General manager sets Marriott record for quickest hotel opening
Print Edition
BEING a hotelier didn’t seem to be an option in Ricky Lam’s plan until he was recruited as a trainee at the Peninsula Hong Kong upon his graduation from high school.
Embarking on his hospitality career some 20 years ago followed a basically unintended but successful trial when he accompanied a friend to seek a job in the iconic hotel, the Hong Kong native recently set a Marriott record after opening the US hotel group’s newest property in Shanghai within just eight months.
Unveiled ahead of schedule in February, Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview is a 317-room property in Zhabei District neighboring Daning Lingshi Park, one of the largest green spaces in downtown Shanghai. It’s the first Marriott hotel in China to adopt a new look and logo under a new global marketing campaign for the signature Marriott brand called “Travel Brilliantly.”
“To me, the hotel job is fulfilling and exciting as it allows me to see different things and encounter different people every day,” said the general manager, who started as a waiter at the Peninsula Hong Kong and climbed the professional ladder to his current No. 1 position in a hotel.
“Getting involved in the whole process from preparing to open either a food and beverage outlet or a hotel always offers me a sense of achievement and satisfaction.”
A standard bearer for the newly revitalized Marriott Hotels brand, Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview boasts an impressive 2,800-square-meter meeting and event space conveniently located on one floor, making it a perfect venue for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), weddings and other social events.
“We are the only hotel in the city center with two full-sized pillar-less ballrooms, measuring 1,400 square meters and 1,000 square meters in size, respectively,” Lam said. “With Shanghai being one of the most important cities for meetings and events in the region, this hotel underlines Marriott’s commitment to leading the future of meetings in Asia with flexible event spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology.”
Fully opened for four months, MICE now contributes some 60 percent of the business of the hotel’s two ballrooms while weddings take the remainder, according to the general manager.
“It is my wish that we can achieve a more balanced model from next year, with MICE accounting for 50 percent and the rest being split by social events and weddings — 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively,” Lam said. “The recreation facilities at this hotel — a 24-hour fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, as well as an outdoor tennis court and golf putting greens — coupled with a tranquil and spacious environment surrounding the hotel, also help provide guests with more options to seamlessly switch between work and leisure.”
Holding a number of key management positions including F&B director and director of operations before ascending to the No. 1 spot in a hotel, Lam considers people management the most important challenge for his new role.
“To give the staff, or my internal customers, career development opportunities is very important and fortunately, Marriott is a company that has been very much focused on professional training,” Lam said. “Meanwhile, I am a person who believes in communication, which means I would always like to listen to my staff, give them some direct coaching and let them know what I expect from them.”
A good hotelier should also be well versed in dealing with the guests, or the so-called external customers.
“Building up relationship with the guests, for instance, asking our repeat guests in what area we can make further improvement, is an effective way to help us do a better job,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we can always learn from our guests who have different cultural and professional backgrounds.”
During his spare time, Lam enjoys exploring places on foot. Having lived in the city for almost four years, he still maintains a habit of walking for two hours during the weekend. Lam is also an avid reader of magazines covering topics such as people, luxury, fashion, entertainment, technology and others. His hobbies also include hiking, visiting museums, and watching NBA games and movies with his family. Thriving under pressure, Lam loves to relax by chatting with his friends over a bottle of good red wine.
Best Deals
Indulge yourself with impeccable five-star service at Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview. Situated next to the Multimedia Valley in Zhabei District, the newly opened hotel offers spectacular views of the Daning Lingshi Park, it’s an ideal place to find inspiration.
Its grand opening rate starts from 1,088 yuan net per night, including breakfast buffet and 333 yuan of dining credit.
GM’s Favorite
Ricky Lam’s favorite dish is pan-fried Japanese scallops seared with Hong Kong XO sauce, a signature dish of the hotel’s Chinese executive chef Chau at the hotel’s Man Ho Chinese Restaurant. The fresh, hand-selected Japanese scallops is cooked with bamboo shoots and garnished with homemade umami XO sauce including ham, conpoy, dried shrimp to enhance the flavor of the scallops.
Footprint
August 2013-present:
General manager of Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview
June 2010-July 2013:
Director of operations of ShanghaiMarriott Hotel City Centre
November 2008-May 2010:
General manager of Chevalier International Holding Ltd
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