Macau has the selection of hotels as no other place in Asia. Hospitality is one of the keys to creating unforgettable memories. And behind — are always people that are passionate about what they do, work hard and always have a smile for you.
In 2016, The Parisian Macao hosted 3rd edition of The Hotelier Awards. We spoke with the co-founders, Stephane de Montgros and Benoît Thebaut about The Awards, the inspiration behind and the importance of excellence.
It was a great honor for Macau to host the 3rd edition of The Hotelier Awards. How was Macau chosen?
The Hotelier Awards started in 2014 in in Shanghai before we moved to Beijing in 2015. With the recent expansion into ASEAN, Macau is the center of the region, making it logistically convenient. There is a lot happening here. Hoteliers from across the region are excited to visit this vibrant city and to experience the latest properties. This year was the first year we welcomed BMW as our naming rights partner.
The Hotelier Awards is the leading award in Asia. What criteria have to be met to participate?
These awards are open to all hoteliers that are working in Greater China, ASEAN or, as of 2017, North Asia. We have eighteen different categories covering general manager, front office, sales, marketing, chef, etc.
The Hotelier Awards is a celebration of brilliance. What are the most valuable qualities among the winners?
The winners have an array of different qualities and every judge will look for something that is important in their eyes. Ultimately, the hotel industry is a service industry and attention to people is key; should they be your guests, your colleagues or your partners. The awards recognize people who think outside the box and find original solutions to challenging questions. Many of the winners look at the industry from a different perspective, perhaps having been inspired by non-hospitality work or education experiences.
With nineteen awards and hundreds of applications, how are the finalists chosen?
At the heart of the Awards is transparency. To achieve this, we have put together a panel of six independent and experienced judges, who decide the winners through a rigorous two-step selection process. These expert judges have been hand selected for their expertise and extensive knowledge within the industry.
What was the inspiration behind the creation of The Hotelier Awards?
Originally in 2014, our mission was to appreciate and shine a light on people in this industry. We wanted to focus on the people, rather than the properties like so many of these other award platforms do. Since then our vision has evolved to also inspire a younger generation to join this budding industry. For the largest impact, in 2017 we are creating a new award; the Rising Star award, which will recognize the most promising graduating talent across Asia.
This was the third year of the awards. How were the first two perceived and what has changed over time?
We are very proud of this growth, as well as our expansion into ASEAN. The uptake from this region has been overwhelming so far. In 2017 we will add North Asia to the platform as well as the aforementioned Rising Star Award. We are delighted to help nurture, grow and inspire the younger generation so that the future of the hospitality industry in Asia is a magnificent one.
The Hotelier Awards www.hotelierawards.com
