Interview with Mr. Ronan Henaff,
General Manager of Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li
With nearly 30 years of hospitality experience, including leadership roles at some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants, Mr. Henaff excels in driving business growth through talent management and motivation. His leadership style combines teamwork, a strong commitment to the hotel’s vision, and a dedication to mentoring emerging talents.
Mr. Henaff joined Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li five years ago as General Manager, overseeing the hotel’s daily operations and ensuring that all departments strictly adhered to brand standards. Under his leadership, the hotel has achieved outstanding business performance and earned widespread recognition, successfully establishing a strong brand presence in the China market.
A French citizen, Mr. Henaff began his hospitality career in the United States in 1994. Over the years, he has held key positions with renowned global brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Cipriani Restaurant Group, Setai Hotels, Three on the Bund, and The Shanghai EDITION.
The first Capella property in China, Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, is uniquely situated in the Hengfu Historic and Cultural Area. How do you think this distinctive location and architectural style contribute to the guest experience?
Capella Shanghai, enhances the guest experience by blending historic Shikumen architecture with modern luxury, offering cultural immersion, exclusivity, and a unique sense of place. Its location in the Hengfu Historic and Cultural Area provides a tranquil, authentic retreat amidst Shanghai’s modernity, creating a memorable and meaningful stay. Here, we invite guests to embark on a timeless journey curated by hotel team.
Shanghai is home to a highly competitive luxury hospitality market. In such an environment, how does Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, maintain its brand uniqueness, attract high-end guests, and ensure their continued loyalty?
We distinguish ourselves through visionary experience curation, offering high-end guests immersive, personalized journeys that reflect Shanghai’s rich heritage and modern luxury. Our Capella Culturists design bespoke itineraries, from private tours to exclusive access to local cultural heritages. We also foster unique community connections by various experiences, such as neighborhood tours and partnerships with local artisans, creating a sense of place.
Could you share insights into the hotel’s primary guest demographics? What kind of experiences do these guests most look forward to during their stay? Are there any particular aspects of the surrounding environment or cultural activities that interest them?
Our hotel primarily attracts couples, families, business professionals, and cultural enthusiasts. Leisure guests seek luxury, relaxation, and personalized service, while business travelers prioritize convenience and efficiency. Cultural and adventure seekers are drawn to the unique local attractions and immersive experiences. As an urban sanctuary, privacy is very important to our guests. Guests highly value our premium accommodations, exceptional dining, wellness offerings, and the ability to tailor their experiences.
Personalized service is a cornerstone of the Capella. How does the hotel’s signature Capella Culturists and bespoke experiences create a truly one-of-a-kind stay for guests?
At Capella, our Capella Culturists are the cornerstone of our personalized service, acting as intuitive guides who craft bespoke experiences tailored to each guest’s preferences. From the moment of booking, they delve into understanding individual interests, curating unique activities such as private cultural tours, exclusive dining experiences, or hands-on workshops. Every detail, from personalized room amenities to tailored dining menus, is thoughtfully designed to reflect the guest’s tastes, ensuring a stay that feels deeply personal and memorable.
What truly sets us apart is our ability to anticipate needs and create emotional connections. Our Culturists go beyond expectations, surprising guests with thoughtful gestures like arranging a private celebration or sourcing rare items that resonate with their passions. This dedication to crafting unique, meaningful moments ensures that every stay at Capella is not just luxurious, but truly one-of-a-kind.
The hotel’s spa and wellness offerings are key areas of interest for guests. Could you introduce Auriga Spa and explain what sets it apart from other luxury hotel spas? Additionally, does the hotel offer other wellness experiences beyond spa treatments?
I’m delighted to introduce Auriga Spa, a sanctuary of holistic wellness inspired by the lunar cycle, a luxury cocoon in city centre. What sets Auriga apart is its unique focus on lunar phases to guide treatments, ensuring a deeply personalized and rejuvenating experience.
Our signature Traditional Chinese Wellness experiences are also a highlight. Self-care is a holistic practice, traditional Chinese Wellness embraces the body holistically and treats the roots cause rather than the symptoms. At Auriga we collaborate with the best practitioners to create a menu of services that retain the authenticity of traditional Chinese medicine, enhanced by the healing environment of the spa. Every session commences with a health and lifestyle consultation as the first step towards your commitment to healing and feel better.
Beyond spa treatments, we offer a range of wellness experiences, including yoga and meditation sessions, fitness programme, Singing Bowl experiences at unique Salt Room. We also launched Capella Boutique last year, embodies luxury and the art of living, offering a curated shopping experience that honours craftsmanship and culture. As a landmark luxury hotel, Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li has collaborated with prestigious luxury brands.
As a landmark luxury hotel, Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li has collaborated with prestigious luxury brands. Could you share some highlights from past brand partnerships or any upcoming collaborations?
