Rhombus thrives on delivering profitable hospitality ventures

Find out why The Rhombus portfolio stands out in the hotel management industry.

As a premier, owner-operated hospitality and consulting company, Rhombus International Hotels Group focuses on delivering a healthy return on investment, regardless of what type of hotel it operates and where the property is located in the world. Calvin Mak, the Founder and CEO of Rhombus, directs his energies on turning a hotel project into a fnancially viable business for the owners or investors, and a rewarding experience for his employees. He is not overly concerned with how many hotels can be taken under the group’s purview, and he is not obsessed with star ratings either, although many Rhombus properties have been publicly recognised and rewarded by the industry. A veteran in the hospitality industry with a track record of over 35 years, Hong Kong-born Mak points out that the group and its people must be able to have faith in any hotel venture they undertake to nurture and nourish from the beginning.

He believes there must be a meeting of minds between investors or owners, and the group and its employees. “We make sure the chemistry is right. That is important,’’ Mak emphasises. Rhombus Group’s track record overseas as well as in Hong Kong and mainland China, stands as a testimonial in itself. The group’s portfolio includes fve properties in Hong Kong, including Hotel Pennington by Rhombus in Causeway Bay, added in October 2013. It also manages Rhombus Fantasia Chengdu Hotel in Chengdu, China and Hotel Verta by Rhombus in London. In addition to the track record, Mak brings to a hospitality project experience in market segmentation analysis, targeted sales and marketing strategies, geographical analysis of customer services, and managing hospitality operations. He has shared his diverse knowledge and decades-long experience with more than 35 hotel projects worldwide from concept and design, to building and opening, and everything in between. Mak and Rhombus Group brings to the table a whole range of services including technical assistance and consulting, advisory and representation, management contract services, building and development analysis, branding, quality assurance, and sales and marketing.

The services offered depends on the needs of individual customers who engage the group for their hospitality ventures. Such depth of insight and expertise allows the group to earn the confdence and trust of hospitality venture investors and owners. “Some hotel owners want us to be the owner’s representatives,’’ Mak says. He adds that some “big hotel chains in China want to bring us in as their partners, especially over the last two years.’’And yet, Mak exercises prudence in considering mainland China hotel ventures. He notes the profusion of 5-star and even 6-star hotels in China – many which showcase projects in second and third-tier cities suffer from defcient transport infrastructure in the early stages. They are built largely because the land had been offered by city governments at reasonable rates and are meant to elevate the stature of those cities. Such projects, Mak says, will not work, adding that location, transport infrastructure, and the type of hotel are critical to the success of hotels in any city. In steering a hospitality project towards achieving a healthy bottom line, Mak says Rhombus is also mindful of challenges. Citing Hong Kong as an example, he says that since returning to the city from Canada, over the past nine-and-a-half years Rhombus has experienced the deadly SARS virus epidemic and the fnancial crisis. Through it all, Rhombus steered a steady course. “We have never asked our employees to take unpaid leave, never laid anyone off, and never cut any positions. We froze hiring instead. We multi-tasked and generated a healthy bottom line for our owners,’’ Mak recalls. Rhombus, he says, is committed to excellence in delivering a healthy return on investment. “Our job is to increase the yield.’’ To deliver top class services to guests, Mak selects the best people capable for the job, sometimes casting aside established conventions.

He recalls one such instance when he opted for a female general manager despite the initial scepticism of others. He also identifes the best attributes in individuals. “My philosophy is to pick everyone’s strong points and upgrade them. That becomes your strength.’’ Regardless of hotel ratings, Rhombus promises exceptional service to guests. At a 4-star property, Mak says, “we provide 5-star service’’.But to be able to consistently deliver service excellence, staff are encouraged to learn more and learn continuously. The career path is mapped out for those at management level, while others get the chance to learn, including cross-training at different hotels in the group.

Fast facts:
• Founded in North America, Rhombus International Hotels Group has more than 27 years experience in Canada, Europe, and Asia

• Regardless of the size or scope of a project, Rhombus makes a commitment to service excellence, while maximising profits and asset values

• Rhombus offers consolidated, realistic and practical turn-key packages for various development projects