—Appreciating ultimate luxury in a natural retreat with Mr. Brice Péan, General Manager of Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing

——与北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店总经理庞博思先生共同品位自然中的顶级体验

Interview: Cherry Li Chinese Version: Wendy English Version: Sherry Photos: by Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East

As summer approaches, the sun sheds its cozy beams on earth. Gentle breeze with moisture and a natural fragrance flows through the forests and over the lake, stroking your face and evoking infinite joy that permeates your heart. There are the dust-free forests and smogless mountains that facilitate a carefree and refreshing tour. A retreat like this does not require a painstaking search, nor does it exist only in your imagination. It unfolds before the author’s eyes and takes her breath away, as she arrives at Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing for an interview with its General Manager, Mr. Brice Péan.

A native of France, Brice is a long-time acquaintance of the Grand Hotels Magazine. After graduation from a renowned tourism institution of Innsbruck in Austria, Brice embarked on a 26-year hospitality career in Vienna, Cairo, Adelaide, Fiji, London, Dublin, Paris and China, during which he achieved numerous successes and won various awards. But most memorable of all was his successful management of hotels that enabled them to stand out from the crowd in a fiercely competitive market especially after the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. And with enormous drive, he managed to cater for the annual awarding ceremony of You are the Chef program to the satisfaction of the hosts and guests. Brice’s strengths in strategic planning and decision-making deserve admiration and applause.

Now, alongside the picturesque Yanqi Lake on the outskirts of Beijing, Brice takes charge of the largest hotel in China under Kempinski’s umbrella: Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing. Located in the center of Yanqi Lake scenic site, the hotel covers an area of 14 square kilometers and comprises 595 guest rooms and suites. Specifically, as a feather in Brice’ cap, it is a building complex with three integral parts unique in architectural styles and functionality----namely Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing by the lake, plus the Yanqi Lake State Guest House and 12 Boutique Hotels, located on a private island. Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing, for example, takes the shape of the rising sun. The 12 Boutique Hotels blend contemporary and traditional design with thematic decor. The Yanqi Lake State Guest House is harnessed with a private marina and an international conference center. The three integral parts form a magnificent landscape with a full spectrum of functions. “All over Beijing, it is hard to find a hotel with a view of the Great Wall, but we are in the vicinity of Mutianyu Great Wall. On a clear day, you can appreciate the scenic beauty of Yanqi Lake against the backdrop of the stunning Great Wall on top of the rolling mountains. And this is one of our greatest strengths.”

Indeed, the hotel’s location in the proximity of Beijing offers great traffic convenience. It is 45 minutes’ drive from Beijing Capital International Airport and an hour’s drive from downtown Beijing. The hotel resides in a perfect natural environment. Yanqi Lake attracts migrating geese to halt here with its picturesque scenery and pollution-free environment. And the hotel boasts such breathtaking works of architecture that Huairou was chosen as the venue for APEC this year. With so much to offer, the hotel naturally falls in the spotlight. And Mr. Brice Péan and his international management team from China, France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Singapore, Iceland and Thailand are leading a staff of 580 in the commitment to create an elite hotel with luxurious European hospitality. Luxurious European hospitality is one of the DNA of Kempinski, to which Brice will create further value for its guests. And the value is realized in wonderful experiences which saturate the hearts of guests with enjoyment by means of luxurious ambiances.

As you are fascinated with such an experience, everything around seems so intimate. The sun-shaped hotel reminds you of hope and warmth. The shimmering lake out of the window delivers tenderness, soothing the hearts of those who seek refuge from worldly chaos. The soft handmade fabrics, subdued tint and ample daylight in spacious guest rooms offer a peculiar enchantment. 14 restaurants and bars serve classic Chinese cuisines, authentic Western and German cuisines, genuine regional refreshments, and aromatic wines. Against the picturesque scenery and in a restful manner, you may choose from such a variety of delicacies and enjoy them to your heart’s content. Stepping out of the hotel, you may try your hand at a nearby 18-hole golf course, or have fun at the water park. In the distance, there is the imposing Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty on the ridges of mountains in which ancient temples nestle. In the lake, lovely migrant birds swell your heart with tender affection. Newcomers here are greeted by all the natural, the novel, the refreshing that unfold in an effortless manner, and are thus able to enjoy a carefree, relaxing tour. At that moment, it sheds light on the essence of life.

