New Landmark Hotel in Beijing

A Talk with Nils-Arne Schroeder, General Manager of Hilton Beijing Wangfujing

老北京的新酒店地标

——与北京王府井希尔顿酒店总经理尼尔斯·施罗德先生一席谈

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

Photos: by Hilton Beijing Wangfujing & Zhang Zi Chun

The historic city of Beijing had attracted the world’s notice as the host of the 2008Olympic Games. All of a sudden, people seemed to notice that the old capital of several dynasties had been replaced by a vibrant international city. Beijing is in rapid development, its streets being overcrowded with pedestrians and vehicles. Skyscrapers are juxtaposed with cultural icons like the Forbidden City, where the traditional Chinese architecture is only part of the attraction. Tourists and locals, especially the younger generation, flock to the bars in Houhai or Sanlitun, 798 art center and other popular sites of interest. Thanks to a booming hotel trade, Beijing is obviously a favorite of prestigious hotel companies like Hilton Hotels, which has so far opened three luxury properties in the city.

Ideally located on Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing's most prestigious addresses, the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing is within an easy walk to landmark cultural and commercial icons as well as high-end restaurants, designer shops, boutiques and art galleries. Despite that it has been in operation only for less than a year, the hotel has made substantial gains. However, it couldn’t have accomplished so much without its dedicating general manager, Nils-Arne Schroeder.

Mr. Schroeder joined Hilton Hotels some 10 years ago, and was responsible for the flawless opening of the award-winning Hilton Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort in South Korea. Having garnered numerous accolades, both hotels are regarded milestones in his 18-year career in hospitality. The youngest ever general manager of a Hilton hotel who understands the art and knowledge of opening luxury hotels had been tasked with opening the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, the third hotel opening he had been set to oversee. He then visited a good many trade insiders from whom he learned experience as well as drew lessons, and communicated frequently with media and the staff. Opening hotels are undoubtedly a difficult task, and the most rewarding experience one can imagine. In fact, Mr. Schroeder enjoys the hardships. He said, “I am extremely pleased with the successful opening. I heard that other hotels had encountered difficulties during the pre-opening period, but we were lucky and everything went smoothly, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The larger part of employees is young people whom I feel happy to work with, and we have joined hands to make the hotel better. In fact, we have kept the room occupancy at a considerably high level since the hotel opened its doors, but there is still much to achieve. We will work hard to make our hotel unique.”

Designed as a chic and intimate lifestyle hotel, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, one of the newest additions to the portfolio of Hilton hotels, offers 255 guestrooms including 59 suites. Deluxe Rooms which feature a modern open plan design are amongst the largest in the city starting at 50 square metres, a rare case in Beijing where land is offered at a skyhigh price. “I always hope our guests can get the best — a capacious room is waiting form them when they return from a day’s work, and a large, comfortable bed on which they can jump as hard as they wish, as well as a bathroom designed and furnished in a sophisticated style,” Mr. Schroeder said. Every room features unique fixtures, dark wooden furniture, 42 inch LCD TV, iPod docking station, and phones and broadband internet access for ease of communication. Brand, location, hardware and software, according to Mr. Schroeder, are the four crucial factors in the success of a hotel, and Hilton Beijing Wangfujing obviously has them all.

Luxury hotels are more accessible now than in the past. Many young people nowadays choose to spend the weekend in a hotel — a rewarding conclusion of a hectic week. The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing enjoys a reputation in Beijing, one relying in part on its four F&B

outlets believed to be no inferior to outside restaurants in food, ambiance and service. The restaurants and lounges, with very fine artistic detailing, are expected to contribute to an ultimate dining experience. Gourmet palates will relish the eclectic choices of contemporary cuisine and cocktails in chic surroundings. Pamper yourself with the seafood-accented menus at Vasco’s, the first of its kind in Beijing which offers a delectable pastiche of global cuisine combining the exotic cultures of Portugal, China and India to create the Macanese cuisine. Or dine on exquisite Chinese cuisine as you soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the theatrically themed Chynna, whose fusion menus feature the finest of Chinese food. Why bother to dine out when you can embark on a gastronomic adventure in Hilton Beijing Wangfujing?

Schroeder said he was as happy with his life in Beijing as was passionate about what he had been doing all along, from the preopening phase till now, and had never been contented with his achievements.

“Guests should never be looked at as a mere room number, no matter how many rooms a centrally located hotel like us may offer. I, as the general manager, must talk to them, learn what they think of us and try to understand their feelings, which is easier if in a smaller service villa compound or resort, where I can easily remember the basic information and preferences of every guest. A general manager should try to approach his or her guests during their multi-day stay. I would like to serve as a bridge between guests and my hotel, and try to know as many of them as I can.”