One of the luxury (skincare) brands we’ve collaborated is Carita, an iconic French beauty house.
Our Auriga Spa is the first Spa to introduce CARITA skin care brand in Shanghai. As their flagship location we offers exclusive treatments delivered by our team of estheticians. The impressive 75 year history of the CARITA’s professional range uses cutting-edge biological new technology, revitalized precious gold, Brazilian tourmaline, and the natural essence contained 5,000 meters under the sea, that helps to unrivaled and immediate repair properties for the skin barrier and plump, so the skin is strengthened to conserve its youthfulness.
French culinary excellence plays a significant role at Capella Shanghai. What makes the hotel’s French restaurant, Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, particularly special? What are the highlights of its menu offerings, afternoon tea, and exclusive dining events curated in collaboration with renowned French chefs?
Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire is positioned as FRENCH FINE DINING and is nestled within the historical Shikumen area, Michelin-starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire and Ramses Navarro curate a harmonious and elegant blend of French authenticity and contemporary flair. Our ingeniously crafted service ensures an unforgettable experience that exudes a sense of French charm and Shanghai glamour from the 1930’s in a truly intimate ambience.
Other experience highlights include an exquisite afternoon tea with delicate pastries and savory treats, as well as exclusive dining events curated in collaboration with renowned French chefs, offering guests unique gastronomic experiences. The restaurant’s elegant ambience and meticulous attention to detail further elevate its status as a culinary destination.
Chef Pierre Gagnaire visits Shanghai twice a year and he will be here to meet Shanghai diners in the coming April, he will also work with Chef Ramses to craft brand new menus of seasonal creations.
What are your views on the future trends in luxury hospitality? Particularly in China, how do you see the preferences and expectations of high-end travelers evolving? As Chinese consumers increasingly seek personalized and immersive experiences, how should luxury hotels continue to innovate to meet these growing demands?
From my perspective, I believe the future of luxury hospitality, particularly in China, will be shaped by several key trends driven by the evolving preferences and expectations of high-end travelers. High-quality products and keeping innovation will become more significant than ever. Here’s my perspective on how luxury hotels can innovate to meet these demands:
Hyper-Personalization & Exclusive Experiences: Chinese high-end travelers are increasingly seeking bespoke experiences tailored to their individual preference, exclusivity and privacy, from customized room settings, curated dining experiences, to tailored itineraries that reflect the guest’s interests, from cultural exploration to wellness retreats. Creating a sense of exclusivity will be key to attracting discerning guests.
Cultural Immersion: Chinese travelers are placing greater value on authentic, culturally immersive experiences. Luxury hotels should integrate local culture into every aspect of the guest journey, from architecture and interior design to culinary offerings and activities. Collaborations with local artisans and cultural experts can create unique, memorable experiences that resonate with guests on a deeper level.
Multi-Generational Travel: With the rise of multi-generational travel in China, luxury hotels must adapt to accommodate families and groups. This includes offering interconnected rooms, family-friendly activities, and spaces that cater to both younger and older guests. Tailoring experiences to suit different age groups within the same family will be a significant differentiator.
Wellness and Healing: Additionally, offering comprehensive wellness programs – including spa treatments, fitness classes, and mental health support – will be essential to cater to the growing demand for holistic wellbeing – it brings senses of healing. Besides above, brand storytelling and emotional connection are also become more and more significant. By staying attuned to the evolving preferences of high-end travelers and continuously innovating, luxury hotels can not only meet but exceed the expectations of their guests, ensuring long-term success in this dynamic market. As a General Manager, my focus will be on creating unforgettable experiences that combine tradition with modernity, a sense of belonging that lasting for long, ensuring our property remains a preferred choice for discerning travelers.
Having worked with some of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotels, you now oversee the Capella Shanghai in China. What do you see as the biggest challenges in operating a luxury hotel in this market? At the same time, what unique opportunities does the Chinese market present?
The majority of Capella’s guests are experienced and well-traveled individuals who have exceptionally high expectations for exceptional service, personalized experiences, and cultural authenticity. Additionally, the intense competition from both international luxury brands and emerging local players presents a significant challenge. Perhaps the most difficult aspect is attracting and retaining skilled talent in a highly competitive labor market.
However, it is undeniable that the Chinese market is also full of opportunities. The market here is vibrant and continuously growing, embracing the global market more than ever before, and boasts unparalleled diversity. Furthermore, we can leverage Shanghai’s rich and unique history and culture to create distinctive guest experiences. I also believe that as domestic travelers’ demand for luxury accommodations rises, they are increasingly seeking visionary and meaningful exploratory experiences.
In balancing these challenges and opportunities, it is essential to have a deep understanding of local preferences while maintaining globally leading luxury standards.