<Grand Hotels> Feature Interview with Nash Qureshi,General Manager  of The Eton Hotel Shanghai


"Innovation is the soul of a nation's progress." Without it, human civilization wouldn't have been moving forward, nor can a business stay competitive for long. Innovation is the key to the success of a hotel in getting a bigger slice of the market and standing out from its competitors. How does Nash Qureshi look at innovation, then? In the Presidential Suite which had accommodated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, we met with the general manager of The Eton Hotel Shanghai, who elaborated on the various original and creative ideas — the "atrium" on each two floors and complimentary shuttle bus service in Lu Jia Zhui area to name a few — which had been introduced to The Eton by himself and his innovative, looking forward team members. 


Mr. Qureshi boasts a wealth of experience acquired over the past thirty years, during which he had worked with hotel companies like InterContinental, Hilton and Hyatt International, being positioned in hotels in Middle East, North America and Europe as well as China. His is an eye-catching resume which, however, Qureshi thinks little of. "One third of my near three-decade career has been spent in working out a way to steer hotels in different countries and with a diversity of cultures and customs out of various difficult situations. I've faced various challenges, which asked for different solutions. I often set a deadline, asking myself for how long I can bring the hotel back to the right track. My every success adds to my confidence, and I will tell myself, 'You did it!' at my tenth success. So far I have been succeeded eight times," he said. Nothing is more challenging and exciting for Mr. Qureshi than challenge himself. With luxury hotels mushrooming in Shanghai before the World Expo 2010, the general manager is now facing the problem of market saturation. 


Mr. Qureshi is often heard saying, "If you don't put your heart in what you do, you are not going to achieve it." This is one of his management concepts. When you walk around the lobby or along the corridor, when you're seated in one of the restaurants, when you push open the door and step into your room, does it occur to you that the sparks of innovations which delight you so much are the creations of a diligent team who have spent days and nights brainstorming and have revised who knows how many times before the plans are eventually put into practice? 


Focusing on people is another management concept practiced by the general manager. With so many international hotel brands competing in Shanghai, the hospitality industry is in need of large numbers of capable employees who are expected to have completed professional trainings before they enter the hotel trade. Therefore, reform in hotel schools becomes a necessity. Facing the shortages of skilled management-level staff in hotels, Mr. Qureshi suggest to launch "hotel operation" major in local universities so that well trained professionals can be continuously fed to hotels like fresh blood. 


The Eton, unwilling to follow others, broke the design rules to come up with an unconventional plan which is intended to enhance the feel of spaciousness. With the atrium on each 2^nd floor, guests can avoid the discomfort of receiving visitors in their own room, as well as the extra cost of entertaining the latter in the lobby lounge or café. To maximize Value for Money, Eton offers complimentary shuttle bus service to Lu Jia Zhui, among other things. Every morning, the complimentary shuttle bus service set out from the hotel at 8:00am and 8:30am sharp, sending business travelers to nearby all the major office building locations in Pudong, such as Standard Charter Bank Building, HSBC Building, Bank of China Tower, Jinmao Tower and Tomson International Finance Building. Guests can get the timetable at the Concierge Department. Don't be surprised if you run across Mr. Qureshi at the lobby, since the general manager and his team members would approach the guests and chat with them to learn about their needs and opinions. It is also a way to show the hotel's care and attentiveness. Such special services differentiate the Eton from other Hotels.


As well as creative innovations, central location, comprehensive facilities and services a notch or two higher in quality are the key factors to the success of The Eton Hotel Shanghai, invested and managed by the Philippines-based Eton Group. Ideally located in the heart of Lujiazui finance and trade zone in Pudong, the hotel is in proximity to the Site of World Expo 2010. Its central location enables guests to reach The Bund within minutes; Yu Garden, Xintiandi, Shanghai New International Expo Center and other popular sites of interest are also within a 10 to 20 minute drive range.


The Eton Hotel Shanghai offers a total of 460 tastefully-appointed rooms and suites which overlook the breathtaking views of the city or along the Huangpu River. Bathrooms show the artistic ingenuity of the designers, with separate bath and shower to meet customer needs. The unique and spacious atrium adds an extra dimension to the hotel, providing an ideal retreat for guests to meet and chat, thus avoiding the discomfort of receiving visitors in one's own room. A full range of facilities including the function rooms, business center, grand ballroom and the Executive Lounge are offered to cater for both the business and leisure travelers. 

