-carte menus. The finest Cantonese restaurant in town with 3 private dining rooms, Shangdu Tao Yuan Chinese Restaurant serves authentic food prepared by chefs from Hong Kong. The Verandah is the place in Wuhan to enjoy specialty coffee and tea delights, snacks, music and the breathtaking views along the Yangtze River. One thing we would like to mention in particular is the in-room facilities, which include

    Marco Polo Wuhan is headed by Henk Meyknecht, a veteran hotelier born in the Netherlands, home of tulips and windmills, and raised in a family of hoteliers. His career spans over 25 years in

    Europe, North America, the Middle East and Far East. Mr. Meyknecht had worked with SAS, Hilton International, Peninsula Hotel and InterContinental Hotels prior to joining Marco Polo Hotels in 2002, in which he served in succession as General Manager of the Omni Saigon Hotel in Vietnam (2002-2005) and Marco Polo Shenzhen (2005-2007) where he had been responsible for the hotel's opening. Since April 2007 he has been relocated to Wuhan coordinating the opening of Marco Polo Wuhan.

    Dutch people respect order. They are efficient, realistic and down to earth, and their sense of responsibility is high. We have found all these qualities in Mr. Meyknecht, who has developed his

    own management philosophy based on his extensive managerial experience. Guests initially drawn by a hotel's glitzy exterior and luxury facilities will only stay for the real value of the hotel. What management concepts are necessary for a general manager who is responsible for setting the core value for his hotel? Which path should Marco Polo Wuhan follow in the future? What is Mr. Meyknecht's preferred culture? Do you want to know the heroes in his mind? Yes, a general manager can still have idols. Answers to the above questions will be disclosed in the following Paragraphs.

    The most frequently used word by Mr. Meyknecht during our interview is industries which keep a city dynamic. Never has Mr. Meyknecht been doubtful about the appeal of the sparkling innovations to his guests, and ideas such as the in-room iPod sound system that has delighted so many guests, the seemingly omnipresent booklet, wuhan footprint , in which you can see the smiling faces of the ordinary staff and instantly feel closer to the hotel, actually came from the staff encouraged by their Dutch general manager whose door is open at all times to anyone with something fresh and new. Mr. Meyknecht favors those been looking for. These unique individuals, having been groomed as role models for their colleagues, are believed capable of creating a top quality hotel.

    Fully aware of the fatal consequences of being a sole decision maker, Mr. Meyknecht chose to decentralize his management. He said, by oneself. , and trust is placed on junior executives who are encouraged to innovate or put forward marketing plans. Return is accompanied by risks. Nine out of ten innovation ventures may turn out to be failures, but this one success is worth the effort. Any hotel which stops innovating for fear of losing the game will be eliminated, as time goes by.

    Being in the era of information, we often feel at a loss to tell which sources of information are trustworthy and which not. What will Mr. Meyknecht do if in a similar situation? He said he would consult his personal social network for recommendations. savvy guests, and theirs are not to be underestimated. With their virtual and physical social networks, these guests have the strong influence of an outstanding sales person. This is why Mr. Meyknecht and his team have been listening attentively to the gods (customers) , trying every means to encourage them to speak out. How can guests give a feedback after they check out? Thus Feedback Card was born. Guests can write down their suggestions and advice on the cards, which will be kept for file. What's the reward for a loyal guest? The hotel offers Greeting Card against which guests can enjoy discounts when they return.

    To enhance customer's gourmet experience, Mr. Meyknecht has brought chefs out of the kitchen and to the dining area so that diners can get professional advices on seasonal offerings before ordering food. In doing so, guests' demand for food can be customized, just like having your clothes made at the tailor's. An what the chef wants. The menu is expected to show interaction at a whole new level. Shopping guide, tourist's handbook, golf and other services and amenities will be launched to cater for guests. In summary, customer recommendation, listening to guests and promptly satisfying their demand are the key to success.

    Having been actively involved in the hospitality trade for so many years, the veteran hotelier is supposed to look down rather than up. However, there are people that Mr. Meyknecht says he admires exceedingly. Heroes are embodiments of a certain kind of faith or spirit pursued by their admirers. During his long stay in China, Mr. Meyknecht has made friends with many Chinese entrepreneurs, including Pan Shiyi, chairman and co-founder of SOHO China, whom the Dutchman describes as clever, honest and tenacious. Pan, who was born in a rural family and established his own business through hard work, set a good example for Mr. Meyknecht and China's younger generations (hopefully!) to follow.

    Though our interview was coming to an end, we couldn't stop thinking over what we had heard during the past hour. It was like an MBA lecture on hotel administration from which we benefited not a little. We are so impressed by Mr. Meyknecht's sense of reason, sound logic, forward-looking insight and down-to-earth attitude that we would like to share his philosophy with all our readers and those who plan to devote themselves to the hospitality trade. It will be lucky for the hotel trade to hire people who can put his thoughts into practice.