Category: Interview

Interview with Mr. Vito Romeo, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu

With nearly 30 years’ professional experience in luxury hospitality industry, Italian hotelier Mr. Vito Romeo was appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu in June 2016, responsible for all hotel operations, management, training and strategies.

Having gained a degree in Hospitality Management from the Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France, Mr. Romeo first ventured to Asia in 2008, joining Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts as executive assistant F&B manager at the Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong, and remained with the group as resident manager of the Shangri-La Beijing, before stints as general manager of Shangri-La Vancouver, and most recently Shangri-La Bosphorous, Istanbul.

Fluent in three languages, Mr. Romeo has a particular passion for food & beverage, and he has had close working relationships with legendary chefs Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon.

In 2006 he was appointed resident manager of the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, a Leading Hotel of the World.

“I’m now delighted to return to China, joining The Ritz-Carlton’s vanguard property in the hub of the fast-growing south-west,” he told SpaChina. On the topic of Chengdu, SpaChina interviewed this special GM, who in his spare time enjoys golf, cooking and collecting cookbooks by famous international chefs.

Since moving to Chengdu, have you explored the city at all? What is your impression of Chengdu?

So far I haven’t had enough time for traveling around and sightseeing, but I have truly discovered the city itself. Rather than some tourist spots, I personally prefer those places frequented by locals. If you have the same interests as me, I will suggest you go to People’s Park, where you can see an aged grandma practicing her catwalk strut, a grandpa singing songs from the Sichuan Opera, stylish youths drink Starbucks, people playing mahjong in the tea house, and kids exploring the newest iPhone game. It is just like a microcosm of the sophisticated city – modern mixed with tradition, in a laid-back lifestyle.

Compared with other places you have worked and lived in, what makes Chengdu different?

Unlike those giant cities, Chengdu has its unique characteristics and charm. People here are open, friendly, tolerant and really know how to enjoy the real good life with the best of what’s available. On the other hand, with areas of outstanding natural beauty located nearby, Jiuzhai Valley and the Panda Sanctuary for example, the international stature of Chengdu continues to grow and command the interest of the global traveler. The city of 15 million was also named by Forbes as one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, and cited by UNESCO as the first “City of Gastronomy” in Asia, for its fiery Sichuan cuisine.

How about Sichuan food? As a real F&B professional, have you visited the local food market? What food places have you been to?

I like Chengdu food. I come from the south of Italy, the Calabria region, where we eat spicy and we have many spicy dishes in Chengdu that sometimes make me feel at home. My wife and I love going to the local food market. We think it is the best place to discover the true nature of a city. We can find out what people like to eat or what their favorite ingredients are in different seasons, and even meet some passionate food lovers. I can eat most of the Chengdu dishes now, but hotpot is still a bit of a challenge for me, especially those authentic ones on the street. The first few bites are okay, but the soup is cooked in a way that it becomes more concentrated, then I cannot appreciate much. But I do enjoy the whole atmosphere, with people sitting around the boiling pot. It is a very intriguing experience.

Your hotel hosted the SpaChina Summit and Awards in 2014, and we all had a deep impression of FLAIR. Who are the main customers of this bar and what kind of lifestyle are they looking for from FLAIR?

FLAIR is regarded as the site of the most modern nightlife in town. As you saw last time, we serve a wide selection of the best beverages from all over the world. We have over 550 different types of wine, champagne and whisky in our cellar; a talented bartender offering hand-crafted beverages and a chef preparing authentic Asian food selections; various live DJ performances and themed parties, in addition to a relaxed yet refined ambience and high-quality and knowledgeable service. The customers are around 10% in-house guests, and the rest mostly local business elites in their 30s and 40s.

How important do you think a spa is to a hotel? How is The Ritz-Carlton Spa doing?

Spa is an indispensable part of the entire Ritz-Carlton experience, and its importance cannot be measured by revenue figures only. We want to develop our spa to be a place where our guests are comfortable and relaxed, and where they can experience physical and spiritual rejuvenation. Furthermore, we also create some unique therapies for our guests to feel a sense of place.

If I could only recommend one, I would definitely say our “Tea Journey” massage, which is our signature treatment inspired from the ancient Silk Road and unique Chengdu tea culture. The tea theme is infused throughout the whole treatment, including an elegant welcome ritual incorporating colorful crystal shards, soaked local tea leaves, followed by a rejuvenating tea bath, tea powder scrub, and tea oil massage for total relaxation.

