Gaurav Wattal
General Manager, Melbourne Marriott Hotel
墨尔本万豪酒店总经理

Gaurav Wattal grew up in a military family where his grandfather was in the navy whereas his father was in the army. He initially wanted to follow in their footsteps, but later on decided to follow his passion instead and joined the hospitality industry.

When asked how he started his journey with Marriot, he said: “I was exposed to the hotel industry at a very young age and with a F&B background, I quickly flew to Australia and met with the General Manager of Sydney Harbour Marriott when there was a position looking for someone to reposition their food and beverage outlets.” He then added: “I have always dreamt to work with an international brand and Marriott was the first choice with its stellar reputation.” It took only 4 years before Guarav was given the ultimate hotelier’s dream of being trusted the keys to his own hotel. It was one of the most exciting moments in his professional journey as he was not only assigned the new General Manager of the Melbourne Marriott Hotel, but it also showed how he had received recognition and trust from the YTL Hotels Group.

“It is certainly a big job as I am accountable and responsible for the wellbeing of all stakeholders including the owner and the brand. It is important to remember that the buck stops with me and my decision will impact the business,” emphasized Gaurav. Although being the new kid on the block, but this new general manager is confident that he is a force not to be taken lightly. Gaurav has worked for 11 different hotels and opened 17 restaurants and bars.

Taking up such an important job at the same time the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic was definitely another unforgettable moment in his career. The pandemic has hit the world by surprise and created an unprecedented impact that has brought the travel industry to its knees. As John Maxwell said: “The pessimist complaints about the wind; The optimist expects it to charge; The leader adjusts the sail.” Gaurav described this unfortunate happening as “One of those crazy movies with global pandemic themes.” “The immediate cause of action is to evaluate our business to see what the most efficient way is of operating and to ensure our guests and associates are safe and healthy in this new world order,” Gaurav said.

“Have the right attitude whatever you may be facing, take on your fears and learn from your mistakes.”

When it comes to his principle in life, Gaurav said: “Have the right attitude whatever you may be facing, take on your fears and learn from your mistakes.” He also added: “Things may be tough or easy, but nothing clears your mind and gives you a sense of freedom and exhilaration like riding a bike!” This obsession of Gaurav’s is exactly like his Harley Davison’s slogan which is ‘Screw It, Let’s Ride.”

“事情可能很艰难或许
很容易，但是没有什么
能像骑车一样让头脑清醒、
带来自由和振奋的感觉。”

Gaurav Wattal成长于军人家庭，祖父曾是海军，父亲是现役军人，最初他想投军，但最后决定追随自己内心的热情，往酒店业挑战。被问及在万豪的起点时表示，“我很年轻的时候就接触过酒店业，并且拥有餐饮业相关背景，当时得知他们的餐饮部有职位空缺时，我立刻飞往澳大利亚会见悉尼港环形码头万豪酒店的总经理。”他补充说：“在国际品牌就业是我梦寐以求的事，而享誉全球的万豪是我的首选。”Gaurav只花了4年的时间就实现了酒店业者的最终梦想，即被委托管理酒店。成为墨尔本万豪酒店新总经理不仅是他职业生涯中最激动人心的时刻，也是杨忠礼集团酒店集团对他的的认可和信任。
“当然这是一项艰巨的工作，我必需对所有利益相关者包括所有者和品牌负起相关的职责和责任。要谨记以身作则，责无旁贷，我的决定会影响的公司营运。” Gaurav强调。尽管这新手刚上路，但这位新任总经理有信心，因为他曾为11家不同的酒店工作，开设了17家餐厅和酒吧，实力不容小觑。

接受最高职位的同时却遭遇全世界最严重的危机打击，这绝对是他永远不会忘记的另一刻。新冠肺炎肆虐蔓延全球令人震惊，并产生了前所未有的影响，使旅游业一蹶不振。Gaurav形容现这不幸的情况有如“那些具有全球流行病主题的疯狂电影之一”，引用领导学专家约翰·麦斯威尔的一句话“悲观主义者抱怨刮风，乐观主义者期待风向转变，领导者调整风帆”，Gaurav说：“我们会直面评估业务状况调整运营方式，并确保我们的顾客和员工在这个世界的新形态中安全健康。”

谈到生活的信念，Gaurav直接了当表示：“无论面对什么事，都要保持正确的态度、面对恐惧、从错误中吸取教训。”并补充说：“事情可能很艰难或许很容易，但是没有什么能像骑车一样让头脑清醒、带来自由和振奋的感觉。”这份执着就像哈雷戴维森(Harley Davidson)的标语“去他的！我们一起骑”。

Wendy Scully Millinery
Milliner/ Hat Maker
帽子设计师

There is nothing mad about hatter, Wendy Scully as she’s not just a one-dimensional hat designer and creator. In fact, the breadth of her multi-talents has her wearing many hats, both literally and figuratively.

