Date: 18 April 2007
Job title: President, Asia-Pacific
Company: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
0600
Alarm clock goes off in the beautiful room of the new The Westin Beijing, Financial Street. Time to get out of the Westin Heavenly Bed. Take a quick glance at the Blackberry for the many overnight emails (most of them from the US and a few from Europe) and check on the schedule for the day.
0615
Down to the Westin Workout (gym)for 30 minutes on the cross trainer.
0715
Heavenly shower, get dressed and still manage a quick room-service breakfast. A 15-minute read of some keynewspapers.
0755
Must leave the room now. Cannot be late for a press interview at the Executive Club Lounge as have a flight to catch. 0800 Interview takes place as scheduled and I pose for some photos for the interview too.
0900
Go down to the Ballroom to say goodbye to the 150 or so financial controllers from all over Starwood Asia Pacific. Came to Beijing to give the opening keynote speech the day before and attended the Award Gala dinner for the Finance Conference for Starwood Asia-Pacific.
0915
Am told of an accident at the highway and must leave for the airport earlier than scheduled to catch a flight to Shanghai. While in the car, continue to work on the Blackberry to catch up with the emails. Time to call assistant in Singapore for some download of work and discussion of travel schedules. After this, more telephone calls with the leadership team in Singapore to discuss specific work issues.
1015
Finally arrive at the airport. Patiently go through the security checks, customs and immigration.
1100
Time to board the Air China flight to Shanghai. Soon will have to switch off all electronic devices and will be out of reach for two hours.
1340
Flight arrives on schedule, which is good news as I will not miss my next appointment. Greeted by a cheerful hotel staff, Sean, and get whisked off in a car heading to The Westin Shanghai. In the car, more phone calls and answer a few SMS, a few SMS from my wife in the last two hours!
1445
Traffic is really bad today. Arrive and greeted by hotel GM. He comes to my room and I get a briefing on the schedule for the rest of the day.
1530
On to do two more meetings in the hotel Executive Club Lounge. One with a major hotel owner and another with a member of a special interest group on “sustainable tourism”, a hot topic these days.
1800
Driver is waiting. Got to leave now for Le Royal Meridien to host an important cocktail reception for 550 persons, all of them delegates from the annual China Hotel Investment Summit.
1930
Leave the reception to the hotel’s Business Centre to take a conference call with New York Headquarters for one hour. GM very kindly delivers some small “titbits” to the room as dinner.
2030
Return to the cocktail reception and chat with many delegates and some old friends. Already past the 8PM private dinner organised by HVS (told them I probably wouldn’t be able to make it) but may as well as go as many delegates are still at the cocktail reception.
2130
Leave cocktail reception. Such a nice evening, so abandon the hotel car and take a stroll down to Nanjing East Road’s “walking street” and walk back to the Westin Bund Center. A great 20-minute walk.
2200
Back to hotel, take a shower, call home and talk to my wife. Clear Blackberry’s emails for the day.
2330
Turn on CNN and then CNBC for 45 minutes to catch up on the news.
0015
Good night with the TV on all night.
