Managing A Part Of Beijing's Historical Heritage

Veteran hotelier Riaz Mahmood, a naturalized Australian of Indian heritage, is general manager of Raffles Beijing Hotel. He has managed the hotel since the historic 'Grand Hotel de-Pekin' was restored to its former glory in 2008.

What are the characteristics of Raffles Beijing Hotel?
Established in 1900s, Raffles Beijing Hotel has witnessed many of the city's significant social and political events, its commanding French-Orient colonnade facade has long stood as an icon of Beijing's historical heritage.

The hotel enjoys arguably the city's most prestigious address, at the crossroads of Chang An Avenue and the shopping district of Wangfujing, a mere five minutes' walk from the historic Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, providing a graceful retreat from which to explore the charms of this fabled metropolis.

Raffles Beijing Hotel has a long history, what memories of the hotel do you hope your guests will have?
We hope our guests will leave with memories of refined luxury and discreet and attentive service.

There are many high-level hotels in Beijing, What challenges do you have to manage for Raffles Beijing Hotel?
Currently in Beijing there is an oversupply of rooms in the luxury segment. However, our location and sense of historic heritage and attentive service have helped us to hold our own in an extremely challenging environment.

Which features of Raffles Beijing Hotel epitomize the Raffles brand?
Residential, heartfelt, and enchanting.

What are your thoughts on e-marketing? What plans does Raffles Beijing Hotel have for e-marketing?
Nowadays e-marketing is a very important tool to promote one's hotel brand. We're working closely with our head office and an outside company to ensure we'll get maximum coverage for Raffles Beijing hotel.

What do you perceive to be the epitome of hotel service? How does this fit in with your management philosophy?
Attention to detail and going the extra mile to meet and exceed guest expectations is our daily philosophy.

From the perspective of the first five months of 2010, how do you think Beijing's hotel market has changed in 2010?
The hotel business is better than last year. However there is still an over supply of rooms in the luxury hotel sector.

What different experiences has a hospitality industry career brought to your life?
I have had the opportunity to travel to different locations, to work with many nationalities, and to experience different cultures.