做一天凯宾斯基大酒店总经理
——上海凯宾斯基大酒店总经理麦涵客的慈善创举
2015年5月18日下午，由“大酒店”传媒联合90家顶级酒店与上海麦思基金会*共同举办的“发现酒店精彩”系列慈善竞拍在上海正式启动。在隆重的启动仪式之后，作为高端酒店行业的领导者之一，上海凯宾斯基大酒店率先开启了这场奢华而神秘的体验之旅。
坐落于陆家嘴，俯瞰着黄浦江与延绵的上海天际线，上海凯宾斯基大酒店是欧式优雅与奢华的代名词。酒店地处亚洲金融中心的核心区域，是来往商务精英的最佳选择。同样，优越的地理位置也为来此度假的宾客们的出行提供便利的交通：步行即可前往东方明珠，距离外滩等上海知名地标建筑和景点仅需几分钟车程。
建立于1897年的凯宾斯基品牌是欧洲最悠久的老牌奢华型酒店，现有物业包括78个五星级酒店，分布在32个国家中，欧洲、中东、非洲和亚洲的新物业仍在持续拓展。酒店物业既包括历史性地标建筑、获奖的都市风格酒店，也有优秀的度假村和高级住宅区。每处物业既带有客人所欣赏的凯宾斯基特色，也吸收当地文化传统。凯宾斯基是全球酒店联盟(GHA)的创办会员，这一联盟是全球最大的独立酒店联盟。同时，凯宾斯基也是改革开放后最先期进入中国的顶级酒店，其在中国国内的定位和性格都是颇为豪华别致的。上海凯宾斯基大酒店拥有686间客房及套房，设计精当，绝大多数都能俯瞰黄浦江景；酒店的4家餐厅和3间酒吧提供世界美食和饮品，包括凯宾斯基特有的元素餐厅、拥有意大利主厨的海蓝餐厅、阿尔贝鲁西班牙餐厅、新天世纪中餐厅、30楼全江景新天酒吧、具有异域特色的哈瓦那酒吧以及大堂吧；在会务方面配备了705平方米宴会厅和14间会议室及休息室，并且拥有上海唯一的酒店内设的高规格配置黄浦视听室；位于30楼的水疗中心选用大落地窗折射自然光，入夜时分仿佛置身浦江之上。
不过在上海凯宾斯基大酒店总经理麦涵客看来，所有这些地理位置、客房设计、会议设施等等可以数据化具象化的元素都还不是奢华酒店的全部。这位出身于荷兰家族酒店，并拥有美国康奈尔大学等名校的顶级教育背景的管理者总是反复强调，高端奢华酒店的概念，是质胜于形的——这也是他与我们本次“发现酒店精彩”系列活动的动机最为投契的一个出发点：奢华酒店的美丽或许一望即知，但其丰富内涵则是图片和文字的描摹所不能一次表明的，唯有“体验”才是感知其文化和艺术态度的唯一门路。
“奢华是限量的”，是凯宾斯基创立一个多世纪以来的信条，酒店对质量的关注远超过对数量的追求。它注重艺术、美食，专注于人之间的情感交流，所传递的是一种生活方式，酒店雇佣优秀的员工并给与充分的培训，保证他们以专业且个性化的服务回报客人。集团拥有一个庞大专业的数据库，用以记录每一位客人的喜好，保证每一位客人在全球凯宾斯基酒店都得到贴心的服务，记录细致到枕头的软硬和材质、餐食的偏好等等。
而社会责任也同样是凯宾斯基百年不变的品牌精神。凯宾斯基在中国多年来积极投身公益践行，这次“发现酒店精彩”公益慈善竞拍活动，即是由上海凯宾斯基大酒店首先提出参与并作出先行表率。本次活动是酒店业的第一次集结，也是首次获得众多外籍人士关注与支持的公益慈善活动。活动主办方“大酒店”传媒恰逢十周年生日，因此精心打造了90套顶级定制套餐，希望能以此方式对公益事业献上酒店行业最诚挚的心意。本次系列慈善竞拍于2015年5月18日启动，为期3个月，每天均有一家精品五星级酒店的创意产品上线，10元起拍。相关产品由《大酒店》杂志官方网站随时发布更新，竞拍以十元起拍，拍价最高的客人可以获得由酒店方量身定制的体验产品。作为意义重大的第一站，凯宾斯基为“发现酒店精彩”系列慈善活动创意了主题为“做一天酒店总经理”的慈善竞拍产品。活动启动的第一周，上海第一时尚名媛沈丹枫女士在上海凯宾斯基大酒店亲身体验了一番。上海凯宾斯基大酒店现任总经理麦涵客（Henk Meyknecht）亲自带队，为沈丹枫女士制订了精致而详细的规划，并做了全程陪同。
在过去的十几年中，沈丹枫女士被誉为“上海第一社交名媛”、“上海公关皇后”，擅长为各国领馆和商会举办体面炫目的晚宴和派对；她曾接待过克林顿、基辛格等政界要人，Armani、法拉利、美国加州“一号作品”酒庄等都是她的客户；沈女士温婉而卓越的气质同凯宾斯基所深信的“艺术和文化不是奢侈品，而是必需品”的理念几乎是完全合拍的。麦涵客先生回忆活动的前期准备时向我们介绍，沈丹枫女士拥有多年国际公关经验，有非凡的艺术鉴赏力，对酒店行业颇有见地，这些都为本次体验之旅的完美锦上添花。她一直都是那种“最好的客人”，不过这次坐在酒店总经理的椅子上，毕竟是有点儿陌生的，因此她那种敏锐又好奇的特质很快就被激发了。也正是这种相互之间的陌生与探索，引发了双方一次精彩的碰撞。
凯宾斯基为这一天的活动安排了细密的日程。在上午来到酒店以后，沈丹枫女士和总经理麦涵客一同巡视了酒店内外各个部门的运作情况，并参加了一次酒店内部的销售会议。在结束了忙碌的巡视和内部会议之后，凯宾斯基贴心地为沈女士在Acqua海蓝意大利餐厅准备好了浪漫双人晚餐。美餐过后，沈女士和先生即入住了外交官景观套房，上海凯宾斯基大酒店于2014年作为亚信峰会接待酒店之一迎接了潘基文秘书长和阿塞拜疆总统入住，深受国际政治及金融精英的信赖；其外交官景观套房作为酒店特色，视野上饱览浦江两岸全线风光，81平方米超大空间足以满足休憩、会客的全部需求。次日的美妙早餐则安排在幽静的行政酒廊，环绕28层的行政酒廊可将浦江两岸的华丽风姿尽收眼底，提供早餐、下午茶和落日鸡尾酒专属礼遇，特别设计的行政楼层旋梯极具欧式风情，致力于为行政楼层客人提供私属空间，享受美馔，远离纷扰。
此外，基于凯宾斯基在美食领域的不凡成就，2015年度的《洋厨房》颁奖典礼将于今年11月27日在上海凯宾斯基大酒店举行，本年度的《洋厨房》的颁奖典礼相比以往历届，将以更高端的形式呈现，届时也会请到世界顶级厨师为《洋厨房》获奖厨师颁奖。
这一次慈善公益活动已招募了众多的政商界、艺术界名流，他们将继续体验更多来自于高端酒店的惊喜和体贴，接下来的三个月，相信还会有更多酒店人投入这一场盛大的公益项目中来。在此格外感谢上海凯宾斯基大酒店用精致的欧陆风格和开放的创意精神，为“发现酒店精彩”描绘了如此优雅的范本，给予我们一次真正理解经典奢华酒店的富足体验。（如要观看此次体验视频或参与慈善竞拍，请登录大酒店传媒官网 www.grandhotels.com.cn）
（上海思麦公益基金会：成立于2008年，上海思麦公益基金会致力于让贫困地区的孩子们拥有更好的学习环境和生存条件，帮助他们走向更美好的未来。自成立以来，思麦一直关注贫困地区青少年的成长，展开了一系列公益项目，并筹集资金为地震灾区建造防震的教学楼。）
