Legend Continues at InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin
——Exclusive Interview with Mr. William Tsao, Deputy General Manager of Donghu Group & General Manager of InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin
百年瑞金，洲际人生
——专访上海市东湖（集团）公司副总经理兼上海瑞金洲际酒店总经理曹伟先生
Once, there was an array of classic buildings carrying countless stories and witnessing
legendary histories. Now, it has turned into a unique garden villa hotel with a vibrant combination of Chinese and Western elements. This is Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, a legendary hotel with a hundred years of classic inheritance. Grand Hotels Media has the great pleasure to experience the low-key luxury and infinite charm of this first heritage hotel of Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts in the Greater China.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Morriss Residence of Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, we have an exclusive interview with Mr. William Tsao, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. & General Manager of Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin. William gives prominence to humanistic care and is very experienced at recruitment. He speaks frankly and is willing to listen, diligent in thinking and good at summarizing. Confronted with the fast-changing hospitality industry, he is easy to absorb all kinds of information and adapt to different situation, which lays a solid foundation for the joint management with Mr. Kim Powley, Managing Director of the hotel.
Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin was once the notable Ruijin Hotel. Located in the heart of Shanghai's former French Quarter, the hotel is close to Huaihai CBD as well as many famous tourist attractions in the city. As the owner of Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. is a comprehensive group dealing exclusively in high star-level garden villas, state hotels and a number of various industries. Garden hotels owned by the group include Xi Jiao State Guest Hotel, Dong Jiao State Guest Hotel, Hong Qiao State Guest Hotel, Radisson Blu Plaza Xing Guo Hotel, Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, Donghu Hotel and Dingxiang Garden Hotel. Among these reputable hotels, Ruijin Hotel has witnessed the historical change and accommodated many celebrities. A lot of legends and stories about the hotel have also being widely spread. The hotel consists of historical buildings and ancient monuments including Morriss Residence, Presidential Villa & Adjacent Rooms, Xin Yuan Lou, Reception Building, Club Wing, The Well and The Well Temple. Precious memories and unforgettable stories are behind each of these classic buildings.
As the hotel's oldest architecture, the Well Temple is originated from the Southern Song Dynasty and gets its name by the Well in the south of the hotel's garden. The Well can be dated back to the year of 1404 in Ming Dynasty and is identified as the oldest freshwater well in the urban area of Shanghai. As the "root" of the city, the Well has witnessed the ups and downs of this charming city.
Established in 1917, Morriss Residence was once owned by HE Morriss, a British businessman. The building is constructed in the classic colonial British heritage style. Its architectural pattern is so magnificent, an outstanding example of wood stone and brick structures, covered with a classic red tile roof. In 1927, Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Soong May-Ling held their engagement ceremony here. During the War of Liberation (1946-1949), the hotel served as the headquarters for the Communist Party in Shanghai. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the building was taken over by the East China Bureau of the Communist Party and Shanghai's first mayor, Chen Yi, used the building as his official office and residence during his term. Later, many significant national leaders including Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping all stayed here.
The Presidential Villa & Adjacent Rooms are designed and built in 1920. The villa is a beautifully decorated Art Deco architecture. Its wall section has a white line circle, covered with flat tiles. Although it was built during the 1920s, it is completely geared to the international and European modern standards and hosted numerous leaders in the worldwide. In 2015, British Prince William’s stay has also added great brilliance to the hotel.
Xin Yuan Lou was built in 1930 and was once used by the Japanese Mitsui Group as their regional office in Southern China. After the War of Resistance against Japan, the Kuomintang government took the building back from the Japanese. In 1949, the building was taken over by the East China Bureau of the Communist Party. In the early 1980s, the hotel was officially opened to the public. At the end of the 1990s, this building was famous for FACE bar, which witnessed the splendor of the bar street in Maoming Road. Nowadays, it has become a three-storey Cantonese restaurant recommended by "Michelin Guide Shanghai 2017", providing Cantonese and Shanghainese delicacies.
