如果说2008年是中国风生水起的一年，那么刚刚过去的2009年无疑就是我们韬光养晦的一年，因为我们即将迎来更为风光无限的2010年。每到岁末年初交替更迭的时候，走在北京的街头，都能感受到万象更新的气息。

    北京万豪酒店于去年10月任命了新的总经理——柯卓辉先生。从事酒店行业三十余年的他是地道的西班牙人，毕业于牛津博克大学酒店管理专业，不仅专业功底扎实，实际经验更是丰富。在整个职业生涯中，柯卓辉先生在万豪旗下任职长达十五年，拥有多家万豪酒店管理集团旗下酒店的管理经验，仅香港一地，他就先后管理香港海景万丽酒店和香港九龙新世界万丽酒店。此外，他的足迹还遍及西班牙、瑞士、德国、马来西亚、韩国、澳门、中国大陆等。

    北京万豪酒店地理位置优越，位于北京市CBD商业中心区、建国门桥西南角，毗邻东二环、长安街、建国门地铁站及北京火车站，同时距离北京首都机场仅24公里。作为美国以外市场规模最大的万豪酒店，北京万豪酒店拥有1,312间客房，它同时也是北京客房数最多的酒店。对于如此众多的客房，酒店全都配备了最先进的设施，无论是商务客人还是处在旅途中的人，在这里都没有后顾之忧。让人更为印象深刻的是，客房里的数码设备都是最为先进的，宽带或者无线上网一应俱全，随时与外界保持着紧密的联系。对于大多是热衷于苹果产品的用户来讲，这里的客房也是他们的影音天地。现在，酒店正计划完善自己各方面的体系，相信届时客房的销售率一定会上升。对于那些辛勤工作的人而言，北京万豪酒店也是他们理想的休闲场所。酒店设有一个健身中心和室内恒温游泳池，另外，它并设有万豪获奖无数的“泉” 水疗中心 (Quan Spa)，内设14个理疗室。其它设施和服务还包括24小时送餐服务，洗衣/熨烫服务，商务中心，金钥匙服务，私人管家等。柯卓辉先生说：“我只想让下榻在酒店的客人感到舒适和放松，我的任务便是为他们提供全方位的周到服务。”

    北京万豪酒店的主要建筑特色在于其建在著名的明城墙遗址公园。明城墙遗址公园始建于明朝永乐17年（公元1419年），历史上明城墙全长40公里。现存的崇文门至城东南角楼一线的城墙遗址全长1.5公里，是原北京内城城垣的组成部分，是仅存的一段，也是老北京城的标志。2002年，北京市政府开放明城墙遗址，使其成为一个向市民免费的公园。柯卓辉先生说：“能够坐拥如此具有历史意义的城墙，对酒店来说就像是一种保护，得天独厚却又有些冥冥之中，处在城墙内的酒店让人有一种不可言喻的安全感，我们为此感到自豪。”

    由于酒店规模宏大，柯先生早上八点左右开始巡查酒店，结束的时候已经接近吃午饭的时间了，其间他会参与到酒店工作的各个环节中去，与员工和客人保持亲密的接触。这是一个很大的工作量。对于工作目标，他表现得很实际也很直接，就是提高酒店的经济效益。。事实上，他曾成功地把香港海景万丽酒店由新世界品牌升级为万丽海景酒店，并且顺利落实并执行了所有新的品牌标准；继而在香港九龙新世界万丽酒店完成了所有客房及行政楼层的装修，成功将其定位升级为商务酒店，并在2004年至2008年期间实现了酒店收入高达70%的快速增长。对柯卓辉先生来说，骄人的业绩、创新的魄力、顾客与员工的认可是他取得成功不可缺少的因素。尽管他担任北京万豪酒店总经理的时间很短，但酒店的确已经发生了不小的变化，而这些都是有目共睹的。他说：“人们可以感受到酒店的各个角落里都有一种蓬勃的气息在蓄势待发。经济危机或是全球性的流感病毒在这里都不足以成为借口，我们要做的就是超越以前的自己。”

    如今的柯卓辉先生由于刚来北京乍道，因此他对于这种城市还处在一种观察的状态，却相当的细致入微。他看到了北京人和香港人在整体性格上的差异，也观察到了他们不同的工作状态。“我必须要尽快地融入酒店，了解这里的运营状况，这样我才能在今后的工作中做出正确的决定。作为总经理我必须时刻注意自己的言行，为员工们做好榜样，因为我知道员工们都看着我。” 在严于律己的同时，他也相当体恤员工。柯先生很少去命令员工们该怎么做，而是告诉他们为什么他认为应该这么做。如果说员工的想法跟他不一样，那么他会放手让员工们去按照自己的方法做，并且他会在一旁进行协助。他说：“在执行某些决定的时候，一定要让员工理解我的意图，这样才能更好的提高酒店的服务水平。我需要员工和客人对我的信任，我希望他们认为我能够带领他们朝正确的方向前进。”

    全球气候大会刚刚在哥本哈根落幕，虽然没有取得令世人满意的结果，但是环境问题已经引起了我们足够的重视。万豪酒店集团一直致力于节约能源来避免造成不必要的浪费，他们使用最先进的技术和设备，并且具有一套完整的体系来使酒店达到环保的目的。他本身也是一个十分注重环保的人，对于个人生活的种种方面都会考虑到环保，因此即使是规模如此巨大的酒店，在他的领导下也能做到尽可能的节约资源。即使酒店的营业额十分令人满意，但是他们在资源的节约方面也是毫不松懈的。从电到水，都是酒店节省的目标；此外，酒店还十分注重资源的回收再利用，从而达到经济的效果。

