白世民 精致奢华 瑰丽体验
白世民
瑰丽酒店集团首席营运总裁
Symon Bridle
Group Chief Operating Officer of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
缘起年少,钟情酒店
白世民有着超过30年的从事酒店业的经验,而他与酒店的缘分似乎冥冥之中早已注定。他的父母曾在非洲的塞舌尔经营酒店,年少的白世民自然也参与到了自家小酒店的运营中,他回忆道:“其实那是一段艰苦的日子,可我却没意识到这点。有趣的是,年少的我反而非常喜欢和来自不同国家、不同文化背景的人交流,并且十分享受这种感觉。当后来面对事业选择时,我才发现原来这段经历对我进入酒店业起到了至关重要的作用。”
白世民大学时专攻酒店管理方向,随后在世界各地酒店任职,先后在欧洲、加勒比、非洲,现在则是亚洲。这些经历让他得以旅游、结识新朋友并且体验文化多样性。对他来说,酒店业的魅力在于能在旅居全球,体验多文化的同时,与顾客进行心灵的链接,为他们提供独特而触动人心的体验。
怀着这样的美好愿景,他从80年代就步入酒店业的大门,先是在南非的 Southern Sun 酒店和威斯汀酒店任职,后来在瑞士和百慕大奢华酒店工作过。接着他加入了香格里拉酒店集团,担任常务总经理等酒店管理资深职务。2009年他离开了工作18个年头的香格里拉,开启了在瑰丽的旅程。
以人为本,归属体验
在酒店业奋斗三十年后,为何最终选择瑰丽,白世民有着自己的见解,他认为运营品牌和公司十分重要的一点是,运营者们自身的理念需要与品牌或公司的核心文化价值保持一致。瑰丽品牌核心的“A Sense of Place”恰好契合了白世民推崇的“酒店业,是一门处理人际关系的艺术”这一理念,在这位COO看来,酒店服务的核心是人,无论是酒店服务,还是酒店设计,都应该以人为本。人们在旅途中总是乐于体会当地文化,酒店能否为旅客提供既具有本土特色又不失个性化的环境,即“A Sense of Place”,的基本条件,则是处理人际关系艺术的基本条件。
作为两种相似理念的联结点,以人为本同时也给白世民及瑰丽酒店带来新的挑战。随着时代的发展,奢华的定义渐渐发生了改变,它不再局限于形式上的奢华,体验上的“奢华感”变得更加重要,对于消费大军千禧一代来说更是如此。白世民认为,奢华的本质就是以人为本,满足客户的个人需求成为了关键,然而如何让合适的运营团队通过正确的服务态度和恰当的服务欲望来达到这一目的是一个非常大的挑战。
而这些,落实到瑰丽的运营上,归结为两个简单的字,选择。酒店的选址,需要细致的考虑与再三抉择,而在选择运营团队的时候,也应该精挑细选,“作为运营官,你要对你的团队有着清晰的认知,知道哪些人适合我们的公司,能发展我们的理念。”白世民介绍道现在在中国瑰丽拥有超过600位员工,而他们能在瑰丽的环境中发挥所长,以积极的心态为凝聚团队。
全新篇章,与华结缘
随着中国经济的飞速发展,中国旅游业亦呈现蒸蒸日上的势头,中国游客可谓是一支极其庞大的消费队伍。由于看到了中国市场的重要性和发展潜力,瑰丽2014年在中国开设了第一家酒店——北京瑰丽酒店。当然在瑰丽之前,不少奢华酒店的品牌已经进驻中国,对此,白世民并没有显现出对激烈市场竞争的担忧,相反他笑着说:“在某种程度上,我们还有一点后发优势。既然这么多大品牌已经在这里,那么这也意味着我们能够在这个领域寻找更多的新合作伙伴。”
论及瑰丽如何在中国市场站稳脚跟并开始发展,白世民的回答显得十分自信从容:“北京的瑰丽酒店贯彻了我们的品牌核心——‘A Sense of Place’,它的设计很好地捕捉到了本土氛围的精髓,这将会鼓励有兴趣的酒店旅客踏上寻找本土风情的旅程,正是这些人才使得我们的酒店变得特别。幸运的是,北京瑰丽在将近三年的时间里,吸引了很多粉丝,其中包括许多有影响力的人,他们愿意分享自己住宿瑰丽酒店的独特经验。我相信,在这些客人的帮助下,瑰丽酒店将会吸引越来越多的顾客。”
瑰丽不仅在酒店的风格设计中要贯彻其“A Sense of Place”的品牌哲学,而且在酒店选址上,他们也要把这个品牌理念执行到底。目前,中国北京和三亚均有瑰丽酒店的身影,2018年,瑰丽将来到广州。白世民称,在这些地方选址,不仅仅是由于其巨大的市场潜力,还因为这几个城市能够恰到好处体现出“A Sense of Place”,北京作为首都城市,有着悠久的历史和大气的城市风格;三亚作为海滨城市,有着优美的风景和宁静的海洋;广州作为动感城市,有着丰厚的底蕴和繁荣的商业。
