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Hotels
Hotel Corner
James Ong, General Manager at Marco Polo Hotels
James Ong, General Manager at Marco Polo Hotels – Hong Kong, tell us why he loves the hospitality industry and the fragrant harbour so much.
My first break in hospitality was at the legendary Hotel St. Francis in San Francisco, which is still one of the city’s landmark hotels. I had my Food & Beverage apprenticeship there and eventually was given my first management position in the hotel. I love food, wine and socializing, so a career in the hospitality industry is a perfect fit.
I’ve worked in a number of cities in the United States including San Francisco, Las Vegas and Honolulu, as well as Asian countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and China. I enjoy a fast-paced environment, and the energy and drive in Hong Kong have made it my favourite location to live and work in.
I adopt a participative management style – it encourages team members to participate and feel a commitment to the goals of the group. My team knows that they can count on me for support, guidance and expertise; however as the team leader, I retain the final say in the decision-making process. I take my role seriously as I am guardian of their future careers.
Each of three Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong has a distinctive personality. Marco Polo Hongkong is a classic five-star hotel; the Gateway Hotel is a chic lifestyle destination offering sophisticated interiors in an urban sanctuary; and the Prince Hotel is a family-friendly hotel with many connecting rooms for large families traveling together.
The Marco Polo German Bierfest has been the iconic event at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel for the past 23 years and is now part of the city’s annual social calendar. This 23-day extravaganza eclipses the 16-day duration of its original version in Munich. The epic celebration features live entertainment from “Notenhobler”, a popular, high-energy band from Germany, while our German Chef creates a series of authentic Bavarian dishes ranging from the signature crispy pork knuckles to traditional sausages.
Guests nowadays are more tech-savvy so we are offering technologically guest-friendly tools to boost connectivity and mobility. The Handy Phone is a one-stop shop that keeps our guests connected for free, and the guest rooms will soon be installed with Smart TV, which will surely set the new standard for in-room entertainment.
I love Hong Kong both as a place to work and live. Everything is available here, and the city has a genuine and built-in service culture. I like the pace, the efficiency, and of course, the diverse culinary culture.
The hidden gems of the city are the natural attractions such as the stunning beaches and beautiful hiking trails. I enjoy both nature and urban hikes during weekends, and reward myself with a superb dinner afterwards.
