![[PR] PR_Ascott and Vimut Hospital_2024](https://www.traveldailynews.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PR-PR_Ascott-and-Vimut-Hospital_2024-400x265.jpg)
…
Swiss-Belhotel International’s Annual General Managers’ Conference held in Semarang, Indonesia in early December 2007 with the Senior Executives of Swiss-Belhotel International totally committed to meet the expansion and growth needs of Swiss-Belhotel International the Group’s over thirty hotels, resorts and projects throughout China, Asia/Pacific, Australia and the Middle East.
In the closing remarks of the conference, Gavin M Faull, President of Swiss-Belhotel International, emphasized to his senior executives the importance of the challenges of the industry and that service is “something better than just ‘a mint on the pillow.’”
The conference, held at the five star Hotel Ciputra Semarang, a Swiss-Belhotel International managed property in Semarang, Indonesia, brought to the attention of the participants that tougher competition; more sophisticated and demanding travelers; vastly more options to choose from; and, enhanced and ever-enhancing offerings from competitors make it imperative for hotels to provide guests with more than superb ‘creature comforts’ great food and the atmosphere of a ‘home away from home’. Swiss-Belhotel International has developed a reputation for service that reflects passion and professionalism.
Faull highlighted that giving more than the comforts of home, as displayed by such tender affections as a “mint on the pillow”, no longer get guests to check in or make repeat visits. He emphasised that the provision of superior products, unique amenities and unrivalled service are the distinctive features of all Swiss-Belhotel International managed properties and will make the chain maintain its growing stature as one of the leading management chains.
Faull stressed that the chain has “grown very quickly in the last five years and will keep on growing,” adding that the chain is “not only on the move, but reaching for new levels of professionalism and reaching for more stars in the hotel industry,” in obvious reference to Swiss Belhotel International’s recent signing of management contracts with five star properties in Medan and Manokwari, Indonesia; Sepang, Malaysia; Canberra, Australia, The Philippines and The Middle East.
The participants at the conference were senior Corporate Executives of Swiss-Belhotel International and General Managers of the chain’s 30 managed properties which have a combined employee base of more than 4,000 staff and an annual revenue turnover in excess of US$80 million. The conference is styled as a “learning and training” workshop where executives and general managers network and become better informed as the event “refreshes and boosts what they already know; ensures they update expand their knowledge base and return to their operations motivated and inspired to meet the continuing challenges and demands of the international hotel industry.
Among the many topics discussed during the conference was the enhancing of the chain’s brand and the responsibility of General Managers to ensure the strongest possible brand awareness in their operations and throughout the industry. Swiss-Belhotel International is becoming a strongly recognized branding in the global hotel industry. The concept of responsible management was emphasized by the maxim that SBI GMs must “get things done the right way” and be accountable.
A critical key-point in the industry was identified by the conference being the need for continued staff training and improvement thought the chain’s in-house “My Priority is You” training and guest relations program. More than just an “on-the-job training’ program, “My Priority is You” is an ‘Educational Campaign’ where all SBI employees must learn to appreciate the value of SBI work ethics and its corporate culture. A system compulsory in all SBI hotels, it makes SBI GMs, in a manner of speaking, ‘schoolmasters’, too. This program has been developed in conjunction with the global hotel school alliance, Orion Hotel Schools and in partnership with Blue Mountains Hotel Management School in Australia
Matters relating to such imperatives as enhancing online commerce and improving Food and Beverage products were presented and discussed..
The conference was the largest and most successful conference in the 20 year history of Swiss-Belhotel International. The occasion was also used as a celebration of 20 years of the Swiss-Belhotel International since its founding in 1987. Swiss-Belhotel International will be in the top 100 hotel management companies by 2010 promised the President, Gavin M Faull.