Try How it Feels to be a Hotel General Manager
----Pioneering Charity Undertaking by Mr. Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai
“Discover the Charm of Hotels”charity auction series was formally launched by Grand Hotels Media in collaboration with 90 top hotels and Smiles Foundation in Shanghai on the afternoon of May 18th, 2015.
Subsequent to a grand launching ceremony, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, a leading hotel of the upscale hospitality industry, unfolded a deluxe and intriguing journey.
Overlooking the stretching skyline of Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone along the Huangpu River, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai is a byword for European elegance and luxury. Situated in the heart of this Asian financial hub, it is a top choice for business leaders. Likewise, advantageous geographical location offers convenient transportation: Oriental Pearl TV and Radio Station is within walking distance, and famous scenic spots and landmarks of Shanghai, such as the Bund are just several minutes’ drive away.
Founded in 1897, Kempinski is the oldest established luxury hotel brand in Europe and has 78 five star hotels in 32 countries, with ongoing new property development in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. Properties of Kempinski include historic landmarks, award-winning urban hotels as well as premium resorts and upscale residences. Each individual property offers guests a combination of local culture and unique Kempinski characteristics. Kempinski is a founding member of Global Hotel Alliance, the largest alliance of independent hotels globally. With a unique, luxury positioning, Kempinski was one of the first hospitality groups that opened outlets in China following China’s reform and opening-up. Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai boasts 686 exquisitely designed guest rooms and suites, most of which offers a bird’s eye view of the Huangpu River. There are 4 restaurants and 3 bars serving global delicacies and beverages, which includes Elements Restaurant (unique to Kempinski), Acqua Restaurant staffed by Italian chefs, Albero Spanish tapas bar, Chinese Restaurant Suntime Century, and Red Passion, the amazing panoramic bar on 30th floor, Havana Night with an exotic taste of South America and the Lounge Bar. In terms of meeting facilities, the hotel has a 705 square meter ball room and 14 meeting rooms with anterooms, as well as Huangpu Auditorium, the only dedicated hotel auditorium in a luxury hotel in Shanghai. When darkness falls, the dim ambient light refracting through the French windows of the Spa on 30th floor creates a fascinating illusion that you are standing aloft above the Huangpu River.