The Reception Building was built in 2012 and full of the rich and luxurious atmosphere of the 1920s. The architecture fully integrates the design of the Old Shanghai style with contemporary art. The oval courtyard is as high as nine stories with a huge crystal chandelier hanging on both sides. Such a dazzling design creates and extraordinary memory for each visitor. Guest rooms are spacious and bright, dressed in dove-egg blue with Shanghai Deco style furnishings, upholstered furniture and luxurious marble bathrooms, which present a romantic and luxury vibe. In addition, the Club Wing is also newly constructed. Its marble floors, square ceiling and fine hardwood wall paintings all truly reproduce the grace of Old Shanghai in the 1930s. Palm-sized cartoon books about Shanghai anecdotes by Master cartoonist He Youzhi can also be found in guestrooms, displaying the imprint of the times vividly.
After years of vicissitudes, these buildings have composed a classic historical legend, from private housing to dignitaries' social venue in the 1930s and 1940s, from the state guesthouse accommodating celebrities to the international brand hotel. But now, they have altogether constituted Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, which is jointly managed by international notable hotel group, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts and Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. When the classic hotel with profound historical background meets the Western modern elements, what kind of sparks will be produced? According to William Tsao, Morriss Residence of the hotel was founded in 1917 and Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin was officially opened on May 28, 2013. As the owner, Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. has closely cooperated with Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, continuously communicating with each other, learning from others' strong points and closing the gap. Both sides are taking great efforts to perfectly combine the classical temperament of the former country hotel with the elegance and nobleness of the West, so as to present a fabulous hotel with unique characteristic.
As the first historical hotel of Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts in the Greater China, InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin ranks among the company’s seven historic and classic hotels around the world with its classic historical heritage. Prior to Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, a number of global notable hotel groups had showed their interest to this old hotel. However, Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. eventually chose Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts as the partner since it was one of the world's biggest hotel management groups at that time and has a wealth of global hotel management experience. Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin also attaches extraordinary significance since it is the first historical hotel project of Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts in the Greater China. In addition, IHG Rewards Club® is the world's largest hotel loyalty program with more than 94 million members in the worldwide. Through the cooperation, Donghu Group hopes to enhance its international influence, market awareness and customers' sense of belonging, so as to bring more business opportunities and benefits to the hotel.
With the appointment of InterContinental Hotels Group, InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin has made some changes to the management team. William introduced that Shanghai Donghu(Group) Co pays attention to personalized services and lnterContinental Hotels & Resorts focused on InterContinental standard service. Under the combination of the two, the services of InterContinental Shanghai ruijin have come to a leading level in the industry. Meanwhile, Mr. Kim Powley, Managing Director of the hotel also expressed his expectation, "As another landmark of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin is focused on bringing the best local experiences to a global community creating unique memorable experience. We are dedicated to adding value to this historic hotel, and to complementing our sister hotels, Willard InterContinental Washington, InterContinental New York Barclay, lnterContinental Paris Le Grand and Intercontinental Carlton Cannes in the near future."
It is a challenging job to become a manager in the hospitality industry. But William always finds pleasure. He says, the road ahead will be long and his climb will be steep. It is believed that under the win-win cooperation of Shanghai Donghu (Group) Co. and Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, as well as the professional and dedicated management team, Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin will keep accumulating its strength and become increasingly brilliant in the future.