Mr. Schroeder, like many other veteran hoteliers, has a real passion for what he does. He also has strong attachment to his team, treating them like his own family. “I’ve strived to inspire them to have the same passion as mine, and the result is quite positive. I believe the foremost important aspect in a good team member is a positive and enthusiastic attitude, rather than the technical aspects listed in their resume. I can quickly tell during an interview whether they like my hotel and really want to work here or not.” True, what’s the use of 20-year experience if the applicant lacks passion? Passion, according to Schroeder, is young people’s most valuable asset. After all, one can’t be perfect in doing anything, and mistakes are unavoidable. Guests are more inclined to forgive those who seek to solve the problem whenever they spot it.

The economic crisis started on the latter half of 2008 has ruined many people’s career and life like a bomb. Commenting on the hotel’s objectives for 2009, Mr. Schroeder said: “What we should do is to improve the hotel and make it known to more people. We will also foster a happy, positive attitude, believing that we do have prospects, and create an intimate environment. It is what we’ve been doing all along, and initial successes have been made. Hilton Beijing Wangfujing is designed as an intimate lifestyle hotel where guests will feel at home.”

He went on to tell us that in time of economic downturn, you must concentrate on what is in your power. He who breaks the rule and innovates will succeed. Try to be the first to take action, or you’ll fall behind others. Life has ups and downs, so is the hotel business. As long as you stay happy and positive, you can always move forward. Schroeder said a happy and positive attitude was instrumental in not only helping the hotel survive the current recession, but also strengthening its power. His ambition is to establish the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing as one of the best in Beijing, and make Hilton Hotels more widely known.

History has left indelible marks on Beijing. Things like Jingpianzi (Beijing dialect), hutong, siheyuan (Chinese quadrangle) and candied haws on a stick which are synonymous with Old Beijing are viewed by people living outside as icons of the Metropolitan Beijing. The exciting Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, led by Nils – Arne Schroeder, is sure to be a hot topic in conversations about Beijing.

一场声势浩大的奥运会让北京这个古老的城市突然间成了全世界瞩目的焦点。有人因此而知道，原来北京早就不是从前的那个皇城了。如今这里高楼林立，每天都有车水马龙在你身边川流不息，尽管这里仍旧感受得到历史的韵味。这个上了年纪的城市正在以一种令人惊叹的速度发展着，并逐步成为一个国际化的都市。现在当人们来到紫禁城的时候，观光旅游的景点不再仅仅局限于那些具有历史积淀的古建筑了，后海、三里屯的酒吧、798艺术区也是城市里年轻人趋之若鹜的新景点。与此同时，北京的酒店业也处在一个上升的阶段，在这里，我们能够轻而易举地感受到著名的酒店品牌对于这个城市的热爱。希尔顿集团在北京接连开了三家酒店，这一酒店业巨头对于北京的热衷可见一斑。

北京王府井希尔顿酒店的地理位置十分优越，她坐落在北京城最为著名的王府井大街，占尽城市商业及文化中心的绝佳位置。无论是前往高档餐饮、购物、娱乐设施，还是美术馆、公园及旅游观光地等均十分便利。尽管她从开业至今只有短短的半年时间，但是期间所取得的成绩却是不容小觑的。在此过程中，酒店总经理尼尔斯•施罗德先生可谓功不可没。

尼尔斯•施罗德先生拥有十八年的酒店管理经验，加入希尔顿国际酒店集团工作近十年来，他已分别在马来西亚和韩国筹建了当地新酒店的开业及运营，即希尔顿吉隆坡酒店和Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort。这两家酒店都屡获殊荣，不仅为酒店带去了许多荣誉，也为他自己的职业生涯添上了浓墨重彩的一笔。作为希尔顿集团最年轻的总经理，施罗德先生深谙如何创建一家划时代的酒店。而北京王府井希尔顿酒店则是他第三次担此重任，为了能够使酒店顺利开业，他走访了很多同行业的同仁，向他们学习各方面的经验。除此以外，他还积极同媒体、酒店的员工进行沟通。要知道，要担任一家酒店的开业总经理是一项十分艰巨的任务，但施罗德先生却很能“苦中作乐”，他说：“酒店能够顺利开业我感到很高兴，我之前也听说过其他酒店在开业过程中遇到过不少困难，让我感到庆幸的是，我们一路走来都很顺利。相反地，我在此过程中找到了不少的乐趣，很多员工都是年轻人，我很乐意和他们一起工作，并且一起取得了不少的成果，这使得酒店一直都顾客盈门。如今酒店刚开张一年不到，我们还有很多努力和上升的空间，来使酒店更富有个性。”

