Managerial roles of hotel pre-opening teams in developing countries such as China

This article focuses on the study of different criteria for being a departmental head in hotel pre-opening projects in China. As research in this field is relatively rare, the writer attempts to ascertain some distinct managerial roles which are not found in day-to-day hotel operations. Various positions including General Manager, Financial Controller, Chief Engineer, Personnel and Training Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, as well as Executive Housekeeper, are examined in this study. Some common attributes are raised in the final parts. Primary data are derived from the writer's on-the-job observations in several hotel pre-opening projects.