This is only part of the story. As the general manager of Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing, Mr. Brice Péan takes a holistic approach to the operations of his hotel. To meet the needs of political and business clients, the hotel boasts a complex of 14 buildings with 14,069 square meters of meeting facilities which include a 8277-square-meter conference center and ample outdoor event space amidst beautifully landscaped natural gardens, creating a brand new, exciting comprehensive multifunctional event space. The 14 individual buildings form an integral whole when harnessed with state-of-the-art technology, whereas detached boutique hotels secure the flexibility and privacy for smaller meetings. According to Brice, as a result of the massive publicity generated so far, coupled with a compatible city planning by Huairou authorities, this area has turned into a comprehensive conference and vacation resort on the outskirts of Beijing. And Yanqi Lake will evolve into a new MICE and leisure destination of Beijing. Meanwhile, local authorities is implementing an air pollution control campaign in the Yanqi Lake area with measures ranging from population control and emission control to the elimination of ‘yellow label vehicles’ and closing down of high energy-consumption enterprises, which turn this area into an idyllic destination free from pollution and traffic congestion.

It is obvious that Mr. Brice Péan has made all the necessary preparations for the launch of Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing. With the trust of Kempinskiand in compliance with the 117-year-old Kempinski traditions, Brice started with a team of two a year ago, steadily increasing his staff strength to 250 a year later, and by the time the hotel opens in November this year, there will be a total of 580 employees. He sets an example with his own conduct and passes on to his staff the Kempinski DNA and culture which includes “people-oriented”, “candid and straightforward”, “innovation” , “pursuing luxurious European hospitality” and “fostering a sense of ownership”. “We hope to cultivate a brilliant, motivated staff force and instill in and nurture among our staff our brand’s commitment to luxurious European hospitality”, asserts Mr. Brice Péan.

He has, undoubtedly, reached this goal. Alongside the charming Yanqi Lake, we perceive the radiance and vitality of Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing as it approaches its launch date. And we are looking forward to witnessing this “rising sun” emerge above the horizon in November. Mr. Brice Péan will then be bustling about with his team, exuding enthusiasm and passion, reaping happiness and success.

温暖的阳光洒在身上，带来初夏时节的温柔；林间水面吹来的风，挟着自然的香，含着水气的润，拂在脸上透入心尖，引发着无尽的喜悦。喜这不着烟尘的树，爱那不染雾霭的山，亲近的是通体透彻的自在悠游。这等妙处，不劳远遁山林去搜获，也无需浮想联翩地虚构，就因这次去采访北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店总经理庞博思先 生之行，便不期而遇地展现在面前，让人欣喜！

作 为老朋友，来自法国的庞博思先生与《大酒店》早已互相熟知。他毕业于奥地利因斯布鲁克知名的旅游学院，26年的酒店生涯里在维也纳、开罗、阿德莱德、斐 济、伦敦、都柏林、巴黎等地创造了无数的佳绩并不时收获着各种奖项。最让人感念的是，之前在上海，庞博思先生在白热化竞争的后世博时代，带领着酒店脱颖而出，并在其刚起步时，以极大的魄力承办了《大酒店》洋厨房颁奖典礼且让宾主尽欢。让人不得不叹服他运筹的工巧与决胜的能力。

   现在，在风景如画的京郊雁栖湖畔，庞博思先生运筹的又是什么----是凯宾斯基集团迄今在国内开设的最大一家酒店：北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店。酒店盘踞着雁 栖湖核心景区，占地约14平方公里，共有595间客房和套房。确切地说这是一个酒店群，分为湖畔北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店主体建筑、雁栖酒店和12栋北京 雁栖湖精品别墅三个部分。这种一分为三又浑然一体的设置，是庞博思先生引以为傲的地方。他说，酒店群每一个建筑都有着自己的风格与特点，以形如旭日东升的 北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店为核心 ，加上12栋建筑设计别致的雁栖湖精品别墅、一座配备私家码头的雁栖酒店和北京雁栖湖国际会议中心。形成一个完整功能区 也构成了一道美丽的风景线。“在北京，你很难找到一个拥有长城美景的酒店，可是我们却能和慕田峪长城比邻而居。晴朗的日子里，在酒店能远眺长城和其蜿蜒的 山峦，近观山光湖景，这种优美的景色与优良的环境本身就是一大卖点”。