关于花城广州,白世民特别提到了有关广州瑰丽的餐饮的设想,所谓“食在广州”,除了要把本土的特色食品做到精致美味外,更要把“A Sense of Place”这一核心概念延伸到就餐中——客人将在这座城市最高的建筑中享有无与伦比的用餐体验。白世民觉得,这样才算是俘获了大都会广州最引人注目的灵魂之处。
专注高端,不惧OTA
互联网的迅猛发展催生了Online Travel Agents这个行业,毫无疑问,OTA已经成为当下大多数人外出旅游的首选,因此小到民宿大到超豪华酒店几乎都会与OTA挂钩。OTA中,Airbnb的发展势头最为明显,面对如此具有竞争力的对手,白世民并没有太多的担忧,他说:“我们与Airbnb的发展定位不一样。Airbnb的主要优势是价格,对于普通酒店而言,它是强有力的竞争对手,但我们的市场定位是极致奢华,目前我并不认为Airbnb能对瑰丽所走的高端路线造成真正的威胁。”
比起OTA,白世民认为瑰丽酒店发展会更重视传统的旅行中介,因为大部分真正想订奢华酒店的人往往不会通过OTA这个渠道。他打了一个比方,如果旅客想要订墨西哥的拉斯本塔纳斯高级度假酒店,那么他们会想和去过这家酒店的人了解相关的情况,另外,如果是常客,他们更希望能够住到同样的房间,看到同样优美的风景,而这些确切的信息都较难从OTA中得到。
侧重于传统旅行中介不意味着瑰丽将会放弃OTA。在白世民眼中,是否需要调整OTA的发展策略仍然要看当地的市场需求,比如阿布扎比就有较大的OTA市场,相比之下,美国和欧洲市场的需求相对较小。对于现阶段的发展,白世民认为尽管OTA是市场的主要趋势,但这并不是他们发展的主要方向,他们的业务更多来自于其他部分。
如同少年的自己一般,现在工作经验丰富的白世民仍旧对能在酒店接触各式各样的人抱有热情,“在酒店,我必须要认真工作并且专注于自己提升自己的事业。尽管总会遇到一些不太理想的事情,但这不就是生活的多姿多彩吗?有好有坏,没有哪一天是相似的,在这里我可以与有学识的财富之人对话交流,还有了工作的机会,体验了不一样的文化,以及认识到一生朋友。”除了自己的事业,白世民也十分专注于人才的培养,他认为,生活给予了他如此多经验,他要把这些宝贵的东西用来培养更多的人才,以回馈生活对他的眷顾。与此同时,我们非常期待能在中国更多的城市看到瑰丽酒店,体会到其独特的“A Sense of Place”。
随着中国经济的飞速发展,中国旅游业亦呈现蒸蒸日上的势头,中国游客可谓是一支极其庞大的消费队伍。由于看到了中国市场的重要性和发展潜力,瑰丽2014年在中国开设了第一家酒店——北京瑰丽酒店。当然在瑰丽之前,不少奢华酒店的品牌已经进驻中国,对此,白世民并没有显现出对激烈市场竞争的担忧,相反他笑着说:“在某种程度上,我们还有一点后发优势。既然这么多大品牌已经在这里,那么这也意味着我们能够在这个领域寻找更多的新合作伙伴。”
论及瑰丽如何在中国市场站稳脚跟并开始发展,白世民的回答显得十分自信从容:“北京的瑰丽酒店贯彻了我们的品牌核心——‘A Sense of Place’,它的设计很好地捕捉到了本土氛围的精髓,这将会鼓励有兴趣的酒店旅客踏上寻找本土风情的旅程,正是这些人才使得我们的酒店变得特别。幸运的是,北京瑰丽在将近三年的时间里,吸引了很多粉丝,其中包括许多有影响力的人,他们愿意分享自己住宿瑰丽酒店的独特经验。我相信,在这些客人的帮助下,瑰丽酒店将会吸引越来越多的顾客。”
瑰丽不仅在酒店的风格设计中要贯彻其“A Sense of Place”的品牌哲学,而且在酒店选址上,他们也要把这个品牌理念执行到底。目前,中国北京和三亚均有瑰丽酒店的身影,2018年,瑰丽将来到广州。白世民称,在这些地方选址,不仅仅是由于其巨大的市场潜力,还因为这几个城市能够恰到好处体现出“A Sense of Place”,北京作为首都城市,有着悠久的历史和大气的城市风格;三亚作为海滨城市,有着优美的风景和宁静的海洋;广州作为动感城市,有着丰厚的底蕴和繁荣的商业。
关于花城广州,白世民特别提到了有关广州瑰丽的餐饮的设想,所谓“食在广州”,除了要把本土的特色食品做到精致美味外,更要把“A Sense of Place”这一核心概念延伸到就餐中——客人将在这座城市最高的建筑中享有无与伦比的用餐体验。白世民觉得,这样才算是俘获了大都会广州最引人注目的灵魂之处。
