Grand Hotel chairman Lee Chien-jung (李建榮) yesterday said that he is ready to hand over the reins to a new chairman after next month’s board of directors meeting, because he has achieved what he was commissioned to do at the nation’s first international hotel.
Lee’s term is not scheduled to end until June 30 next year, but he said that he had told the Ministry of Transportation and Communications that he wanted to step down early and met with Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) on Friday last week to discuss the matter.
The ministry owns the hotel.
His resignation would take place at the end of next month, when the hotel’s board of directors is to meet to pick new directors to fill vacant seats.
Lee said in a statement that he was grateful for the past five years, in which he worked with the hotel’s board and employees to boost competitiveness.
The hotel’s revenue in the first half of this year rose NT$10 million (US$316,275) from last year’s overall revenue, Lee said, adding that its clientele was split about 50-50 between group tours and individual traveleres.
He said he helped reduce the hotel’s personnel costs from 50.72 percent of total expenditures in 2011 to 44.78 percent as of last month.
Renovations of the Taipei Grand Hotel’s rooms, restaurants and kitchen were also completed on his watch, he said.
The Taipei Grand Hotel has been profitable under his leadership, while the Kaohsiung Grand Hotel has reduced its losses by a yearly average of NT$10 million over the past five years, he said.
The Taipei Grand Hotel’s image and brand was reshaped by the opening of the Yuanshan Museum inside the hotel, Lee said, adding that he hoped his successor would help the hotel pursue further development and that customers will continue to support the hotel.
The hotel is run by the Duen-Mou Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
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