Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #44

Hotel & Tourism
SMARTreport #44
2019 Autumn Edition 15
15
Sébastien Bazin
Chairman and Chief Executive, Accor Group
Christian Westbeld
General Manager, Raffles Hotel Singapore
Andrew Humphries
Chief Operating Officer, Katara Hospitality
Andrew Humphries, Chief Operating
Officer for Katara Hospitality, stated, “It’s
been an amazing journey together, and we
are so proud to return Raffles Singapore,
this unique property, to its rightful place
as a true icon of Singapore. We only have
to look around ourselves to see what a
singular vision and collective effort has
brought. It’s truly an inspiring result. As
a hotelier, I have always seen Raffles as
one of the most important, if not the most
famous hotel in the world. And for me
to be standing here today, amongst you,
and amongst the team that have built this
hotel, it is a true privilege and a humbling
experience.”
Accor Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin
addressed the attendees, but in particular
the hotel staff present, stating, “Accor
only exists because there are 300,000
people working every day to welcome
guests. Here it is very easy. Accor, as large
as we are, as powerful as we can be, we
are only a caretaker. This property has
been in the hands of Katara hospitality.
They have spent millions in protecting
and enhancing this story, this property,
at its best. The relationship between
Katara Hospitality and Accor has
been long lasting: a very trusting and
exceptional relationship.”
Mr Bazin went on, “All of you here, next
to me, we do the exact same job, in a
different position. I am no better and no
worse than any of you. The one thing
you have to do… you are my smile, and
the smile of Singapore. It is through your
hands that every day you are going to give
that little bit of emotional, memorable
experience, through soft hands, soft skin…
smiling. That’s what people remember.”
The Accor group CEO received a huge
round of applause when he stated, “This
is the best hotel on the planet. When you
come into this property, the first thing that
happens to you is a sense of humility. You
are in the hands of something much larger
than any of us individually. You pay respect
to 132 years. There is only one wish. To
make sure that people in 100 years will
have the same amount of emotion, the
same experience… and you being with
me polishing that diamond. Don’t ever cut
it. Leave it as it is.”
When we asked Mr Bazin, after his
speech, what qualities he thought gave
YOU ARE IN
THE HANDS OF
SOMETHING MUCH
LARGER THAN ANY
OF US INDIVIDUALLY
the Raffles his title of “best in the world”,
he said, “Longevity, purity, grandiose…
it is something very rare. It is exceptional
beauty that is very elegant; there is nothing
flashy. It doesn’t impress people. You just
believe you are entering something in
which you have to be very careful. It is like
a diamond.”
The meticulous restoration led by
acclaimed interior designer Alexandra
Champalimaud was also supported by
Aedas, a leading global architecture
and design firm. Together, the
designers created a refreshed social haven
that delivers a compelling mix of culture,
beauty and gentility. Ms Champalimaud
and the two partners who were dedicated
to this project Ed Bakos and Jon Kastl,
were present at the opening