数不完的传奇，道不尽的故事，百年经典，世纪传承。这里曾是一栋栋承载岁月年轮的经典建筑，也是一段段传奇历史的见证者。现在，这里俨然成为一座风格独特，中西合璧的花园别墅式酒店。上海瑞金洲际酒店的起源与发展，颇具传奇色彩，而《大酒店》传媒，亦有幸身临其境地感受这座洲际酒店及度假村集团旗下大中华地区首家历史经典酒店的低调奢华与无穷魅力。
今年恰逢上海瑞金洲际酒店名人公馆建成100周年，我们借此契机对上海市东湖（集团）公司副总经理兼上海瑞金洲际酒店总经理曹伟先生展开了一次探访之旅。曹总尤其注重人文关怀，于识人用人方面颇有心得：开诚布公、乐于倾听、勤于思考、善于总结。曹总表示，酒店业日新月异、千变万化，这使他易于接受各种信息，适应多变的形势，而这，也为他与上海瑞金洲际酒店首席运营官金波利先生(Kim Powley)共同管理上海瑞金洲际酒店打下了良好的基础。
上海瑞金洲际酒店前身是沪上赫赫有名的瑞金宾馆，地处原法租界，毗邻淮海路商圈及众多市内著名旅游景点，为上海市东湖（集团）公司旗下产业。上海市东湖（集团）公司是以运营政务国宾馆和经营高级花园别墅宾馆为主兼具多种经营的综合性集团公司，蜚声海内外。集团旗下西郊宾馆、东郊宾馆、虹桥迎宾馆、兴国宾馆、瑞金洲际酒店、东湖宾馆、丁香花园宾馆等在业内亦广泛享有盛誉。作为一家见证历史变迁与诸多名人造访的酒店，瑞金宾馆在发展过程中有着许多广为人知的故事和鲜为人知的传奇，拥有包括名人公馆、总统楼、馨源楼、主楼、贵宾楼、淡水井、淡井庙旧址等在内的一系列历史建筑及古迹。而酒店每一幢经典别墅的背后，都荡漾着一段珍贵难忘的历史回音。
淡井庙旧址，酒店历史最悠久的建筑，始建于南宋时期，因淡水井而得名。此井位于上海瑞金洲际酒店花园内的南部，这座可追溯到1404年（明永乐二年）的历史丰沛瑰宝，被鉴定为上海城区年代最久远的淡水井，是上海城区之“根“，见证了整个上海滩的更迭兴衰。
名人公馆，始建于1917年，当时是英国商人马立斯先生的府邸，是典型的英国古典主义风格建筑，虽是三层楼砖木结构住宅，但其建筑格局宏伟，平缓的四坡顶屋面，覆盖着红色洋瓦。1927年，蒋介石和宋美龄在此约定婚期并居住于此，1945年期间这里一度成为国民党励志社社部， 1949年解放后，被中国共产党华东局接管。上海第一位市长陈毅市长任期内亦在此楼办公。之后，包括毛泽东、邓小平在内的无数名人政要曾下榻此处。
而总统楼，始建于1920年，充满了浓郁的装饰艺术风格：简约的清水红砖外墙，墙上部由水平的白色线条勒圈，水平带窗，平缓四坡瓦顶，还有浪漫秀美的法式草坪。作为一栋20世纪20年代的住宅，该建筑已经完全和欧洲当时最新的现代建筑接轨，并逐渐成为了接待各国政要的宝地。2015年英国威廉王子的下榻更是令总统楼蓬荜生辉。
至于馨源楼，则始建于1930年，当年三井洋社将其特设作为在华南地区的办公室。战争结束后，国民党从日本人手中接管了这栋楼。1949年，这里又成为中国共产党华东区的办公地址。80年代初瑞金宾馆正式对公众开放，90年代末这里曾是名噪一时的FACE酒吧，见证了茂名路酒吧一条街的辉煌。如今这栋三层高的建筑已摇身一变成为了《米其林指南上海2017》的粤菜推荐餐厅，每日提供各种精致粤式及本帮佳肴。