    当柯卓辉先生在亚洲生活了那么长时间以后，他开始有点难以想象自己再次回到欧洲生活会是什么样子，他说自己现在就是一个地道的亚洲人。对于自己生活工作了将近二十年的中国，柯先生也有着深厚的感情，他说：“如今的中国和以前可以说是天壤之别，从人的面貌到社会形态都发生了翻天覆地的变化，中国在各个方面都将成为世界的领头羊。与此同时，在后奥运时代里，北京也正在成为世界上最重要的城市。”休息日的时候，柯卓辉先生会骑着自行车穿梭在城市的大街小巷，近距离地接触这座古老而现代的都城。

If 2008 was a year of high-pitched triumph for China, the departing 2009 is keeping low profile and downplaying ambitions, to save up for the more promising 2010. As the new year is approaching, the revival of life blossoms all over the city.

Last October M. Javier Albar was appointed as the General Manager of the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall. A Spanish national, Mr. Albar graduated from the Oxford Brookes University, with a major in Hospitality Management Studies. Having been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years, of which 15 years are under the flag of Marriott International, Inc, Mr. Albar brings a wealth of talent and experience to his position.  In Hong Kong alone, he has commanded in succession the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Hong Kong and the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel, Hong Kong.  His work experience can also be traced in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia, Korea, Macau, and China Mainland.

Conveniently located in the central business district of Beijing, the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall is adjacent to the east second ring road and Chang’an Avenue, at the southwest corner of Jianguomen Bridge, and close to Jianguomen Subway Station and Beijing Railway Station. It is only 24 kilometers away from the Beijing Capital International Airport.  As the largest Marriott Hotel outside of U.S.A, the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall possesses 1,312 guest rooms, which are all equipped with the latest digital devices.  The broadband and wireless connections facilitate easy communication at all times.  APPLE fans could treat themselves to a satiable audio and visual feast.  Now that the hotel is perfecting its facilities in all aspects, the occupancy rate will surely ascend in the near future.  For the diligent and laborious, the hotel is also an ideal retreat. Recreational facilities include a fitness center, an indoor heated swimming pool, and the award-winning Quan Spa, which offers 14 treatment rooms. Other amenities cover 24-hour room service, laundry business center, lobby concierge desk and an executive floor. “My sole concern is to make our guests relaxed and restored,” said Mr. Albar. “The mission is to provide attentive and satisfactory services in all areas.”

A major architectural highlight of the hotel is that it is built on the renowned Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park.  The Ming City Wall, initially constructed in 1419, used to surround the city in a full length of about 40 kilometers. The existing relics, the only survived part of the inner city wall of the old Beijing city, extend about 1.5 kilometers. In 2002, the Beijing Municipal Government unveiled the site as a public park.  Mr. Albar said, “It is a privilege for the hotel to own the city wall relics, which provide an inexplicable feeling of security. We feel proud about it.”

On account of the hotel’s large scale, Mr. Albar would set off on a tour of inspection early at 8am, during which he involves himself in all sections of the hotel and maintains close relationship with employees and guests. This is by no means an easy task.  His work objectives, realistic and explicit, are to enhance the financial benefits for the hotel.  History has proved that he is capable for that. He successfully re-branded the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Hong Kong from New World Harbour View to Renaissance Harbour View and implemented all the new brand standards.  Then, after the renovation of the rooms and Club floors in the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel, Hong Kong, he successfully repositioned the hotel to a corporate business hotel and realized a substantial 70% increase in the hotel’s profitability from 2004 to 2008. To Mr. Albar, excellent performance, great creativity and undeniable satisfaction from his associates and guests are indispensable to his success.  Although he has assumed the office as the General Manager for a short period, considerable changes are happening in the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall.  “People can feel the revival of life blossoming in every corner of the hotel. The economic crisis or world flu virus are no excuses for staleness. What we are doing is to exceed our past achievement.”

A new comer in Beijing, Mr. Albar is still observing and experiencing the city. He has perceived the overall personality and work performance divergences between Beijing natives and Hong Kong people. “It is essential for the future decisions to familiarize myself with the environment of the hotel and to acquaint myself with its operations as soon as possible.  As the General Manager, I have to be careful about my words and acts, because the employees are looking at me as an example.” Strict with himself, Mr. Albar is considerate for others. He seldom gives simple instructions without explaining why he makes such decisions. If the employees have different opinions, he would allow them to follow their own ways and offer necessary help. He commented, “When certain decisions are to be executed, employees’ understanding of my intentions would result in a raise of service quality. I need the trust from my associates and guests, who, I hope, believe that I am leading them to the right direction.”

Although the United Nations Climate Change Conference drew to a close at Copenhagen without satisfactory achievements, the environment issues have aroused sufficient attention around the world. The Marriott International, Inc. has been dedicated to energy saving to avoid unnecessary waste. The latest technology and equipments are applied to ensure an environmentally friendly circumstance in the hotel.  Mr. Albar himself pays attention to environment protection in every detail of his personal life.  Under his supervision, the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall, despite of its scale, tries its utmost to save resources including electricity and water, and practices resource recycling.

Having lived in Asia for such a long time, Mr. Albar finds it difficult to picture his life back in Europe, as he has already considered himself an authentic Asian. He has deep feelings for China where he has lived and worked for nearly two decades.  “There is a world of difference between today’s China and the old one. People’s appearance and the social conditions have all undergone tremendous changes. China is becoming one of the leading countries in the world, as Beijing is becoming one of the most important cities in the post-Olympic age. “ During his free time, Mr. Albar would ride the bicycle through lanes and streets to enjoy a close contact with this ancient and modern metropolis.