Every hotel has its signature restaurant. In The Eton you will find Chicago Steakhouse, where you can taste authentic Australian steaks shipped directly to Shanghai. All the steaks are carefully prepared by dedicated chefs using traditional and contemporary cooking skills to achieve a taste beyond your expectation, served in a huge portion and consumed with one particular red wine from the wine cellar's wide selection of wines. Surrender slowly to the intoxicating power of the red wine, which is even redder under the crimson light, and relish the pleasant aftertaste of the tender steak. It's surely an experience to remember.


As the old saying goes, "No cross, no crown." Who could have known that The Eton Hotel Shanghai, now as rigorous as the rising sun and full of originality, was little known when it opened its doors a couple of years ago. Archimedes is said to have boasted: "Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world." One and a half years ago, Mr. Qureshi was an ambitious steersman new to his post who asked for a place to stand and a little time for him to realize his aspirations. He now is the soul of a hotel whose changes and innovative steps have been widely reported by various media, with reports published on the internet and newspaper. An obscure hotel which had neither cohesiveness nor culture 18 months ago, The Eton now provides a home away from home where you can't be insensible of its warmth and attentiveness. When the President of the Eton Group — an entrepreneur too experienced to be pleased — stayed at the hotel, he couldn't help but saying, "The Eton Hotel Shanghai is unrivaled." All this owes much to the dedication and outstanding performance of Nash Qureshi and his Management Team.


Though early 2009 is not cold, there is no sign of our getting over the economic gloom soon. As every cloud has a silver lining, a loss may turn out to be a gain, Mr. Qureshi said. He who has endured the hardships with patience is the first to embrace the morning sun. Instead of laying off employees, Mr. Qureshi chose to tide over the crisis with his entire staff, giving the latter intensive trainings in the hope of enhancing cohesiveness and loyalty. With the World Expo 2010 coming in a year's time, The Eton Hotel Shanghai strives to be the No. 1 choice for the estimated three million visitors, being conveniently located within a 10-minute driving distance to the World Expo Park. 


The Eton Group is both ambitious and forward-looking. In addition to The Eton Hotel Shanghai, the group has 5 other projects in Greater China, of which The Eton Place Dalian, Tung Kok Tau project in Shenzhen and The Eton Center Xiamen are currently under construction. Once completed, the three projects are expected to be the landmark buildings in their respective cities. The Eton Place Dalian and The Eton Center Xiamen are large complexes comprised of 5-star hotel, Grade-A office building, service apartments and shopping mall, offering comprehensive business functions to cater for its own guests as well as people in the neighborhood. They are also expected to boost the economy of Dalian and Xiamen, respectively. "Don't stop moving forward even in time of difficulties"has inspired every Eton staff. 


The interview came to an end, yet our excitement and enthusiasm were by no means on the wane. We couldn't help but admiring Nash Qureshi, a captain of great ability who has been steering the ship that is The Eton Hotel Shanghai through the recession. Every sailor diligently performs his or her duty, and every guest on board enjoys the trip tremendously. Mr. Qureshi is original, filling his ship with creative inspirations. He is also devoting, working days and nights in return for smiles of satisfaction. He stays calm even in time of extreme weather, steering his ship through the stormy waves, safe and sound. We sincerely wish him success. 


(The article and some pictures quoted from the 　<Grand Hotels> magazine）

The hotel offers a diversity of food options to cater to guests from different backgrounds. The five F&B outlets, overseen by an original and inventive German National Executive Sous Chef, will turn your every gastronomic dream into reality. With glass windows opening to a spectacular garden view, Super Bowl at the Lobby Level serves a variety of international food delights, including home-made pastries and ice-creams, for you and your companions to enjoy in a chic setting. The eclectic menu of Eton Café, located on the third floor, offers local delicacies as well as Asian and Western cuisine. Or you can pamper yourself with seafood, Cantonese cuisine and the best of other Chinese cuisines on offer at Yu Ting Chinese Restaurant (5/F) prepared by the master chef from Hongkong.