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Sweet welcome from colleagues
By Cherry Cao |
December 13, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH hotelier Michael Williamson's recent birthday celebrated in Shanghai brought an unexpected surprise.
For the new general manager of the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao was presented by colleagues he had known barely a fortnight with a coffee cup set made out of white chocolate and filled with cappuccino. An exquisite piece by the hotel's award-winning dessert chef, the gift was a sweet surprise for the cappuccino addict.
"I feel so lucky. It's a great hotel in a great city," Williamson, who has been at the helm of the 675-room luxury hotel since late last month, tells Shanghai Daily.
"People are very hospitable. I couldn't ask for a better job."
A seasoned hotelier, Williamson has spent the past 17 years with Hilton, mostly in London and other European cities. Prior to his latest assignment, he had never worked in Asia and two brief trips to Shanghai were the sum total of his experience of China.
"I always wanted to come out to Asia, and China is a fascinating country with huge opportunities," says Williamson, who embarked on his hospitality career some 30 years ago as a banqueting supervisor in a central London hotel.
"There is currently a lot of interest in the UK about what's going on in China - covering almost every aspect, including the politics, the food, the travel and Mandarin."
Born and brought up in hotels, Williamson's interest in the hospitality industry developed at a very early age. "It's been my background," he says. "My parents had two hotels. They started the business themselves, did pretty well and they gave me an interest in hotels and hospitality industry."
Williamson's career has provided him with experience in most hotel departments, leaving him well placed to meet challenges with composure.
He says he is also fortunate enough to really enjoy what he does every day. "It's an industry that gives you the chance to see other things and visit other places, and get paid for it as well," he says with a smile.
"Actually, the best thing about being a general manager is that it allows me to work directly with people at all different levels. There are very few industries in which you can have that directness. And the most demanding part is that you have to meet all the different requirements and expectations from all the people involved in the business."
A Shanghai newbie, Williamson has been spending most of his time exploring - both the hotel and the city - and meeting other hoteliers and his guests.
Williamson says he is very satisfied with his "findings."
A distinctive three-tower complex only 15 minutes away from the city's Hongqiao International Airport, the hotel offers spacious and well-decorated rooms and top recreation facilities. These include a 24-hour well-equipped gym; a 25-meter indoor swimming pool; and a luxurious spa. The hotel also has a flexible meeting space - including the largest ballroom in the area.
Together, these make Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao an ideal option for both corporate and leisure travelers.
"MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) is now a very important part of our business, contributing between 25 and 30 percent to our overall revenue," Williamson says.
"And we've got a strong base on Chinese guests, especially from Shanghai - for both business and leisure purposes - as well as a lot of international travelers brought by the Hilton Honors loyalty program."
Dedicated and target-driven, Williamson works 12 hours a day on average. At the moment, he lives in the hotel with his wife and two sons, which lets him devote additional time to his work and get direct experience of being a resident.
Ensuring it's not all work, Williamson jogs for 30 to 40 minutes a day and swims twice a week. And as a family man he makes sure he sets free time aside to spend with his wife and sons, who are aged nine and two.
All in all, it's fair to say the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao general manager is finding life in Shanghai pretty sweet, not unlike his unexpected birthday gift.
Best Deals
Now is the time to plan for your year-end party to entertain your clients or reward your loyal staff for their hard work during 2012. Let the professional event planners at Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao help you bring 2012 to a superb finale in one of the seven function rooms, or make it a real celebration in the largest ballroom in the Puxi area with space for more than 1,000 guests. Your group can also indulge in the exclusivity of the hotel's restaurants and bars. The price of 480 yuan (US$77) net per person includes soft drinks. Available from December 2012 until the end of February 2013, options include Chinese set (10 people per table) and international buffet menu. Beverage package inclusive for three hours, two LCD plus two microphone for every 15 tables. Above rates are subject to 15 percent surcharge and non-commissionable. Minimum of 15 tables onwards or equal revenue generated. Corkage fee of 50 yuan per bottle.
Favoritedish
Being new to China, Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao general manager Michael Williamson is busy exploring the amazing variety of Chinese cuisine on offer in Shanghai. He has already become a regular at the hotel's Yue Xuan Chinese restaurant, where the master chef prepares him a surprise dish every time. Williamson's favorite is deep-fried beef ribs with wild mushrooms. The hotelier says he is looking forward to enhancing his knowledge about all types of Chinese cuisine in the years to come.