Do you have any new plans for The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu? What goals are you setting for the year 2017?

We just celebrated our third anniversary in October, and now I would say it is the best time for the hotel. We still maintain the updated and well-equipped hardware from the opening, and our ladies and gentlemen are as passionate and energetic on the job as ever and provide the same genuine care for our guests. In addition, compared with the opening period, they are more experienced, skillful and mature after three years of continuous learning and growth. For next year, all our new plans and initiatives have the same objective, to continuously create personal and exceptional RC memories.

Interview with Mr. Kurt Macher, General Manager of The Temple House

The Temple House, a beautiful boutique hotel in a heritage setting, has a modern design in one of the best locations in Chengdu – within the prestigious Sino Ocean Tai Koo Li development. With the largest modern guest rooms in the city, it has spacious luxury residences, interesting gastronomic concepts, unique event spaces, holistic wellness and spa offerings, and an art gallery and library in the Biteshi Heritage building. The well-trained staff also deliver personalized yet understated service.

MI XUN, is built within a historic Qing Dynasty courtyard and its philosophy relates to the development stages of a plant – the process of growth, maturing to its full potential, curation (classification) and finally ongoing sustenance and nurturing. Each stage of the plant’s development relates to one of the spaces in the spa – the treatment rooms, the ‘breathing space’, retail area and café.

“We were extremely fortunate to have two beautiful heritage buildings that we could bring back to life with new uses,” said Kurt. “The southern courtyard is designed to be more public with the retail and café functions and the northern courtyard is the tranquil spa retreat with treatment rooms. These two courtyards are separated by a ‘breathing space’, which allows guests to physically disconnect from the bustle of the city before entering into the treatment area.”

An Austrian native, Mr. Macher has over 26 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Prior to joining Swire Hotels, Kurt was the Group Director of Projects & Rooms for Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong. He has also held leadership roles with The Four Seasons Hotels Group and The Peninsula Hotels Group.

A graduate from the College of Tourism & Leisure Industry Bad Gleichenberg in Austria, Kurt started his career in the F&B division at The Suvretta House in St. Moritz, Switzerland. His career has taken him all over the world: including Switzerland, France, Canada, UAE, the Caribbean, USA, Singapore, and Hong Kong. He joined Swire Hotels in July 2016 as the General Manager of The Temple House, Chengdu.

On his first visit to Chengdu in 2015, the first thing Kurt noticed was the overall order and cleanliness of the city. “I was also highly impressed by how welcoming and friendly people from Chengdu are. Chengdu, unlike other major metropolises across the globe, has a subtle, almost relaxed pace that I find quite unique. People in Chengdu live and work in a major cosmopolitan city, yet know how to disconnect from the fast pace to really enjoy what the city has to offer.”

“I love the blend of history, culture, and easy outdoor lifestyle that Chengdu offers,” he added. “It is an emerging city with strong year on year growth, and more international companies and consulates setting up operations here.”

Here are some excerpts from SpaChina’s interview with Kurt Macher:

What is your guest profile and why do they choose The Temple House?

Ninety percent of our guests are from China, with the rest coming mainly from Europe and the USA. Most of our guests are discerning high-end leisure guests that stay 2 – 4 days in our urban resort and spend between 7,000 – 12,000 RMB across accommodation, dining and wellness.

Our guests choose our House to enjoy an authentic Chengdu experience, in understated residential luxury that feels unique yet familiar.

Apart from the unique design of our hotel, and award-winning MI XUN spa, one reason we hear for guests coming back to stay with us is our stellar House team. We welcome guests to our House with the warmth and sincerity that we would normally reserve for our closest friends and family. We do not wear nametags because we interact with guests in a personalized manner, and go above and beyond to make your stay with us memorable.

As an expert General Manager, how do you find working with the local team?

When I was appointed as the General Manager of the Temple House, I was worried that my inability to speak Chinese would hamper my ability to effectively communicate with the team. However, my local team have a positive can-do attitude, are incredibly curious, and are dedicated to working with me to making our House a success. In a very short space of time, I believe we have very effective two-way communication and are working as one to raise the levels of service in the hotel even further, and driving tangible business results.

