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Hotels
Hotel Corner
Yngvar Stray, General Manager of Harbour Grand Kowloon
Yngvar Stray, General Manager of Harbour Grand Kowloon, tells us about his love for the fragrant harbour and the hotel industry
As a little boy in Norway, I always wanted to be a hotelier. The idea of performing the role of host while offering a memorable experience to guests really fascinates me and it is still what motivates me to do my best every day.
I began my career at the reception of a local hotel in my home town, gradually moving up the ladder in the hotel industry. Over the years I’ve worked in various countries including Turkey, Singapore, Korea and China.
My management style has evolved over the years, but there are always three main aspects: a) influencing my team by inviting them on a shared journey, b) clearly defining the approach needed to make things work, and c) mentoring by assisting my team as we grow together at work.
The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt in the hotel business is that there’s always a takeaway from every situation you encounter. Neither success nor failure is ever final. Your career is a journey, not a destination.
Harbour Grand Kowloon is one of Hong Kong's "grand old dames" ensconced on the Hunghom shoreline for 20 years. It’s just a stone’s throw from Tsim Sha Tsui, the city’s major tourist district, and visitors can also cross the harbour to the Island side easily from the pier near our hotel.
Both Harbour Grand Kowloon and Hung Hom district are constantly evolving – we’ll soon unveil a new look for the hotel following the current renovation and extension. And with the MTR Whampoa station scheduled to open in 2016, our guests’ experience will surely be better than ever.
I love working in Hong Kong – it’s one of the most dynamic cities I’ve ever been in. As a world-class city with a unique location and vibrancy, it’s the perfect location to live in or to visit.
My favourite thing about Hong Kong is definitely Victoria Harbour – one of the world’s most impressive natural harbours, it offers colourful, spectacular views both day and night.
There is an intriguing juxtaposition between the city’s old and new features. From the high-end fashion brands on Queen’s Road to the back alleys and traditional wet markets on Hollywood Road, just around the corner you can always discover a completely different side of the city – for a lot of tourists, this contrast really blows their mind!
