On March 10, Bvlgari Hotel Beijing announced the appointment of hospitality industry veteran Anthony Smekens as its new General Manager. He will assume full responsibility for the daily operations and management of the hotel. He brings with him extensive experience from his most recent roles as the General Manager at Bvlgari Resort Bali.
Belgian-born Anthony, who recently completed his first marathon in under four hours, holds an MBA in Hospitality Administration from EHL in Lausanne, along with a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Hotel Management and Tourism.
An experienced hotelier, he began his career in 2006 with various managerial positions at the luxury Hotel Arts Barcelona. His career has taken him around the world, including luxury hotels and resorts in Barcelona, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Beijing, Singapore, Bali and more.
Anthony is deeply familiar with Bvlgari Hotel Beijing, having played an instrumental role during its pre-opening phase as the fourth property in the brand’s global portfolio and the first Bvlgari hotel in China, when he served as Director of Operations for Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts from 2017 to 2018.
He brings his extensive hospitality insights to his new position and emphasizes that providing an unforgettable guest experience is the driving force behind everything he undertakes in his role. He is dedicated to elevating the guest’s experience with Bvlgari brand synergy.
Within the competitive luxury hospitality landscape, he has a proven track record of successfully guiding teams in improving guest’s satisfaction which also leads to proven business outcomes.
“At the heart of every stay is an unforgettable guest experience. True success is not only defined by exquisite design or luxury amenities, but by the emotions we create – moments of warmth, anticipation and effortless perfection,” said Anthony. “It is a true honor for me to take on this role, as Bvlgari Hotel Beijing holds a special place in my heart. I had the privilege of witnessing its inception, assembling the team and leading its launch in 2017. I remain deeply committed to upholding Bvlgari’s legacy of timeless elegance, unparalleled hospitality and the contemporary Italian art of living.”
The Bvlgari Hotel Beijing is the 4th gem of the Jeweler’s Bvlgari Hotel & Resort collection. Conceived of as an urban resort that seamlessly blends timeless Italian elegance with the modern energy of Beijing. Designed by renowned Italian architectural firm ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, Bvlgari Hotel Beijing is an embodiment of understated luxury with sleek interiors, bespoke furnishings and exquisite craftsmanship. The hotel is an integral part of Genesis Beijing, created as a fusion of art and nature nestled within the city’s prestigious Embassy District.
The hotel is surrounded by an oasis of tranquillity which balances art and nature, created by acclaimed Swiss landscape architect Enzo Enea, and features sculpted gardens with sweeping views of the serene Liangma River. Blending classical Italian style with elegant traditional Chinese landscape architecture, the gardens complement the hotel’s remarkable design narratives, deeply infused with the spirit of Bvlgari aesthetic in the heart of Beijing.
[All images are courtesy of Bvlgari Hotel Beijing]
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