于2012年新建的主楼在设计上充满了上世纪20年代的富丽奢华的气息，完美糅合了老上海的摩登风情与清冽简约的当代艺术设计之风。挑高九层楼的椭圆形开阔中庭悬挂着两座各重1.5吨的巨型水晶吊灯，如此恢弘壮丽的大堂设计令人叹为观止、过目难忘。客房采光明亮，鸽蓝色的主色调佐以上海当地艺术家居风格呈现出庭院式的浪漫风情，而奢华的大理石浴室中经典的猫脚浴缸则别有一番风韵。除此之外，还新建了一栋贵宾楼，其大理石样式地坪、方格天花板、精致硬木画板等设计细节无不令洲际贵宾楼重现了20世纪30年代时期老上海的雍容华贵。客房内贺友直老先生的“上海轶事”连环版画，更是将时代印迹诠释得淋漓尽致。
这些楼，历经岁月沧桑，谱写了从私人住宅变成三四十年代达官显贵的交际场所，再化身接待名人政要的国宾接待所，最后成为一家国际品牌酒店的经典历史传奇。现在，它们共同构成了一个独特的整体——上海瑞金洲际酒店，由国际知名酒店管理集团洲际与业主方上海市东湖（集团）公司强强联手。如此一来，笔者不禁开始好奇，历史文化底蕴深厚的古典酒店，与西方现代元素相碰撞，会擦出怎样的火花呢？据曹伟先生介绍：上海瑞金洲际酒店的名人公馆始建于1917年，但瑞金洲际酒店却是2013年5月28日正式开幕的。作为业主方，面对瑞金这样一座充满历史文化气息的前国宾馆，上海市东湖（集团）公司在与洲际酒店集团合作的过程中，相互交流，取长补短，将东方的古典气质与西方的高贵优雅完美结合，呈现出别具特色的酒店风貌。
作为洲际酒店及度假村集团在大中华区的首家历史经典酒店，上海瑞金洲际酒店凭借其得天独厚的历史底蕴，稳居洲际品牌全球七家历史经典酒店之列。在此之前，全球许多知名酒店集团都曾向瑞金宾馆的业主——上海市东湖（集团）公司表达过想管理这座沪上老牌酒店的愿望，但东湖最终却选择了洲际酒店集团作为合作伙伴。原来，之所以选择洲际，背后还有其深刻的历史与文化根源：洲际酒店集团是当时全球最大的酒店管理集团，有着丰富的全球酒店管理经验，而上海瑞金洲际酒店是洲际在大中华地区的第一个历史经典酒店项目，其意义非凡。另外，洲际酒店集团的IHG®优悦会是全球首个也是最大的酒店忠诚客户计划，在全球拥有超过9400万会员，上海市东湖（集团）公司当然也希望通过与洲际酒店集团的合作来升华酒店的国际影响力，带来更多市场认知度和客户归属感的同时，给酒店带来更多的商机和收益。
相比以前的自主管理，与洲际酒店集团合作之后，上海瑞金洲际酒店的发展更是有了崭新的变化，曹总表示：上海市东湖(集团)公司注重个性化服务，而洲际酒店集团则注重标准化服务，两相结合之下，酒店的服务已渐趋行业领先水平。与此同时，上海瑞金洲际酒店首席运营官金波利（Kim Powley）先生对酒店亦充满了期待：“作为洲际酒店及度假村品牌在全球的另一个地标性家族成员，我们希望通过洲际集团遍布全球的渠道，引领上海瑞金洲际酒店走向世界，我们将致力于打造一家独具魅力的历史经典酒店，在不久的将来，其地位可望与洲际旗下的华盛顿威拉德洲际酒店、纽约巴克莱洲际酒店、巴黎洲际大酒店及戛纳卡尔顿洲际酒店等享誉全球的洲际历史经典地标性酒店齐名。”
在酒店业中担当管理者是一个充满挑战性的工作，但曹总却乐在其中，并说出了“路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索”的感言。相信，拥有上海市东湖（集团）公司与洲际集团强强联手的优势，又有专业更敬业的酒店管理团队，厚积薄发之下，历经百年洗礼锤炼的上海瑞金洲际酒店的未来也将愈加辉煌！