Hotel Industry Leadership in Greater China—A Biographical Comparison

ABSTRACT

The relationship between leaders and followers plays a major role in shaping organizational cultures. There is an established literature within many disciplines showing evidence of how leaders seek to influence their followers. This article extends this legacy by presenting a detailed investigation of two hospitality leaders in order to provide insights into the formation of leaders in Greater China. A biographical comparison is conducted to analyze leadership traits in the hospitality industry context of an Asian leader, Mr Stephen Ho (President for Greater China of Hyatt Global Operation) and a non-Asian (European) leader, Mr Ricco de Blank (CEO of Sun Hung Kai Properties Hotel Section). Information about each of the two leaders is assembled, analyzed, and then compared with reference to their respective backgrounds, characteristics and families as these have impacted on their leadership styles. The findings show the continuing influence of Confucian values within Asia and that leadership styles and behaviors can also be shaped by a Western cultural background. The two subjects have exercised charisma in leading their respective companies to success. The article concludes by noting practical implications, limitations, and opportunities for further research.

摘要

领导与下属关系在塑造组织文化方面发挥着重要的作用。许多学科的既有文献显示了领导如何影响下属。本论文延伸了传统，详细调查两位酒店服务业领袖，提出有关中华区酒店业界领袖素质之见解。进行传记比较旨在分析亚洲酒店业领导特质，一位是凯悦全球营运大中华区总裁何国祥先生，另一位是非亚裔(欧洲人)的新鸿基地产集团酒店首席执行官Ricco de Blank先生。有关这两位业界领袖的信息经过综合与分析后加以比较，参考了他们各自的背景、特征和家庭这些对领导风格有影响的要素。研究结果显示儒家价值观在亚洲仍然具有影响，同时西方文化背景亦会塑造领导风格与行为。两位研究对象在领导各自公司取得成功的过程中都展现出了魅力。本论文结尾提出了实际意义、局限与机遇供进一步研究。

KEYWORDS:

• Leadership
• culture
• Asian
• hospitality
• China

关键词:

• 领导素质
• 文化
• 亚洲
• 酒店服务
• 中国

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Angela Mai Chi Chu

Angela Mai Chi Chu is a Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management candidate in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China (E-mail: [email protected]).

Brian E. M. King

Brian E. M. King is an Associate Dean and Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China (E-mail: [email protected])