The “Tao of Regent” An Interview with S. Steven Pan, Executive Chairman of Regent Hotels & Resorts and FIH Regent Group The Beijing Grand Lobby (left) and Montenegro Boka Bay view (above)

EDITORS’ NOTE Steven Pan joined 1970, later joined by industry leaders Where are the opportunities for growth? FIH Regent Group – owner of Regent George Rafael and Adrian Zecha, who Our development strategy is, first and Taipei – in 1991 and became founded Amanresorts after Regent. They foremost, to return to Regent cities where we President in 1992. In 2000, he led a developed and expanded the Regent have a legacy presence such as in Hong Kong, management buyout of the company brand to become the fi rst truly -based New York, , Tokyo, , and became the Executive Chairman. global hospitality group in an industry Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, , and The company acquired Regent Hotels previously dominated by European and Chiang Mai. Jakarta is our first return to a & Resorts from Carlson in 2010. Pan American brands. Regent infused high- Regent city, where it will be a combination of also founded Pacific Resources quality Asian hospitality standards into luxury residences and hotel. Group in in 1994, all of their hotels worldwide, including Regent will remain active in China, a mar- and the group has since completed the fl agship Regent Hong Kong, which ket where many of the standardized hotels built many landmark transactions in San introduced the fi ve-fi xture bathroom, in the past will face stiff competition with the Francisco, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. S. Steven Pan now standard in fi ve-star hotels. openings of new and unique assets. With the Between 1970 and 1992, Regent presence of Regent Beijing fi rmly established in COMPANY BRIEF Regent (regenthotels.com) opened 17 hotels, including the celebrated Regent China’s capital, we are now targeting Tier Two was founded in the ’70s and became the first truly Beverly Wilshire, the magnifi cent Regent New cities including Chongqing, Xian, and Harbin. Asian-based global hospitality group. In the ’80s York, and Regent Bali at Jimbaran, which was the We are purposely managing our growth in and ’90s, Regent properties such as the Regent fi rst resort with the all-villa and private pool con- order to ensure that we are continuously aligned Hong Kong and Regent Beverly Wilshire were cept. Regent quickly became synonymous with with and focused on our brand values. We are among some of the world’s most acclaimed hotels. glamour and style, and dominated the luxury ho- also constantly reviewing what is important to In 1992, eight Regent hotels were recognized by tel industry with eight Regent hotels among the our Regent stakeholders to ensure that those Condé Nast Traveler as among the Top 25 Hotels in top 25 hotels in Condé Nast Traveler’s best in the values we hold dear are correct and relevant, the World, with more than half of the best 14 ho- world list. In 1992, the brand was acquired by Four and resonate with our target market. tels on earth carrying the Regent name. The brand Seasons Group, which rebranded many of the Our recipe for success is mixed-use devel- was later sold to Four Seasons and then Carlson be- original Regent hotels to Four Seasons. opments that incorporate residential space as fore finally being acquired by FIH Regent Group. In 2010, Regent returned to its Asian roots with well as commercial space. A hotel development The existing Regents are located in Beijing, Berlin, acquisition by our FIH Regent Group, the original with residential units delivers a faster return, Porto Montenegro, Taipei and with new developer of Regent Taipei and the leading hotel enabling us in many cases to get our equity hotels opening in China’s Chongqing, Xian, and company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. back even before the hotel opens. We have Harbin, as well as a return to Jakarta in 2018. In Would you describe the evolution and introduced and opened the fi rst mixed-use ho- 2011, all hotels in the Regent-managed portfolio current state of the Regent brand? tel and residential project in Europe’s Porto were listed as the best luxury hotels in the world by Regent’s brand identity articulates our Montenegro, the new super yacht marina in the the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Asian heritage, which is our heart and soul, and Mediterranean Sea under the visionary leader- becoming the first and only international luxury allows us to stand out from our American- and ship of Peter Munk and Jacob Rothschild. hotel group to ever achieve this recognition. In European-rooted competitors. The quotation How do you defi ne a true luxury hotel 2013, the group was fifth in the worldwide rank- coined by Regent’s founding fathers encapsu- experience for the Regent customer? ing of the World Luxury Index measuring the most lates all that we stand for: “The only thing we The luxury hotel marketplace is more searched and sought-after luxury hotels. specialize in is luxury, and the one thing all crowded and more competitive than ever be- FIH Regent Group (fihregent.com) is the larg- our hotels have in common is that they are all fore. In order to secure success and continue to est and most profi table hotel company listed on the unique.” Indeed, the one common thread that grow the Regent brand, we need to differentiate Taiwan Stock Exchange, with market capitaliza- our guests will be able to fi nd regardless of lo- ourselves from our competitors. Luxury used to tion in excess of $1 billion. FIH Regent Group owns cation is their own personalized experience. mean a lot of space and Regent defi ned luxury flagship Regent Taipei, which has consistently been The bespoke Regent experience, which in 1980 with the spacious fi ve-fi xture bathroom. one of the most profitable Regent Hotels in the makes a guest’s stay unforgettable by custom- The luxury space has since become standard, world. Regent Taipei also pioneered the first true izing services to his or her needs, is something so Regent then again redefi ned luxury with pri- luxury hotel shopping concept – Regent Galleria, that cannot be replicated. The “Tao of Regent,” vacy, as we were the fi rst to create an all-villa anchored by Chanel, Hermès, Dior, Graff, Harry our brand essence, defi nes elegant architecture, resort in Bali, with a pool in every key. Winston, and 50 other luxury brands. timeless décor, design elements indigenous to The luxury experience is driven by the the local area, and intuitive, discreet service, all product, concept, and service. It is important Would you touch on the history and heri- of which help to achieve a balanced, harmoni- to bring back that handcrafted spirit in the pro- tage of this brand? ous luxury: simple yet elegant, modern yet time- duction and the delivery of luxury hotels. A be- Regent is an iconic name in the global hos- less, luxurious yet understated. This concept, spoke guest experience is the core of the luxury pitality industry with Asian roots. The brand was along with an excellent development team, has travel business, and Regent has proven to be an started by legendary hotelier Robert H. Burns in allowed us to grow steadily and surely. expert in this realm.• 118 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2016 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 39, NUMBER 1