With over 30 years in the hospitality business, general manager Christoph Zbinden brings a wealth of experience to Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, the resort’s first hotel in China. Before joining the Hard Rock family, Christoph worked at some of the top names in the industry such as: The Ritz Carlton, The Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Atlantis and Madinat Jumeirah to just name a few. We sat down with Christoph to speak about the hotel’s three-year anniversary, the future of Hard Rock as a hotel brand, his management philosophy and more.
Image via That’s
Which aspects do you enjoy the most in China and which are hard to adapt to?
I’ve spent about 18 years in Asia now, there was always a draw as there’s an elegance about the culture and its different but not ‘scary.’ However, my biggest problem is language, I would love to be able to innately understand things that are happening around me. I guess, you can imagine it’s almost like being deaf. That is a regret, but at the same time [things I enjoy] are the variety, the speed and for the most part this place is very accepting. If you go anywhere in Asia, you can make connections you wouldn’t necessarily be able to make at home.
What are Hard Rock’s plans for expansion going forward?
We have opened three hotels this year, and will be opening five next year so expansion is phenomenal. In Asia, we opened Desaru Coast which is just outside Singapore and we will be opening in Dalian and Haikou next year. Internationally, we opened in the Maldives two weeks ago and London earlier this year, we will be opening in Madrid, Dublin, Sacramento, Budapest and more. Hard Rock International is looking at doubling the amount of hotels worldwide in the next five years.
Image courtesy of Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen
Why are there so many Hard Rocks all across the world?
Hard Rock has an extremely exciting point of differentiation in its DNA – and that’s music. We can be much more casual in our approach, because formality (in my opinion) has nothing to do with quality.
Why was Shenzhen picked as the first location for Hard Rock in China?
This project had been underway for many years, the leadership of Mission Hills and Chairman Chu was very foresightful. In terms of what he wanted to do with this area, the Mission Hills estate, the largest golf estate in the world has a great number of properties in the community. It’s about creating value to the residences. By bringing in a recognized, international five-star brand, Chairman Chu was able to offer another amenity to the people of the community. Our second hotel will be opening in Haikou on Hainan Island where there is another Mission Hills. There’s a huge water park there and they’re focusing a great deal on the sports economy (tennis, basketball, soccer).
Music being integral to Hard Rock, who is your favorite musician and why?
Oingo Boingo and Jimmy Somerville. Somerville is an acoustic, unplugged, phenomenal musician from the late ’80s and ’90s. Them, and also INXS or Depeche Mode – they’re both bands which are full of life.
What is the most important quality to have as a manager?
Empathy. Everybody has a story. We spend a lot of time here and because we’re here in the countryside, a lot of our staff are not with their families. There is hardship, but as long is everybody is making their contribution it is important to realize that people have different ways of doing things. When I first started I was a 50-year-old inside a 20-year-old [chuckles]. Very direct and uncompromising, but to drive fear into the organization, it doesn’t make sense. You need to be empathetic to the employees so they can be the same in turn to the guests. As long as we all understand the end goal, how you get there, as long as it’s done well – is up to them.
Image courtesy of Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen
About Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen
Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, the first Hard Rock in China, is located in the famed Mission Hills. The first of its kind to arrive on the mainland, Hard Rock has done it in style, combining modern Chinese architecture with their signature world-class service to deliver a lavish experience like no other hotel in Shenzhen.
The 258 rooms and suites feature a creative mix of music-inspired décor and modern Chinese elements. A range of high-end accommodations, including Studio Suites, Rock Royalty Studio Suites and Rock Star Suite®, provide the ultimate All-access pass to a luxury VIP experience, as well as views of the entire property that covers more than 44,000 square meters.
While music soothes the soul, food satisfies the senses and Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen boasts a variety of dining destinations. Travelers can choose from the signature Hard Rock Cafe, the MC Frida rooftop pool bar, The Cake Shop, GMT+8 Lobby Lounge or browse the all-day offerings at Sessions. Other facilities include the Body Rock® fitness center, Rock Shop®, and Roxity Kids’ Club for budding little rockstars. Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen also features more than 1,000 square meters of event and meeting facilities.
Strap in. Hard Rock is here to exceed expectations and have fun doing it.
[Cover image via courtesy of Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen]
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