The right time

In 1986, when he was only 17-years-old, Yang joined Shangri-La Hotel Beijing, one of the few international five-star hotels in Beijing and China.

"About 500 people joined Shangri-La that year," he says. "Before that, we received a one-year hospitality-related training programme in Beijing. Most of us in that training still work here; we have been won over by the Shangri-La spirit."

According to him, success comes from integrity, honesty, continual learning, hard work, and above all, passion. "It's a mix of many things, including the start of China's opening to the world, that helped get me into the company," he said.

In 1986 there were few four- and five-star hotels in China, let alone hospitality talents.

"The majority of the guests who stayed at these hotels were foreigners at that time; it was very important to speak English, as we could not have communicated with guests otherwise," Yang says.

Learning English was one of the biggest challenges for him and his colleagues, and he worked hard to stand out from the crowd. Yang began to study very hard by reading English newspapers such as China Daily. "Everyday I read it, and even today, I still read it, practicing my English," says Yang, who speaks fluent English with perfect pronunciation.

Joining the Shangri-La, as opposed to another hotel chain, was a blessing, Yang says. Based in Hong Kong and founded in 1971, Shangri-La has rapidly grown into one of the largest hotel groups in Asia with 49 hotels and resorts in key cities in Asia and the Middle East. Seven of these are Traders Hotels, a four-star hotel brand established in 1989.

Yang does not elaborate further about his own life except to add that what he has been working on since July is infusing newness to the Kerry Centre, and bringing the hotel's business onto a higher platform.

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