整体设计风格时尚别致的北京王府井希尔顿酒店拥有255间客房，其中包括58间套房，是希尔顿酒店家族中一个独具风格的新增成员。酒店的豪华标准间风格鲜明且功能齐全。舒适宽敞的客房采用开放式布局，客房面积则为京城之最，最小面积亦有50平方米。在如此寸土寸金的地方能够拥有这样宏大的空间感实属不易，“我希望我们的客人能够得到最好的入住体验。当你经过一天的劳累从外面回到酒店，等待你的将是宽敞的房间和舒适的床——你甚至可以在上面跳跃，当然还有精心设计的浴室。”施罗德先生说道。充满现代感的客房内均配备时尚且现代的固件设施和深色实木家具，融合了顶级通讯系统和高级娱乐设备，例如iPod®家庭迷你音乐站和42英寸液晶电视。正如施罗德先生说的那样，对一家酒店来说，有四个因素是至关重要的——品牌，酒店的软件和硬件设施，以及地理位置。如今的北京王府井希尔顿酒店可以说是兼具了这四个有利的因素。

随着酒店越来越贴近人们的生活，不少年轻人会选择在周末的时候一起去所出城市的酒店度过一个愉悦的假期，这也不失为犒劳自己一周的努力工作的好方法。北京王府井希尔顿酒店如今在紫禁城已经有了一定的知名度，这其中她的餐饮起了不小的推波助澜的作用，她让人们相信酒店内的餐饮水准绝不输外面的餐厅。酒店内设有四家风格各异的餐厅和酒廊，并在细节处洋溢着浓厚的艺术气息，这些都体现了酒店愿景，即提升美食体验，为京城的美食家增添更多乐趣。其中让我们尤其印象深刻的是“万斯阁澳门餐厅”和“秦唐中餐厅”，前者的菜品口味揉合传统的葡萄牙菜、印度菜及中国菜的特点，尤以海鲜擅长，是北京唯一一家主打澳门菜系的餐厅，而后者是一家有着绚烂夺目的剧院式装潢的中餐美食馆，其菜单新颖别致，将中国各地菜系的精品美馔与现代烹饪技术完美地合二为一。有了这样实力雄厚的餐厅作为后盾，下榻于酒店的客人又何必盛装打扮地在偌大的京城寻找中意的餐厅呢？

对于现在在北京安家落户，施罗德表示自己非常高兴，也正因此，使得他对自己在北京的工作始终精益求精，热情高涨，无论是在酒店的开业筹备期间还是现在。他说：“作为总经理，应该尽量多与客人沟通，了解他们的想法，因为在市中心的酒店客房数目众多，客人自然也就多了起来，客人不仅仅只是房间号，要更多的了解他们。如果是在规模较小的别墅酒店或是度假酒店，我就能很容易地将记住客人的基本信息和喜好。必须要走到客人中去，因为他们将在你的酒店里度过好几天。我希望能够成为客人和酒店之间的桥梁，我会尽我所能去结识每一位客人。”

和许多经验丰富的酒店人一样，施罗德先生热爱自己的工作，也热爱自己的团队，他把他们当作自己的家人。他说：“我尽可能的把我对工作的热情传染给他们，这么做确实有很好的效果。我雇人的标准不是看他们的简历或是他们多年前做了什么，而是看他们对待工作的态度。我能很快感觉出来他们是不是想要、喜欢在这工作。”的确，如果一个人失去了对酒店工作的热情，即使他拥有二十年的经验又如何。在施罗德看来，年轻人最重要的就是有热情，也许他们会出现这种或那种问题，无法做到完美，但只要看到问题并且能做出改进，是能够得到顾客的谅解的。

在2008年末突然爆发的经济危机就像一颗无声的炸弹，不少人的工作、生活因此受到了影响。在谈到北京王府井希尔顿酒店在今年的目标的时候，施罗德先生说：“我们要做的就是使酒店更加完善，创造一个亲密的工作氛围，让更多的人认识我们。凡事往积极的方面考虑，这样我们酒店会有一个美好的前景，我们的团队也在这么做，并且已经初有成效。我们酒店是一个充满生活气息的酒店，私密且给人宾至如归的感觉。”面对经济危机，他表示一定要专注于自己可以掌握的事情，当别人都墨守成规的时候，谁先采取行动、做出创新谁就会去得成功，否则只能落于人后。无论是经营一家酒店还是规划自己的人生，我们都会面临起起落落，但最重要的就是要保持乐观的心态，这样才能鞭策自己不断前进。施罗德认为保持乐观的心境，不仅能帮助他们顺利度过这一次的危机，更能锻炼自己、增强自身实力，而他的理想就是将北京王府井希尔顿酒店建设成为北京最一流的酒店之一，使这个闻名遐迩的酒店集团能够在紫禁城大放异彩。

北京城的一切都被深深打上了“老北京”的烙印，比如流利的京片子，九曲十八弯的胡同，城市建筑的典型——四合院，还有那牵动人心的冰糖葫芦，这些都早已成为了北京的标志，也是很多外地人心中的北京。相信别具特色的北京王府井希尔顿酒店在施罗德先生的带领下，也会在今后的岁月里成为人们在谈论北京时不得不说的焦点。