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Rediscover luxury – C.T. Chen of Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei to make a difference

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(Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang)

Rediscover luxury – C.T. Chen to make difference

(Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang)

What does the word “luxury” mean to you? When it comes to hotel service, for some, a hotel with a luxury touch should be providing top-of-the-line hotel facilities, upscale restaurants and services, sometimes with a boutique feel that is shaped by a variety of precious Western traditional or contemporary artworks. At the Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei, a newly launched five-star hotel in Taiwan, that language is being spoken somewhat differently. Known as the first local hospitality brand offering luxury experiences beyond five stars in the country, Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei was officially launched in early April and soon generated buzz for its fine dining buffet and luxury interior. The hotel was built entirely of gorgeous creamy white marble with every detail being taken good care of. For example, its underground parking lot is decorated in bright colors and surrounded with hand painted walls created by a group of famous local artists featuring Taipei’s history and the city’s unique cultural landscapes. The journey of awe doesn’t stop here as you proceed forward to the dining areas, as the tabletop styling and plates are aesthetically pleasing. The hotel has worked with Japan's Narumi, which is known for its outstanding craftsmanship, to manufacture the brand-exclusive fine porcelain plates in patterns of Formosan sika deer and Taiwan Blue Magpie paintings, unique animal species on the island. What is more, the main lobby is five stories or 15 meter high, embraced by two glittering spiral staircases and a contemporary chandelier composed of 600 LED light bulbs, creating a magnificent ambiance blending classical and modern taste. (Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang) The hotel is lavishly decorated with artworks by local artists and cost over NT$10 billion to build. It is financially backed by prominent land developer and food supplier Mayfull Enterprise Co. After knowing the background of its co-founders, people usually raise questions about why hotel Chairman C.T. Chen, who is a successful real estate developer already but new as a hotelier, has chosen to build a hotel in the Dazhi area of Taipei City. Looking more like a humanistic scholar than a businessman, Chen explained to the reporter the rationale behind the creation of this magnificent hotel. Apart from job creations for locals and providing training to boost young people’s competitiveness, Chen said, he is hoping to incorporate the island’s local culture, fine arts, and literary humanism into the hotel to redefine people’s perception of luxury and fine art that has long been dominated by Western-style aestheticism in the field of hospitality in the country. Chen added that the hotel has worked with seven vocational schools to provide internships that enable students to progress successfully through their schooling to the workplace. He emphasized the importance of professional training to serve people in an appropriate manner: “You have to serve with a smile and to know the needs of your guests before them, then respond to their need in timely manner,” Chen said. The hotel is best known for its dining service with impeccable quality of food. “Fruit and vegetables taste best when eaten in season,” Chen said, “therefore we serve mostly seasonal greens and ship fresh seafood by air; of course, we have a wonderful team of chefs to bring guests a memorable dining experience.” (Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang) Speaking of the hotel’s remarkable art collections, Chen said that the co-founders of this hotel have been supporters of local art events and emerging artists. “In this hotel, you can spot the oil paintings by Chen Cheng-po, one of the most iconic figures in Taiwanese art history, and Chinese shui-mo (ink and wash) paintings by another famous local female artist, Chang Tsui Jung," Chen said. Whilst Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei is a new hotel, it is run by hospitality management veterans and led by an idealist pledging to make the hotel brand name known to the world with its upscale facilities and services, aiming to refresh the language of luxury, and ultimately to make contributions to the local economy. C.T. Chen, Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei Chairman (Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang) The Mayfull Suit in Grand Mayfull Hotel (Taiwan News Photo/ Sophia Yang)