THE INTERVIEW : CLAIRE CHIANG
A villa at the Angsana Lang Co in Vietnam
where people in the region can congregate to look at things like fabrics and new techniques in weaving . It would include a vocational institute to learn housekeeping skills and language for young people who do not go to school . We want to become a platform for dialogue and skills development . H : How is Banyan Tree performing ? CC : I can only say today we are good — our pipeline of projects , the fact we are still here , the brand strength . We are branching out to use the brand in other developments .
Owners are good , too . As all owners , they want 120 %, but they also have common sense , and when they look at the competitive set they keep quiet .
H : What personal business goals remain for you ?
CC : KP talks about having a “ necklace around the globe .” If you divide the world into four quarters , I ’ d like to be able to say we are in all four , but we are not . We are concentrated in Asia Pacific , but we are not in South America or the United States . We may not be able to do it all in our lifetime , but I am no longer just looking at my remaining years . At 61 , I am looking at the lifespan of my children and grandchildren . I feel what we do today will impact the next 180 years of some of our key executives and children . That
is how we are blueprinting our business vision . What we envision today is covering all corners of the world with the brand , looking at quality properties — not just for hospitality , but also nearby residential development .
A business has within it all the concerns of society , so I don ’ t distinguish . With our pipeline it would only be better in terms of financials . But the way we operate can over generations be diluted and become forgotten principles , and we can ’ t allow that to happen . We need to set the founders creed . That is one reason we started the foundation , because if anything happens to us it stays on its own terms .
H : Do you have any advice about working with your spouse ?
CC : If you have an opportunity to start a business as a couple I would say go for it . If you can combine skill sets to create something and have clear spheres of influence and execution , and have developed a communications channel where it is about the professional relationship and not as husband and wife that would be good . You must have a very clear mindset where the boundaries are , and that comes with perspective , maturity and experience . It can strengthen the family and marriage , and together the power of two becomes the power of three .
H : What is the biggest business challenge you have yet to overcome , and what is the biggest opportunity not yet realized ?
CC : As we operate in various geographical zones under different stages of development , the professionalization of management practices and service delivery are two operational pillars we focus on intensively , while we work hard to filter language and cultural nuances , embrace diversity of beliefs and find our common interests to maximize value for the organization . The world is so big , and we have still to plant more Banyan Trees and Angsanas . China alone is a country of 20-plus “ countries ” in terms of geography , size and human density . The global zest for travel will never fade . The demographics also show the rise of the digital and mobile middle class , requiring new excitement and different hospitality services and choices . We have to find the “ next best thing ” middle-class travelers want . H : What advice would you offer readers ? CC : With a quarter of mankind ( the Chinese market ) traveling in the next 10 years , we should see this as a great opportunity , and hospitality will be robust as a result , even with economic crisis . Sharpen your approaches , get your Chinese-speaking people in and reap the benefits .
36 HOTELS April 2013 www . hotelsmag . com