专注高端,不惧OTA
互联网的迅猛发展催生了Online Travel Agents这个行业,毫无疑问,OTA已经成为当下大多数人外出旅游的首选,因此小到民宿大到超豪华酒店几乎都会与OTA挂钩。OTA中,Airbnb的发展势头最为明显,面对如此具有竞争力的对手,白世民并没有太多的担忧,他说:“我们与Airbnb的发展定位不一样。Airbnb的主要优势是价格,对于普通酒店而言,它是强有力的竞争对手,但我们的市场定位是极致奢华,目前我并不认为Airbnb能对瑰丽所走的高端路线造成真正的威胁。”
比起OTA,白世民认为瑰丽酒店发展会更重视传统的旅行中介,因为大部分真正想订奢华酒店的人往往不会通过OTA这个渠道。他打了一个比方,如果旅客想要订墨西哥的拉斯本塔纳斯高级度假酒店,那么他们会想和去过这家酒店的人了解相关的情况,另外,如果是常客,他们更希望能够住到同样的房间,看到同样优美的风景,而这些确切的信息都较难从OTA中得到。
侧重于传统旅行中介不意味着瑰丽将会放弃OTA。在白世民眼中,是否需要调整OTA的发展策略仍然要看当地的市场需求,比如阿布扎比就有较大的OTA市场,相比之下,美国和欧洲市场的需求相对较小。对于现阶段的发展,白世民认为尽管OTA是市场的主要趋势,但这并不是他们发展的主要方向,他们的业务更多来自于其他部分。
如同少年的自己一般,现在工作经验丰富的白世民仍旧对能在酒店接触各式各样的人抱有热情,“在酒店,我必须要认真工作并且专注于自己提升自己的事业。尽管总会遇到一些不太理想的事情,但这不就是生活的多姿多彩吗?有好有坏,没有哪一天是相似的,在这里我可以与有学识的财富之人对话交流,还有了工作的机会,体验了不一样的文化,以及认识到一生朋友。”除了自己的事业,白世民也十分专注于人才的培养,他认为,生活给予了他如此多经验,他要把这些宝贵的东西用来培养更多的人才,以回馈生活对他的眷顾。与此同时,我们非常期待能在中国更多的城市看到瑰丽酒店,体会到其独特的“A Sense of Place”。
SYMON BRIDLE
ROSY EXPERIENCE WITH ULTRA-LUXURY
Connecting with Customers, Enjoying Different Cultures
“When I had to think about a career, I always remembered that time and it was a key influence on my decision to go into the hospitality business.” Symon Bridle remembered that his love with hotels came from his childhood. His parents ran a hotel in the Seychelles, it was an adventure they took on for a few years, a small 12 room property in a beautiful location where Symon had chance to spend holidays. From then on, Symon realized that he enjoyed the variety of people who came through the door, some quite famous, and the experience of being in another country, in a different culture. Having chosen to study hospitality management at college, he subsequently worked in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and now Asia, enjoying the opportunities this field has given him to meet new people, travel and experience cultural diversity.