In the opinion of Mr. Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, the hotel is much more than such tangible, quantifiable elements as geographic location, guest room design and meeting facilities. Having worked for an antique family-owned Dutch hotel group, and graduated from Cornell University, Henk reiterated that for an upscale luxury hotel, the intangible competitiveness always speaks louder than tangible advantages. This exactly coincides with the goal of “Discover the Charm of Hotels” charity auction series: the charm of luxury hotels is more than its dazzling appearance at a glance. It carries profound connotations beyond the descriptive capacity of words and pictures, and can only be interpreted through an intimate experience of its culture and artistic attitude.
“Luxury is something exclusive”, a tenet which Kempinski has held for over a century, means that Kempinski attaches much greater importance to quality than to quantity. Imparted to its staff is a life style that values art, delicacies and interpersonal communication. The hotel employs an elite staff and provides adequate staff training so that they are in a better position to offer professional and customized services. Kempinski Group keeps a large professional database that records the preferences of each individual guests, detailing the softness, texture of pillows suited to each individual guest, personal tastes and a number of other detailed personal preferences to ensure that each individual guest receives tailor-made services at whichever hotel within Kempinski group around the world.
It is a century old tradition for Kempinski brand to fulfill its social responsibilities, and Kempinski has been actively involved in public welfare undertakings in China over the years. And it is the first hotel group that responded favorably to and played a leading role in“Discover the Charm of Hotels” charity auction series. With the combined efforts of the hospitality community, the charity auction series have received the attention and support of a large number of expatriates to public welfare for the first time. At the 10th anniversary of Grand Hotels Media, 90 customized deluxe packages have been a generous contribution by the hospitality community to public welfare. The current series of charity auctions started on May 18th and will last 3 months, with creative products launched on-line at the starting price of 10 RMB each by one exquisite 5 star hotel on a daily basis. Product information will be released real time on the official website of Grand Hotels Magazine, and auctioned at the starting price of 10 RMB each. Tailor-made innovative hotel services will go to the highest bidders. As the very first stop of this campaign, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai offered an innovative product entitled “Try how it feels to be a hotel general manager” for charity auction. During the first week of the campaign, Ms. Eva Ho , best known socialite of Shanghai became the first customer to try this innovative product at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai. Henk, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai led his team to formulate a detailed package for Eva and accompanied her throughout her stay.
Over the past decade, Eva has enjoyed a reputation as the Best Known Socialite of Shanghai and the Queen of Shanghai Public Relations Community. She has planned and organized dazzling, high profile banquets and parties for Consulate Generals in Shanghai and a number of Chambers of commerce. Her clients include political leaders Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger and luxury brands Armani, Ferrari, Opus One. Her gentility and brilliance coincide with Kempinski’s firm belief that“art and culture are a necessity instead of a luxury”. With multiple years’ public relations experience and an exceptional eye for art, Eva has a unique perception of the hospitality industry, which added to her superb experience at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai. As the cream of hotel guests, she exhibited exceptional acumen and curiosity in the role of the general manager since this is something new to her. This mutual unfamiliarity and curiosity triggered an exploratory journey that sparked a wonderful impression.
A day with a packed schedule at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai had been arranged for Eva. Upon arrival, Eva and Mr. Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, toured each hotel department to see if the hotel is operating smoothly. Then they attended a meeting of hotel management on sales performance review and planning. After a day of inspection and meetings, a romantic dinner for two has been prepared for Eva and her husband at Acqua, the Italian restaurant. Eva and her husband stayed at a Diplomatic Suite of the hotel. When Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai was appointed to serve political leaders attending 2014 Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, it accommodated Mr. Ban Ki - moon, Secretary General of the United Nations and President of Republic of Azerbaijan, and became a trusted hotel among political and business leaders. The Diplomatic Suite boasts panoramic views overlooking the Huangpu River and the Bund skyline beyond. 81 square meter of space inside the suite is adequate for both relaxation and meeting with guests. The next morning, a wonderful breakfast was served at the secluded Executive Lounge on 28th floor, which offers a stunning view of the Huangpu River, and serves breakfast, afternoon tea, sunset cocktails. Spiral stairs of the Executive Floor is designed with originality and a European style. The Executive Floor was dedicated to a private area where distinguished guests may relish top delicacies in an undisturbed ambiances.
Based on its outstanding accomplishments in dining services, the hotel will accommodate the annual awarding ceremony of You Are The Chef on November 27th 2015. The upcoming event will be an upgraded version where the world’s top chefs will come by invitation to present awards to winners.
The current charity auction series have involved a number of political, business and artistic celebrities who will continue to try the amazing and considerate services offered by high-end hotels. In the following 3 months, more hoteliers are believed to take part in this significant campaign for public welfare. We would hereby express our appreciation to Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai for its European style, creativity, and enterprising spirit, which exemplify the elegant generosity of “Discover the Charm of Hotels” charity auction series, and enable an insightful journey into classic deluxe hotels. (Please visit the official website of Grand Hotels Media www.grandhotels.com.cn, if you wish to participate in bidding, or watch video clips of the campaign.)