To call Kempinski’s latest project on the outskirts of Beijing ambitious would be an understatement. Scheduled to open in mid-2014, the resort, set on 14-square-kilometre grounds in the heart of scenic Yanqi Lake, Beijing, includes hotels, spas, restaurants, bars and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities. Undoubtedly, the task of managing the opening of such an undertaking requires a rare combination of skills and experience.
Kempinski found someone with that combination in Brice Pean, the resort’s General Manager.
A native of France, Pean graduated from the renowned Fremdenverkehrskolleg Innsbruck in Austria. His hospitality career spans 26 years, more than 13 of which were spent in senior management roles with Hilton Hotels in Vienna, Cairo, Adelaide, Fiji and Shanghai. Prior to joining Hilton Hotels in 1999, Pean held positions with Millennium Britannia in London, The Clarence in Dublin, Plaza Athenee and Le Meridien Paris Etoile in Paris.
Pean is known for his emphasis on quality control and believes it is one of the most important instincts a hotel professional can have. He stresses Kempinski’s European heritage as a signature guarantee of its service and product quality.
‘Kempinski is a reflection of?Remarkable European Flair. Our distinction is that Kempinski is the oldest luxury hotel company in Europe,’ he added, ‘Clearly the history and the heritage of Kempinski is what we deliver to our guests.’
Pean will lead a team of more than 1,000 employees to launch the new development.
Pean’s philosophy lies within the added value that accompanies luxury products and services, believing that an excellent hotel is one that is greater than the sum of its components. It is guests’ experiences that Kempinski offers, far more than just services.