Footprint
October 2012~current
General manager of Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao
May 2010~October 2012General manager of Hilton Paddington and Euston
April 2008~May 2010General manager of Hilton London Heathrow Airport
February 2006~April 2008Area general manager of Hilton Green Park & Hyde Park
For the new general manager of the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao was presented by colleagues he had known barely a fortnight with a coffee cup set made out of white chocolate and filled with cappuccino. An exquisite piece by the hotel's award-winning dessert chef, the gift was a sweet surprise for the cappuccino addict.
"I feel so lucky. It's a great hotel in a great city," Williamson, who has been at the helm of the 675-room luxury hotel since late last month, tells Shanghai Daily.
"People are very hospitable. I couldn't ask for a better job."
A seasoned hotelier, Williamson has spent the past 17 years with Hilton, mostly in London and other European cities. Prior to his latest assignment, he had never worked in Asia and two brief trips to Shanghai were the sum total of his experience of China.
"I always wanted to come out to Asia, and China is a fascinating country with huge opportunities," says Williamson, who embarked on his hospitality career some 30 years ago as a banqueting supervisor in a central London hotel.
"There is currently a lot of interest in the UK about what's going on in China - covering almost every aspect, including the politics, the food, the travel and Mandarin."
Born and brought up in hotels, Williamson's interest in the hospitality industry developed at a very early age. "It's been my background," he says. "My parents had two hotels. They started the business themselves, did pretty well and they gave me an interest in hotels and hospitality industry."
Williamson's career has provided him with experience in most hotel departments, leaving him well placed to meet challenges with composure.
He says he is also fortunate enough to really enjoy what he does every day. "It's an industry that gives you the chance to see other things and visit other places, and get paid for it as well," he says with a smile.
"Actually, the best thing about being a general manager is that it allows me to work directly with people at all different levels. There are very few industries in which you can have that directness. And the most demanding part is that you have to meet all the different requirements and expectations from all the people involved in the business."
A Shanghai newbie, Williamson has been spending most of his time exploring - both the hotel and the city - and meeting other hoteliers and his guests.
Williamson says he is very satisfied with his "findings."
A distinctive three-tower complex only 15 minutes away from the city's Hongqiao International Airport, the hotel offers spacious and well-decorated rooms and top recreation facilities. These include a 24-hour well-equipped gym; a 25-meter indoor swimming pool; and a luxurious spa. The hotel also has a flexible meeting space - including the largest ballroom in the area.
Together, these make Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao an ideal option for both corporate and leisure travelers.
"MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) is now a very important part of our business, contributing between 25 and 30 percent to our overall revenue," Williamson says.
"And we've got a strong base on Chinese guests, especially from Shanghai - for both business and leisure purposes - as well as a lot of international travelers brought by the Hilton Honors loyalty program."
Dedicated and target-driven, Williamson works 12 hours a day on average. At the moment, he lives in the hotel with his wife and two sons, which lets him devote additional time to his work and get direct experience of being a resident.
Ensuring it's not all work, Williamson jogs for 30 to 40 minutes a day and swims twice a week. And as a family man he makes sure he sets free time aside to spend with his wife and sons, who are aged nine and two.
All in all, it's fair to say the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao general manager is finding life in Shanghai pretty sweet, not unlike his unexpected birthday gift.
Best Deals
Now is the time to plan for your year-end party to entertain your clients or reward your loyal staff for their hard work during 2012. Let the professional event planners at Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao help you bring 2012 to a superb finale in one of the seven function rooms, or make it a real celebration in the largest ballroom in the Puxi area with space for more than 1,000 guests. Your group can also indulge in the exclusivity of the hotel's restaurants and bars. The price of 480 yuan (US$77) net per person includes soft drinks. Available from December 2012 until the end of February 2013, options include Chinese set (10 people per table) and international buffet menu. Beverage package inclusive for three hours, two LCD plus two microphone for every 15 tables. Above rates are subject to 15 percent surcharge and non-commissionable. Minimum of 15 tables onwards or equal revenue generated. Corkage fee of 50 yuan per bottle.
Favoritedish
Being new to China, Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao general manager Michael Williamson is busy exploring the amazing variety of Chinese cuisine on offer in Shanghai. He has already become a regular at the hotel's Yue Xuan Chinese restaurant, where the master chef prepares him a surprise dish every time. Williamson's favorite is deep-fried beef ribs with wild mushrooms. The hotelier says he is looking forward to enhancing his knowledge about all types of Chinese cuisine in the years to come.
Footprint
October 2012~current
General manager of Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao
May 2010~October 2012General manager of Hilton Paddington and Euston
April 2008~May 2010General manager of Hilton London Heathrow Airport
February 2006~April 2008Area general manager of Hilton Green Park & Hyde Park
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