EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com Barbara Bohn , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : bbohn @ hotelsmag . com Chloe Riley , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : criley @ hotelsmag . com Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com Brittney Hackbart , Associate Art Director 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : bhackbart @ mtgmediagroup . com Carolina Martinez , Freelance Design E-mail : cmartinez @ mtgmediagroup . com Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Oriana Lerner , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING David Wood , Publisher 1.312.274.2225 dwood @ hotelsmag . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo Susan Terry Vice president of culinary and food and beverage operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
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RIGHT
The stuff
‘ Never let them see you sweat .’ ‘ Never show fear .’
These are the axioms that ring so true for HOTELS ’ 2017 Hoteliers of the World , Bill Heinecke of Bangkok ’ s Minor International and Ed Mady of the Beverly Hills Hotel and Dorchester Collection . Seemingly never overwhelmed by the moment , Heinecke and Mady display grit , quiet determination and an unending drive to succeed – ingredients of champions . Considering their strong wills , what makes them even more admirable is their grace , which no doubt has earned them the respect and trust of their peers and friends .
Heinecke is known as an endless worker , always considering new angles to create new opportunities and grow his empire , which
Editor In Chief
took roots in the late 1960s when the transplanted American launched a cleaning business in Bangkok .
HOTELS Managing Editor Barbara Bohn flew to Bangkok to interview Heinecke and saw the commitment the self-made billionaire , who became a Thai citizen in the 1990s , had to Thailand as a country and to his own vision to grow his increasingly far-flung business interests .
A true entrepreneur , Heinecke was communicating ideas and impressions to his employees even as he was waiting for the photographer to set up shots after his interview . ( He ’ s a multi-tasker , too – one person interviewed for the story says that Heinecke ’ s ideas don ’ t stop even when he ’ s piloting a plane .)
“ We like to celebrate our successes , but we try not to celebrate for too long because there ' s always someone around the corner trying to pass us ,” Heinecke says . “ I want to do it quicker or faster or better than the next person .”
“ Champion ” is the perfect adjective to describe Mady , who loves to draw from the sports vernacular , specifically baseball , to enhance his strategies for managing his teammates . Among his “ Ed-isms ”: “ Champions take chances and pressure is a privilege .” Or , “ The best defense doesn ’ t put points on the scoreboard .”
I jetted to Beverly Hills and walked the famous red carpet , appreciated the script Beverly Hills Hotel logo and the spires that graced the Eagles ’ “ Hotel California ” album cover before sitting down with Mady in the Polo Lounge to better understand his steady style and scientific approach that has worked wonders – even in an environment known for celebrity , glitz and glamour .
Listening to Mady talk about the many systems , processes and measurements that help him succeed , I wondered whether he had that certain je ne sais quoi that seems to define ultraluxury hotelkeepers . What I quickly came to understand is that his style emanates from his unending passion for winning , his ability to identify with his team and vise versa , and his desire to make the tough decisions look fair and inclusive . At the same time , he walks the grounds of the hotel with an understated elegance and warmth that is very welcoming .
While both Heinecke and Mady excel at being strategic thinkers , they are also able to translate their ideas into standards and services that drive the bottom line . Who better than two such leaders to add to HOTELS ’ list of now 70 Hoteliers of the World award winners ?
November 2017 hotelsmag . com 7