Passion for people

Malaysian-Chinese Charlie Dang believes one should get into the hotel business only if one has a passion for meeting people.

"Hoteliers live a very busy life," says the warm and energetic 45-year-old, general manager of the Westin Beijing Financial Street.

Dang entered the hotel business at 21. His first assignment as a GM was at Xi'an Sheraton, when he was 34. In 2005, he came to Beijing and saw Westin through the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also area managing director of northern China for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts of nine internationally renowned brands.