In Symon’s opinion, the fascinations with hospitality is that to connecting with customers and being able to create something special for them while working across and enjoying different cultures.
With this expectation, Symon began his career in hospitality in 1980s, he had worked with Southern Sun Hotels and Westin Hotels in South Africa and in luxury hotels in Switzerland and Bermuda. Then he joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and has held senior corporate management positions in development and operations, including as chief operating officer. In 2009, after 18 years, Symon left Shangri-La and started his journey with Rosewood.
Create Relationship Hospitality with "A Sense of Place"
“For any brand or company, you have to be able to engage with their core culture and values, and for me the concept of "relationship hospitality" and putting this, people, as a key focus of the organization, tied to the concept of "A Sense of Place" which allows us to create a very distinctive brand, are aspects that attract.” Symon analyzed that what is Rosewood’s most attractive part for him.
Symon believes that the core of both "relationship hospitality" "A Sense of Place" are people. The real essence of luxury is people. It’s always challenging to find the right attitude and the right service desire to get the right teams together.
As a result, the important of select same goes for hiring associates. “You have to be selective about who you want to be working with, because not everyone is suitable for that kind of environment.” Right now in China there are over 600 associates. Symon added that people that have successfully been taken on as associates are eager to learn with positive attitudes.
China as the New Market
China market now become the largest market of travel. When asked about the choosing a location, Symon stressed the importance of alignment. Rosewood always look for destinations to create unique experience. For examples, the Rosewood hotels in China, which located in Beijing, Sanya and Guangzhou are selectivity.
Symon introduced that the paradise island of Sanya is the perfect place to have Rosewood’s first mainland Chinese resort. Rosewood Sanya's design incorporates wood, tribal totems and aquatic elements to create a serene and contemporary space, celebrating the beauty of nature and the serenity of the ocean to present A Sense of Place concept.
As for Guangzhou, it is the vibrant international commercial and financial hub in southern China. It is one of the places that many stories to tell. The hotel will extend A Sense of Place concept to dining – guests will enjoy the unparalleled dining experiences at the highest building in the city.
“We believe people who love Rosewood are on personal journeys of discovery. We cater specifically to these explorers with personalized, authentic and exquisite experiences.” In keeping with the brand’s, A Sense of Place philosophy, Rosewood creates experiences tap into each destination’s culture and heritage, and showcase the most exceptional and authentic elements of the locale.
Against OTA with the Ultra Luxury
In recent years, OTA and Airbnb are evolving very quickly. But in Symon’s view, OTA and Airbnb cannot create the real threat at the ultra-luxury level, although Airbnb does have offers that clearly can fit into that price point. “We don't really see it positioning against ultra-luxury.”
As for OTA, Symon believes that a lot of the people looking at ultra-luxury are not really booking through OTAs. “We obviously see OTAs as being part of the environment, but it's not a segment that dominates us. Other segments for us are providing more of the business.” Symon said.
Symon also stressed that the cooperation with OTA should base on the destination. For example, Abu Dhabi has quite a strong OTA market coming out of Saudi Arabia. That's maybe a trend in the market.
Experienced more than 30 years in hospitality, Symon still loves hotels as his young age. He said that hospitality offers a lot, in hostility, no two days are ever the same, “hospitality offers me an opportunity to interaction with a wealth of people, work and experience other cultures, and to make lifelong friends as you travel. ”
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