One of the key advantages of managing a Swire Hotel is that we have a clear brand philosophy based on understated luxury. Because of this, we have interest not only from guests, but also potential staffs who have an affinity to the House Collective brand. In terms of management style, I am a very hands-on GM and believe in motivating my team by example. While I do have high expectations, I believe in running a fair and transparent operation, and always empower my staff to achieve success.

How do you see the business competition in Chengdu?

As one of the fastest growing tier two Chinese cities, Chengdu is currently seeing an oversupply of large international hotel brands, with more hotel chains entering the market. In order to be noticed in this competitive landscape, hotels have to provide guests with a unique product, exclusive offerings and ultimately, a memorable experience. Our young House has not yet risen to its full potential, and exciting times lie ahead for us. We will continue to enhance our wellness and gastronomy offerings, to establish our House as one of the best urban resorts in China. We will continue to partner with high-end luxury brands (such as Cartier and Lanvin), artists and influencers to create atelier experiences for our guests.

We also want to rediscover forgotten Chinese traditions and art. Through our specially curated library of 1000 Chinese and 1000 English books, we also hope to connect with people via engaging literary content. Creating unforgettable experiences is at the core of our DNA. We invite everyone to stay with us to experience a new era in understated luxury hospitality.

How do you see the importance of the spa as part of a luxury hotel or resort?

Having a holistic spa and wellness offering is integral to the identity of The Temple House. As a luxury urban resort, our MI XUN Spa offers guests a unique oasis in the heart of bustling Chengdu. We believe that a great spa is a combination of the tranquil spa environment, the expertise of the therapists, as well as the latest innovations in spa treatment technology and products. On average, 40% of our spa clientele are hotel guests, with the majority being leisure travelers.

What is your signature treatment at Mi Xun Spa?

We promote a lifestyle of wellness by adopting natural spa remedies, nutritional cuisine and bespoke treatments. The spa menu offers high performance elements that are results driven. Exclusive to MI XUN Spa, is our range of Mesoestetic facials. Their scientific approach to anti-ageing has resulted in the creation of highly effective skin correcting, balancing, illuminating, and rejuvenating products that turns back the signs of ageing.

Gentlemen can choose from a full range of treatments to ensure he looks groomed from head-to-toe. This begins with the haircut, precision cutting and styling at its finest from our top barber. We offer a consultation, prep the skin with hot aromatic towel, and use a traditional bristle brush to lift the stubble before the commencement of the cleanest possible wet shave. Our in-house post-shave treatment involves the application of a soothing and calming post-shave balm and protective moisturizing facial. To ensure that you look dapper from head to toe when you walk out of MI XUN, your shoes will be sent off for the perfect shoeshine and returned by the time your treatment is done. Our Barber uses British Men’s skincare range, Refinery.

Interview with Mr. Manish Puri, General Manager of Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain

Mr. Manish Puri joined Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain as General Manager in November 2015. In his current role, he oversees all the operations and affairs of the retreat.

Manish has been part of the Six Senses family since 2008. He began his Six Senses career as general manager with the opening of Evason Ma’in Hot Springs and Six Senses Spa in the Kingdom of Jordan. This was followed by five years in Thailand where he served as general manager of the award-winning Six Senses Yao Noi. Manish brings with him the varied experience of 23 years in the hospitality industry.

He started his hotel career as a management trainee in the Oberoi School of Hotel Management and worked in various food & beverage positions within the Oberoi group. His second appointment was opening the legendary Burj Al Arab in Dubai as private dining manager where he established dining standards for all suite guests, which included royalty, entertainment personalities and world leaders.

Manish returned to India and accepted the invitation to open The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore. He was mainly involved in concept designs for restaurants, bars and banqueting and was soon promoted to Food & Beverage Manager. Next, he joined the opening team at one of the largest hotels in the country, Grand Hyatt Mumbai. Following his successful posting in Mumbai, he headed north to New Delhi and took on the role of Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage at The Imperial. He moved on to higher responsibilities at the Taj Hotels, Palaces and Resorts as Executive Assistant Manager.

Under his leadership, Six Senses Spa at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain was the winner of Best Destination Spa of the Year by SpaChina Awards 2016. Here are excerpts from SpaChina Magazine’s interview with Mr. Manish Puri.

Since you moved to Chengdu and Qing Cheng Mountain, what kind of impression do you have of both Chengdu city and Qing Cheng Mountain?

