3:32:58 PM | 15/5/2006
As a new marketing strategy, Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has decided to sponsor to HSBC-Sofitel Metropole Vietnam Europe Corporate Golf Tournament 2006 (EuroVision). On the Eve of prize, Vietnam Business Forum has conducted an interview with Gilles Cretallaz, General Manager of Sofitel Metropole Hanoi hotel.
What is your initial assessment on hotel industry in Vietnam and the position of Sofitel Metropole Hanoi?
Factors shaping the Vietnamese tourism industry are the environment, politics, and government involvement, all of which are closely linked and crucial to the successful development of tourism in the country. Vietnam has many natural endowments and resources that are major attractions for tourists.
Hanoi and HCMC are the most popular cities for visitors, as people can find elegant French architecture and boutiques, and weathered colonial buildings there. The 3,000 km coastline also contains plenty of untouched scenic spots and beach resorts, which have become popular tourist attractions. The country's stable political and economic conditions, combined with a number of government initiatives are making the country an attractive destination for both tourists and investors.
In this situation, Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has been considered as one of the most successful joint ventures in Vietnam. The business was quite good for the period from 1992 to 1996 when the Sofitel Metropole was the first and only international standard hotel in the heart of Hanoi's city. To secure a room in the Metropole during that period, the guest had to book few months in advance. In 1996, we completed the Opera Wing at the formerly empty rear of the hotel's courtyard and the total number of guestrooms increased to 235. It was the right time to welcome the French francophone summit in Hanoi, bringing the delegates of 49 Francophone states to Hanoi and the Metropole.
Since then, the Sofitel Metropole has become the favorite place for business and leisure travelers to Hanoi. Many important business delegations such as the World Presidents Organization, the Asia Leaders Forum, the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting are hosted here. The hotel's guest list over the past years has included political figures such as presidents, prime ministers and ministers all over the world, as well as celebrities like Oliver Stone, Catherine Deneuve, Mike Jagger, Sir Roger Moore amongst others.
Thank to charismatic product, the hotel has achieved many titles during the operation in Vietnam?
The Sofitel Metropole has received many national and international accolades during the past years, including Top Ten Hotels in Vietnam by the General Department of Tourism of Vietnam then the Association of Tourism of Vietnam, the Best Business Hotel in Hanoi by Business Travellers Asia Pacific magazine, the Best Luxury hotel in Hanoi by Vietnam Economic Times magazine, Best 500 Hotels in the World by readers of US magazine Travel + Leisure, Best Hotel in Hanoi by readers of Hong Kong magazine DestinAsian. The hotel also entered the Gold list of US magazine CondéNast Traveller.
In your term, do you have any plan to create a totally new image for Sofitel Metropole?
The level of service and hospitability is already above any other hotel in Hanoi. My mission is to reinforce the strength by bringing the notion of a "Real Palace" to Hanoi. More details in service .... personal touch… to reach the guests expectations. Introduce a unique Spa product, a private butler service and draw a thin line what is considered today a luxury treatment and perfection.
My personal experience will bring this "Thin slicing" and "Fine Tuning" to Sofitel and I will do the "Last Touch" on this perfection, without sounding ambitious.
Reported by Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
