Managing an airport hotel - no two days are ever the same!

Based at The Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Tony Marrinan is Cluster General Manager for the Hilton group of hotels across Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang.

His first experience of working in China was at Sanya before moving to Vietnam. The opportunity to be General Manager at Dalian's Conrad Hilton Hotel brought him back to China. He was then offered the Beijing job - a great opportunity for him to be based here in the capital.

Tony's present hotel is very close to Capital Airport Terminal 3 - Bruce recalls the days of the terminal's construction just before the Olympics - of the speed it was completed and of the huge size of the labour force working on it. It is an amazing example of what can be done, on time although the airport now is working close to capacity. Tony talks of the second major airport presently under construction southwest of the city.

Tony goes on to explain what his job actually involves. Running a hotel, particularly at a busy airport means no two days are ever the same! He explains some of the differences managing an airport hotel compared to city centre.

He goes on to talk of changes he has seen in the hotel industry within China and how groups such as Hilton are undergoing considerable expansion. This is creating considerable career opportunities for talented young people.