Raffles Beijing Hotel is a five-star establishment using two of four blocks of Beijing Hotel - the capital's oldest hotel, completed near the city center in 1915. It was reopened in 2006 under the Raffles brand.

The establishment has been a magnate for important guests and political events.

Last year's average occupancy rate hovered around 70 percent until October. But things became exceptionally quiet with the onset of the economic downturn in the third week of November 2008.

But Mahmood still considers 2008 "an excellent year" overall.

TTG Travel Awards named Raffles as the top luxury hotel last year, and high-end American magazine Conde Nast Traveler ranked the Beijing branch among the world's 100 best.

Business started recovering this April. Since then, Raffles Beijing's rev par (revenue per available room) has ranked first or second compared to other international luxury brands, Mahmood says. The occupancy rate has remained higher than 60 percent, but is still 30 percent lower than it was at same time last year.

While the hotel traditionally attracted American and European clientele, it is now luring more customers from local and regional markets - something the GM identifies as "a different challenge".

Mahmood was born in India but later became an Australian citizen. He received his education in India and the UK. His first hotel GM post was at Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2003. Before that, he held operational and F&B positions.

Mahmood's first degree was in accounting, because that was what his father had wanted him to go into.

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But he says he has thoroughly enjoyed life as an hotelier, because he can meet so many people and travel the world. But he believes his background in finance helps him in this job, because "revenue and profits are the No 1 recognition of high-level service".

During the current financial downturn, he says, it is important to increase revenue, while managing expenses without sacrificing or compromising the guest experience. And it is important for a GM to motivate his colleagues, which improves service and in turn boosts guest satisfaction and hotel occupancy.

Raffles offers the largest hotel rooms in town, ranging from 50 sq m to 800 sq m. The GM says the hotel's advantages include location, sense of history and quality of service.

Beijing is saturated with luxury hotels, and the economic downturn has hit the industry hard.

But Mahmood, who calls himself an "eternal optimist", predicts 2010 will be a good year.

"The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai will see guest flow into Beijing," he says.

"And high-end businesspeople, as well as leisure travelers, will come back."

A busy workday for Mahmood starts at 7:30 am, when he greets guests in the lobby. He spends from 5-7:30 pm meeting guests in the lobby and at the hotel's various bars and restaurants, and clocks out around 8 pm.

"The hotel business is a very trying business," the 47-year-old says.

"It's very important to have an understanding partner."

He is thankful for his wife's support. Although he is often busy on weekends, he tries to make time for his wife, their 8-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

Mahmood says Raffles Beijing will focus on awareness, service and "hardware" to maintain its position as a leading luxury brand name in Beijing and China.

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