的确，在北京周边，如此便捷的交通----跑离机场半个小时，离市区一小时车程；如此优良的环境----雁栖湖本身就是因为山水优美引得南度北归的大雁驻足流连而得名；加上如此宏大的手笔----宏大到足以吸引APEC选择怀柔作为本年度会议的主办地，让这里自然而然地成为万众瞩目的焦点，在这焦点的中心， 庞博思先生领着他国际化的管理团队----成员分别来自中国、法国、德国、瑞士、俄罗斯、新加坡和加拿大等国家，带着上上下下近千名员工，致力于在京郊打 造一个欧式奢华的精品。欧式奢华是凯宾斯基的DNA，庞博思先生更要进一步在这一特色上为客人们创造出价值。这种价值体现在美妙真切的体验中，有了这种体验，奢华便从外在的氛围变成了内心享用。

当享用触及内心时，周围的一切刹时变得亲切起来：形如旭日的酒店让人感受到希望与温暖。窗前湖面的波光带着温柔，抚慰着从喧嚣中挣脱出来的心。客房中宁静的色调，手工织物柔软的触感与宽敞的空间里自然的采光，让人迷醉。食指大动时，可以在14个餐厅和酒吧 里在任意选择，经典的中餐、纯正的西餐、地道的小食、甘醇的美酒，和着风景、就着闲情，似乎更有一番风味。步出酒店，18洞高尔夫球场的漫步，湖中游乐场 的嘻戏，远处有明长城的雄浑，山上有古寺引人悠思，水中倦鸟更堪人怜。乍到的人甚至不用寻找，所有的自然、新奇、清新与格调扑面而来，这种只需敞开身心享受当下的自在悠游，一下子让人触到了生活的本质和意义。

当然自在悠游并非全部，作为北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店的经营者，庞博思先生考虑是全方位的。针对政商客户，酒店以14座建筑群形成的强大接待能力，面积达 14,069平方米的会议设施，包括8277平方米的会议中心和风景优美的广阔户外会议空间，打造了一个足以激动人心的全新综合型会议场所。现代科技设施 的便捷使14栋独立的建筑浑然一体，独栋别墅的空间，又让小型会议有了灵活与私密的空间。据庞博思先生介绍，通过酒店管理方和业主的大力宣传及与整个怀柔 当地合作共赢的规划，雁栖湖将成为北京的全新MICE和旅游目的地，这里已然形成了京城北郊的一个会议、度假的功能区。同时，怀柔地区也在着力改善空气质 量，包括人口控制和排放控制，消除「黄标车」并关闭高耗能企业等，这里已渐渐成为北京远离污染、远离堵塞交通的世外桃源。

显然，在即将开业运营的北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店内，庞博思先生已经做好了全部的准备。接收到业主方北京控股集团的信任，承袭了凯宾斯基集团117年的传 统，从起步时30余人的小团队，到如今扩展到上千人的规模。庞博思先生以身做则地将‘以人为本’、‘坦诚直率’、‘主人翁意识’、‘创造新传统’和‘崇尚 欧式奢华’的凯宾斯基企业文化手递手，心传心的传递着。“我们希望培养才华横溢、态度积极的员工，赋予和培养员工凯宾斯基的品牌承诺‘非凡的欧洲风格’” 庞博思先生坚定地说到。

毫无疑问，他也坚定地做到了，在美丽的雁栖湖畔，北京日出东方凯宾斯基酒店如旭日待升，我们已经看到光、感受到热、觉察到踊跃的力量。只待开业时的跃然一升，圆满的骄阳就将照耀天地间。届时，庞博思先生和他率领的团队将活跃其间，发挥着光和热，收获着喜与乐。