《大酒店》七月封面故事：乘风破浪 再铸辉煌 ——专访凯悦集团区域副总裁及上海金茂君悦大酒店总经理夏浩

Ride the Winds and Waves for a Greater Brilliance

- -Exclusive Interview with Mr. Anthony Ha, Area Vice President and

General Manager of Grand Hyatt Shanghai

乘风破浪 再铸辉煌

——专访凯悦集团区域副总裁及

上海金茂君悦大酒店总经理夏浩强先生

全新揭幕的云端宴会场地—水瓶厅

As a city landmark of Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shanghai has stood on the Bund for more than two decades, witnessing the prosperity along the Huangpu river. The ever-changing weather and seasons outdoor have never affected the elegance and extravagance of the hotel. In July, our Grand Hotels Media team toured to Grand Hyatt Shanghai on a hot summer day to revisit the charms of the hotel and our friend, Mr. Anthony Ha. 

Mr. Ha, Area Vice President and General Manager of Grand Hyatt Shanghai, joined the hotel’s management in 2017. Since then, Mr. Ha has maintained a close relationship with Grand Hotels Media. Graduated from University of Washington State with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Beverage Management, Mr. Ha began his career in the hospitality industry in 1985 at Hyatt Regency San Francisco in the U.S. Years of experience in the field has perfumed Mr. Ha with a decent and gentle fragrance of hoteliers.

In face of the outbreak of COVID-19, the contractive market and the reduced amount of guests have posed a challenge for hotels to maintain profits. “Indeed, major hotels are striving to stand out to grab market shares, including us. Yet, in my perspective, the brand image of our hotel accounts for the same importance as profitability. During this particular tough period, the more mindful we are on brand image, the more can the brand speak itself. Hyatt is committed to providing impressive accommodation experience beyond expectation to guests under every circumstance. This offers safety to our guests, while securing an intangible asset for the hotel’s future development,” said Mr. Ha. Grand Hyatt Shanghai has long been a representative of luxury hotels. Sitting in the center of Liaison, Grand Hyatt Shanghai is merely a five-minute drive from Shanghai International Convention Center and ten-minute from Yu Garden, The Bund, the Riverside Promenade and the exotic building clusters, attracting numerous high-end business travelers. Located on Floor 53 to 87 of the 88-storey Jinmao Tower, Grand Hyatt Shanghai offers 548 sumptuous guest rooms with interior decoration combining modern and classical styles and considerate services demonstrating advanced technologies and humanity. In addition, the Business Centre on Floor 54 fulfills various workplace demands of business guests, the Club Oasis affords a space for guests to relax, and eight restaurants and bars allure guests to reward their stomach.

“The virus outbreak has changed people’s consumption habits and thoughts. In fact, we are experiencing emergencies every year, yet this pandemic is more dramatic. What we can do is to think out of the box, making changes to survive,” Mr. Ha commented on the pandemic, “In face of the pandemic, guests are canceling travel and accommodation plans, bringing the market in the doldrums. We hope to innovate to provide our guests with distinguished experience.” Based on a precise analysis of the market, Grand Hyatt Shanghai launched the Aquarius in the Clouds ballroom on Floor 54 and upgraded its Kobachi, ON56 restaurants and Spa area. The favorable location, classy and elegant design and considerate services of the Aquarius in the Clouds have gained great popularity among guests. The new ballroom consists of two multi-function halls with a total space of 368 square meters, capable of holding up to 270 people. The ballroom is furnished with a French window facing the splendid city view, brand new audio equipment and LED screens, sufficient for banquets, conferences, and cocktail parties. “The Aquarius in the Clouds illustrates the delicate lifestyle in Shanghai. The design and upgrades of the new ballroom set a fresh standard for delicacy, creating an ideal place for elegant and personalized events for business travelers and couples,” Mr. Ha introduced.

The hotel sector is in a critical period of transition now, with major hotels innovating marketing strategies to maintain competitiveness. “We must continuously pay attention to the demands and preference of our guests, advance, and extend guest acquisition, following the market trends with a proactive mindset,” Mr. Ha commented. Recently, Grand Hyatt Shanghai has been launching a series of measures to attract guests. The hotel actively participates in business recovery programs in multiple industries, rolling out customized products and discounts for different guest groups. Moreover, the hotel leverages the emerging short video and live streaming tools to maximize reasonable publicity. For example, in early May, Grand Hyatt Shanghai partnered with Dashing Dianping on a live streaming show, in which staff from multiple hotel departments took part to sell products and showcase a positive image of the hotel.

In previous interviews, Mr. Ha had impressed us with his people-oriented philosophy. The virus outbreak has deepened his understandings. Care is at the heart of Hyatt , where the well-being of guests and employees is valued at all times. Mr. Ha abides by Hyatt’s concept of service that “we care for people, so they can be their best.” During the virus outbreak, concerning the safety and well-being of guests, the hotel delivers breakfast to guest rooms to keep distance. Mr. Ha as well attaches great importance to the happiness of employees. “In my perspective, well-being and happiness are the most important things. I’ve been keeping a work-life balance myself. I hope employees, when delivering great work, can as well learn to relax, seize opportunities and love themselves,” said Mr. Ha.

The month of July is sweltering but spreads the enthusiasm of life. The year 2020 seems to be treacherous, but the overcast sky clears, interpreting the Chinese proverb of “sunshine always comes after a storm.” The hotel reacted to the sudden outbreak of the pandemic with meticulous protective measures at first, while later proactively adjusted its strategy and attracted guests with capability and confidence. The current occupancy rate of Grand Hyatt Shanghai maintains steady growth. Since the hotel has operated for over twenty years, and Mr. Ha bears more than thirty years of experience, Grand Hyatt Shanghai has the confidence to face this unprecedented challenge. In our interview with Mr. Ha, his optimism, sophistication and professionalism further ensured us that however roaring the sea may be, Mr. Ha will ride the winds and waves to a greater brilliance. We believe with Mr. Ha’s leadership, Grand Hyatt Shanghai will continue to stand as a dazzling scenery along the Huangpu River.