Hal Philp started his professional career with Starwood 19 years ago in his native Queensland in Australia.
He has crossed the world with the company, with stints in Auckland and Sydney interspersed, with positions at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh and St Regis properties in Shanghai and Doha.
Welcome back to Australia and congratulations on the successful opening of the Sheraton Melbourne.
Thank you, it has been a while since we had an opening for Starwood Down Under. Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is the newest addition to Starwood’s portfolio of 11 properties in Australia under four of its brands: Sheraton, Westin and Four Points by Sheraton.
It is exciting for the company, the staff and, of course, for me to lead the opening team.
After Europe, Asia and the Middle East, is it good to be on home ground again?
Absolutely. We enjoyed our time abroad – we made a lot of friends and learned much about different cultures, but we now appreciate what Australia can offer to our young family. We are very happy to be back in Australia and to be in Melbourne, an exciting city with a terrific lifestyle. But even more exciting is that I had the opportunity to open a Starwood property in my home country.
Typically, like many hoteliers, you had quite a tour, zigzagging the world from your sunny home state Queensland in Australia to a slightly cooler Edinburgh, all the way to New Zealand, Sydney, Shanghai, Doha and now Melbourne.
Indeed! I tell our staff that there are plenty of opportunities for the taking, not only at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, but in the hospitality industry in general. They have to pick the opportunity, have to be passionate and run with it. They can work, learn and grow, I started 19 years ago as an F&B attendant, and now I am the opening GM of the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel.
It’s a challenging life, professionally and personally. What has kept you going?
They were indeed challenges, but each of them was unique in its own way. Each hotel has a personality and has its own way of operation that intrigued me. I learned and gained experience, and at the same time we made friends, appreciated different cultures and got used to cold and hot climates. Well, maybe it’s an exaggeration to claim that I got used to cold climates….
You were part of the opening team for St. Regis in Doha and now the opening General Manager for the Sheraton Melbourne. They are tough assignments, but I guess unique experiences too. What stands out?
I very much enjoy the openings. They include some challenging times and demand you full attention, but I enjoy the opportunity to create a good product with a unique personality. Sheraton Melbourne Hotel provides travellers and locals alike with a stylish, comfortable and social atmosphere where they can relax and enjoy the highly-personalised service, signature features and thoughtful amenities which have become synonymous with this globally successful brand. I like giving attention to details which, after all, gives its own stamp and signature to any new property. Actually, you create a kind of a legacy which can last for a long time, and often you keep an on-going interest and a passion for that hotel.
To put together a totally new and yet experienced crew is never easy. Was it a problem to recruit a good opening team?
I guess to assemble a new team is always challenging, but at the same time it is very rewarding to find the right people, train them and give them an opportunity to shine and excel in their own way.
Fortunately, we had a great response from staff inside the company and from young professionals nationally and even from abroad. I am proud of our team here. When this varied group of people started working as a team and providing positive guest experiences, that was a fantastic feeling and a great satisfaction for me. It is a unique opportunity for staff members to be part of an opening team – they learn to focus on an immediate goal, experience the result and see the business grow. There will only ever be one opening team for this hotel.
I noticed it is all hands on deck – your executive chef is cooking breakfast and your director of sales is clearing tables. Very impressive indeed!
It is part of our philosophy that everyone assists whenever it is needed; after all we are only a small team. It also creates closer working relationships between departments and it breaks down traditional barriers which is essential in the busy opening phase. It also keeps the management team closer to the guests’ experiences – they get to know their expectations and can measure our actual performance. That is vitally important feedback to recognise any adjustments we have to make to the operation ensuring we deliver a warm and connected experience each time.
It’s only been two month since the opening of the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel, but it was a long time since the last major hotel opened in Melbourne. How was the hotel received?
The opening of Sheraton Melbourne Hotel marks the Sheraton brand’s return to Melbourne after a nine year absence. With 174 guest rooms, including 11 Terrace Suites and our signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, the Sheraton gives the active Melbourne market with its sport, art and cultural events an ideal location for a restful stay. Therefore, we didn’t need a long introduction time – indeed most of the event planners in the city welcomed us with open arms. We actually exceeded our budget in the first two months and the forward bookings look very promising too. Of course, it helps to be the second Starwood property in town along with our sibling, The Westin.
We look forward to be part of the vibrant city of Melbourne and to provide memorable experiences for our visitors where ever they come from.
About the author
Fritz Gubler is the President of eHotelier. He has many years of experience across the globe in a wide range of roles in the hospitality industry. Read more about his background in the About Us section of eHotelier.
