As international hotel chains localize their management in China, there are still very few females at the very top. At least, they are still rare enough to hit the headlines, as Liu Weifeng and Li Fusheng find out.

Despite the rapid expansion of international hotel groups in China, the hospitality industry is still a world with few female general managers. One exception is within the ranks of the Marriott hotel group.

The hotel chain from the United States has distinguished itself by having three Chinese ladies in Beijing alone.

Peng Zhuangsheng (left), Pan Xiaoying (middle) and Wang Dong are the three general managers for Marriott hotels in Beijing. Provided to China Daily

Pan Xiaoying heads the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. Peng Zhuangsheng is at the helm of the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall, and Wang Dong is the boss at Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast.

All three ladies say the Marriott group adopts a "genderless" approach when it comes to promotion.

"I don't think we girls are either privileged or underprivileged when the group is assessing our performance," says Pan.

Her words are echoed by Peng, who adds that everyone at the Marriott has opportunities as long as he or she is doing a good job regardless of gender, color and region.

All three ladies held different posts before they were promoted to head their respective hotels.

Pan was in charge of rooms. Peng was a sales manager. And Wang had extensive experience in the finance department.

Although they were on different paths, their roads did converge at one point. They are all loyally committed to the brand, and all have worked in the group for at least 15 years - a rare achievement in an industry which has recorded explosive growth in the last two decades in the country, generating tempting offers from other hotels eager to tap on experience.

"Loyalty is based on several things, and one important factor is whether the job makes me happy, assured and motivated," says Wang.

"Marriott makes us feel trusted and it offers opportunities that come one after another."

Peng says she would never have thought of becoming a general manager if not for encouragement from her boss.

It is all part of Marriott's spirit to serve, Pan says.

"The brand is always putting people first as it believes if you treat employees well they will treat guests well. That's what I agree with and advocate, and there is no reason for me to leave," she says. "Someone once asked if I would ever consider changing jobs. I said I would change my job if I became unhappy, but that has never happened."

Being loyal is important, they tell those working in the hotel industry.

"You have got to be patient if you want to achieve something. It is very clear that those who make it to the top are those who do not quit halfway," says Peng. She feels sorry that many of her colleagues gave up when they were almost within sight of their goals.

When it comes to family and work, Wang says striking a healthy balance is easier than many would imagine. She lets family members know what she is busy with when she has to put in extra time at work.

"We cherish the time when we are together and that improves our relationship," says Wang.

Pan says she always finds time to relax as she believes that improving efficiency during her 10-hour or so workday is key. In fact, she even has time to learn belly dancing.

"You should quit a job if you don't love it. Only when you have love for the job will it be fun," says Pan, who firmly believes innovation is of utmost importance.

In addition to her belly dancing, Pan loves traveling, music and "all that is beautiful". And when she cannot travel, she reads books.

Reading is also what the other two women enjoy in their spare time.

"I read a lot," says Peng, who is frequently inspired by what she reads.

For Wang, books do more than impart knowledge.

"Everyone has hard times and indeed friends are important, but reading also plays a role in tiding me over rough periods," she says.

Contact the writers through liuweifeng@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/24/2014 page13)