STEPPING INTO A DREAMWORLD
The perfectly situated Luxury Collection hotel welcomes a new general manager, reports Zhang Xiaomin from Dalian.
With the thriving domestic market, we need to offer exceptional service as well as authentic experiences.” Will Chen, general manager of the Castle Hotel, Dalian
For tourists to the northeastern coastal city of Dalian, Liaoning province, staying at the Castle Hotel is like wandering into a dream.
A Luxury Collection hotel, the Bavarian-style castle has become a landmark on the Lotus Mountain overlooking the thriving community of Xinghai Square and scenic Binhai Road along the coastline of the Yellow Sea.
When Will Chen was appointed as the general manager of the Castle Hotel by Marriott International two months ago, he was as excited as a tourist.
“It is a dream job,” said the Malaysian, who has more than 28 years of hospitality experience.
“My predecessor and the staff team have laid a good foundation. The hotel has won many big prizes and enjoys high prestige in the industry,” he said.
Before coming to the Castle Hotel, Chen had worked in the Sheraton Grand Taipei for 12 years as director of sales and marketing and general manager.
From 2001 to 2005, he worked as director of marketing with Sheraton Xi’an Hotel. During that period, he traveled once to the coast in Northeast China’s Liaoning province.
“I stayed here for a weekend. The blue sky and white clouds impressed me so much that I could say I fell in love with the city because of its natural environment,” he recalled.
In his leisure time, Chen enjoys traveling and sports. He is also a big fan of classical music.
As the Castle Hotel is located in such a scenic spot, Chen walks along the Binhai Road for about three hours every weekend. “Walking through the zigzagging path featuring mountains and sea, breathing fresh air and enjoying your favorite music, it’s so relaxing,” he said.
Chen graduated with an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University in the United States.
He started his career as a management trainee in Hawaii. From 1995 to 2001, he was working with Shangri-La, where he led the sales and marketing management teams.
Being an executive leader in the industry for more than 20 years, Chen has valuable experience to back up his creativity and innovation.
Furthermore, he is passionate about mentoring younger hoteliers and helping them to develop their own careers. He said he feels confident in taking the Castle Hotel to the next level of success.
The hotel offers 292 luxurious guestrooms and 67 apartments, including a sprawling 600-square-meter presidential suite. Most of the rooms have a stunning ocean view.
Three restaurants and two lounges offer creative and authentic cuisine options, from an authentic Chinese restaurant to an allday dining restaurant and casual drinks. The Specialty Restaurant and Bar, Royal Cellar located on the fifth floor provides home-brewed German beer.
Guests can enjoy the hotel’s spacious indoor swimming pool, state-of-theart fitness center and luxurious Kaiser Spa.
With enormous meeting and event spaces, the Castle Hotel is situated in the center of the financial and entertainment area of Dalian. It is an ideal events venue for grand scale weddings, cocktails and important business gatherings.
“With the thriving domestic market, we need to offer exceptional service as well as authentic experiences,” said the general manager.