Trained in art ceramics and textiles, sculpting and crocheting, jewellery making and even Batik art, there isn’t anything that Scully cannot do.

As a result, her business and workshop, Wendy Scully Millinery on Collins Street in Melbourne, is a one woman show where she’s busy creating, sewing and putting together up to 300 hats a year for all occasions – the yearly Melbourne Cup race, weddings, funerals, fashion shows and the odd fancy-dress party.

“I’m probably a mad hatter but my profession allows me to be expressive and artistic in a functional way,” says Scully. Her collections are one of a kind with no traces of duplicates.

What makes Scully’s designs exceptionally unique is that she creates her own hat blocks which are the foundations for hat making. She also collects various French and Russian vintage materials that will become essential adornments for her hats that gives each of them a distinct look and style.

“As I’m a sculptor with a textile artist background, I create blocks, dye feathers and create embroideries for the cloths and materials which are all natural.”

Fortunately for Scully, she considers her business a favourite pastime. After teaching for 35 years in two international schools in Singapore, she threw in the towel and wanted to pursue her real passion. She returned to Melbourne 10 years ago with her husband who worked in a corporate law firm in Singapore.

Scully seems exasperated by the high volume of mass designer hats sold for varying prices while disregarding quality and designer integrity.

“True Australian hat designers like myself make their own hats from scratch and it’s a slow but very rewarding process because we’re creating a work of art. You’d be surprised to know that some overseas designers mass produce their pieces (even the big names), for the fraction of the price. But most people would rather buy them because they’re available faster, they’re cheaper and are marketed well.

“We take 4-6 weeks to prepare and create your hat, but it’s worthwhile because of the level of detail and personalisation that adorns and completes it.”

When it comes to wearing hats, that too is an art.

“Wear it slightly over the eyes, let it tilt to the left, right, forward but never backwards”

Regardless the shape of one’s face or how the hat is worn, Scully believes that hats should be light and elegant where it must not feel uncomfortable or weighty.

“You shouldn’t feel like you have anything on”.

To see Scully’s full designer collection, go to http://www.wendyscully.com.

纵然并非疯狂帽匠，但是Wendy Scully不仅仅是一个切面维度的帽子设计师和创作者。事实上，多项才能让她可以尽情身兼数职，单从字面或者象征意义上的解释来说：她戴着多顶帽子(多才多艺)。

无论是在陶瓷艺术、纺织品、雕刻，钩编到珠宝制作，即使是蜡染艺术，完全难不倒Wendy Scully，整体训练有素。

而作为业绩回报，她的公司兼工作室-位于墨尔本柯林斯街的Wendy Scully Millinery，这是一个女人的繁忙战场，她每年为各种场合和需求创作、缝纫和整理300顶帽子，包括一年一度的墨尔本杯赛会、婚礼、葬礼，时装表演和稀奇古怪的化妆舞会。

“我可能真的是疯狂帽匠，但我的专业让我可以更功能性的表达和艺术化。”她的收藏品展示了独特风格，并且毫无重复的痕迹。

Wendy Scully设计自成一派，她创作属于自己的帽子模块，这也是帽子制作工艺的基础。她还收集了各种法国和俄罗斯的复古原材料，这些材料将成为她的帽子必不可少的装饰点缀，展现每个人独一无二的外观和气质。

“我是个拥有纺织工艺背景的雕塑家，我创作模块，包括染色羽毛和刺绣都是倾向于使用天然原材料。”

对Wendy Scully来说，最幸运的是：她做着真正热爱的工作营生。曾经她在新加坡两所国际学校从事了35年的教职生涯，后来她决定放弃，跟随内心激情的方向。10年前，她与在新加坡一家法律事务所工作的丈夫回到了墨尔本。

对于大量充斥市面的所谓设计师帽子，Wendy Scully似乎觉得有点反感，这些价格不一的产品，直接忽视了设计的质量和完整性。

“真正的澳大利亚帽子设计师-像我这样从头开始制作帽子，这是相当缓慢但不断收获的过程，因为我们是在创作一个艺术作品。不过，让人意想不到的是，一些海外设计师以极低的价格批量生产作品(即使是大牌设计师)，但大多数人更愿意购买，因为速度更快、性价比高，而且营销做得好。”

“我们需要4-6周的时间准备和创作你的帽子，但它非常值得，因为讲究细节和个性化装饰的完善水平。”

而谈到戴帽子，原来那也是一门艺术。“戴在眼睛上方一点，让它向左、向右甚至向前倾斜，但绝不能向后。”无论一个人的脸型如何，帽子是怎么戴的，她认为帽子是轻盈而优雅的，并非令人感觉不舒服抑或沉重。“你不应该觉得有异样。”

如有兴趣观赏Wendy Scully全部设计系列，请浏览http://www.wendyscully.com。