Known as the birthplace of Taoism, Qing Cheng Mountain is such a natural jewel, the most peaceful and secluded mountain. Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain was intentionally designed to step back in time to combine perfectly with the evergreen scenery, and the views of majestic mountains with ancient temples and traditional pagodas.

Compared with the other places you have worked and lived, what are the differences of Chengdu or Qing Cheng Mountain?

It’s such a delight to stay in a region which has four distinct seasons. One can feel a natural changeover of environment and landscape in all its beauty. China offers the world the heritage, customs and history of 6,000 years, and at the same time it keeps reminding you that this place is not only about the past, perfectly blending both to create a unique style and art. Qing Cheng Mountain is also a part of a UNESCO world heritage site which offers so much more value in experiences for our guests.

As this is the first Six Senses property in China, could you introduce Six Senses briefly to our readers? What makes this brand unique?

From its beginnings in 1995, Six Senses quickly became recognized as the hospitality industry’s pioneer of sustainable practices, demonstrating that responsibility can be successfully wedded to un-compromised high-end facilities. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas creates places in which to reconnect, in settings of incredible natural beauty together with exceptional guest experiences. Whether it be a Six Senses resort on a remote private island or a Six Senses Spa in an exciting urban setting, the touch-points are always decidedly the same. And while being part of the local fabric and culture, Six Senses is very much in tune with the wider world.

Unique and personal encounters are crafted by a wealth of experts from diverse backgrounds, from visiting spa practitioners and celebrity chefs, to star gazers, marine biologists and even our own international panel of wellness professionals. These fascinating folk complement our dedicated hosts and help to establish the quintessence of Six Senses.

At Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, sustainability is the hallmark of our bespoke approach to luxury. Sustainability ensures that we are preserving and conserving the local environment and culture/community where we are located and which make our guest experiences so memorable.

What are the guests’ profiles of Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain? What kind of experiences are they looking for?

The guests at the resort are mainly from neighboring cities and towns of Sichuan who yearn for blue skies, open spaces and green environment, all this in a luxury setting with great food and service to complement. We also see increasingly guests coming from different parts of mainland China who come to relax and indulge themselves in wellness activities and spa treatments. The percentage of foreigners is low but increasing steadily due to the excitement of seeing the Pandas, climbing the much-renowned mountain, being part of the Sichuan culinary journey and living the Six Senses experience. The resort caters to both corporate guests coming for a group retreat and for tourists who come for relaxation or to be part of the many tourist experiences that are there on offer.

Do you have any special room or spa package specially designed with the concept of Qing Cheng Mountain?

We do have exclusively designed Chinese rituals based on Taoism to boost the body’s overall defense systems, cultivate radiance of spirit and restore balance to ensure positive health and longevity. We have designed a traditional Chinese treatment room to store more than 70 kinds Chinese herbal medicine. In additional, we have a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to guide guests and provide suggestions according to traditional Chinese medicine methods. We have also created an exclusive Tai Chi class at Puzhao temple taught by a Qing Cheng Tai Chi master, followed by a Zen tea ceremony and nutritious vegetarian breakfast served in Puzhao temple, which is unique and locally inspired.

How important is spa service for the Six Senses Brand? Why? Could you explain it in detail? Please also introduce one of your favorite spa treatments.

Yes, Spa and wellness treatments are very important to us and very much part of our core values and DNA. Spa is just part of the whole wellness idea we have. This wellness idea includes healthy eating through our nutritional guidelines, healthy living through our yogic, detox and sleep programs. Sleep health of our guests together with nutrition, movement, holistic therapies, mindfulness and smart technology that allows our experts to personalize wellness programs, are the core pillars of our innovative approach to heath – Six Senses integrated Wellness.

The Oriental massage has the elements and holistic feel of a Swedish massage and some of the techniques of a traditional Thai massage. Great for jet-lag or a massage to revive oneself after a tiring week.

Many luxury hotels report the spa business is not so good. What kind of problems are impacting the hotel spa business?

The Spa as a concept and business model is not doing that well for the moment, yet there is no luxury hotel opening without one. This is because hotel companies realize the importance of health, wellness, and treatments in the immediate future. It will not be just luxury, but a necessity for healthy living. Spas like in Six Senses resorts are offering much more than just massages. We have a large base of wellness programs and initiatives that result in healthier living.