LEARNING FROM THE
PROFILE
ALLEN LAW
INSIDE OUT
LEARNING FROM THE
PARK HOTEL GROUP ’ S ALLEN
LAW ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES TO LEARN THE PROCESSES THAT LEAD TO BETTER INNOVATION AND
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH .
Contributed by RAINI HAMDI
From a scrawny , awkward 24-year-old when he first joined his father ’ s Park Hotel Hong Kong , Allen Law has come into his own and become a poster boy for successful new-gen Asian hotel entrepreneurs .
The son of Hong Kong real estate tycoon Law Kar Po showed leadership is in his blood as he grew the single hotel into a branded operator comprising 16 owned / managed assets with over 4,500 keys across 11 cities in Asia Pacific . All this was
accomplished in just 15 years ; he became CEO of Park Hotel Group in 2012 .
“ If you were to ask me what attributes immediately come to mind to describe Allen , I would say entrepreneurial , fast-minded and strategic ,” says Diana Ee-Tan , vice chairman , Singapore Hotel & Tourism Education Centre Institutes , and former president of Raffles Hotels & Resorts . “ The expansion of his hospitality group over a short span speaks for his business acumen .”
Ee-Tan , who has served on a couple of boards and committees with Law , adds , “ As someone with a very
“ WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS , AND LOVE IS THE CORE OF OUR HOSPITALITY .”
— ALLEN LAW
comfortable family background , who could have gotten by without getting his hands too dirty , he does stand out in that from the outset of entering the hotel business , he was willing to be a hewer of wood and a drawer of water , so to speak , working alongside his team in all areas of operations , in front office , housekeeping . He learned quickly , at that , the ropes of the trade .”
Rather than coming in as the privileged son of the owner , Law rolled up his sleeves to learn the business in six months of training , working double shifts for 16 hours every day across departments .
“ It was hard work and I gained exposure and insights into how many processes could be done more efficiently ,” Law says . “ Innovation is crucial in this business , and this is the mentality and culture that I have tried to instill in Park Hotel Group since day one .”
In expanding the brand , Law saw two opportunities : First , an exponential growth in Asia Pacific that drove the need to create products catering to diverse Asian travelers . Second , Law
April 2017 hotelsmag . com 49