HOST WITH THE MOST

Hong Kong hotels are renowned worldwide as leaders in hospitality and service, and no one personifies this better than Danny Lai Ping-pui at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. A former hawker and street performer, Lai joined the Mandarin as a part-time porter in 1972 and worked his way up to become the Mandarin Oriental’s executive assistant manager of guest relations. In 2007, Lai published a book about hospitality and good service—and donated all proceeds to charity.