Multifaceted City

You walk around the corner and it’s a high-tech building with amazing architecture, and just next to it you have a wet market where they skin live frogs. I think this is unbelievable; I’ve never seen this anywhere. It creates such a [mix] of emotions and I love it.

Beautiful Hong Kong

You have the hotpot of the city and all these different streets and all these things going on, but you walk a little bit outside the city and it’s beautiful nature. It’s beaches and jungle and mountains. I always take visitors to the islands to the seafood villages and have great food. I think that’s what makes Hong Kong very unique. And it is definitely the most beautiful skyline I’ve seen in the world.

The Mira’s Modern Makeover

Most hotels in Hong Kong are quite traditional, and I don’t feel that reflects the city at all. Hong Kong is such a fast-paced city, probably the fastest city I know, but yet the hotels are quite traditional, quite opulent, etc. I think we really offer something that complements the city or reflects the city much more and appeals to more design-oriented people who like technology, who are very service-focused, who get what they want when they want it – but in a more designer environment. I think we are really filling a need and a void in the city.

Work Culture Contrast

In Hong Kong, it seems people embrace change much more, and they’re much happier to actually do it and are ready to take up the challenge. I feel there’s much more resistance in Europe – there’s much more need to care for individual fulfilment, whereas here it’s a team spirit and in the effort of the company, and it’s very rewarding. People are embracing [our hotel’s change] and are very happy to be part of it.

Favourite Aspect about Career

I think it is the diversity of issues you deal with. It’s the different cultures, the different people, and every day is different. You deal with finance, you deal with marketing, restaurants, food, beverage, but it’s also who you meet and all the different stories you come across. I mean, I could write books about some of the things that happen in this job, and I love it. It’s so much fun.