Serving the servers
By Xin Dingding (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-11-16
Veteran hotelier says the staff are a hotel's biggest asset and tells young Chinese to look harder at gaining experience than at the paycheck to make the most of their working lives. Xin Dingding reports
Fredrik Genberg believes employees, usually placed at the bottom of a company's organization chart, really ought to be put at the top.
The general manager of Sofitel Wanda Harbin sees serving his employees well as an important part of his job.
The veteran hotelier of 23 years says all hotels have two types of customers: those who come through the front door - the paying guests, and those who come through the back door - the employees.
He insists it is not a hotel's luxury facilities that are key to having repeat customers. Instead, what they really care about is a hotel's service.
"If my employees are happy then they will take better care of my paying customers," he says.