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Perhaps unkindly, the stereotypical image of Germans has tended to be people who are blond and humorless. But not so Thomas Mueller.
From 9am to 5pm, the 60-year-old is the serious and efficient general manager of Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel (previously known as the Sheraton Grand Shanghai Tai Ping Yang Hotel) driving the day-to-day operation of the hotel.
His responsibilities include strategic management, marketing, budgeting, financial analysis, meeting with guests and associates and set-up checks.
"My daily transport is the elevator. It takes me from floor to floor in the hotel," Mueller jokes.
But when the work day is done, it is a different story. The German removes his suit and tie and pulls on sports shoes and casual gear - either to work up a sweat in the gym or go exploring Shanghai on his beloved motorcycle with sidecar, a made-in-China Changjiang replica of a 1938 World War II 750cc BMW.
Mueller, who prefers to call himself a "global citizen," has a long association with the city, China and Asia stretching back more than 20 years.
"I love to meet new people, travel and work in different countries and enjoy a luxury lifestyle. The hotel business allows me to do all that and get paid for it," he says.
With more than 35 years of experience in the hotel industry with the world's biggest hotel chains - Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton - Mueller has enjoyed a stellar career. He started with Sheraton in 1982 as director of food and beverage in the Sheraton Hong Kong. It was his first taste of China and the place where he also met his Shanghai-born, Canadian-educated wife Barbara.
Three years later he was a member of the takeover task force crew of the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing, then in 1987, Mueller was appointed manager of Shanghai's Hua Ting Sheraton Hotel, the city's first five-star hotel.
Two years later he was promoted to general manager of the Sheraton Alice Springs Hotel in central Australia, and later GM of hotels in Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and in Sydney.
Mueller then returned to China and following stints at the Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley and Four Points Sheraton Pudong, he moved into his current role at the Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel earlier this year.
"I honestly haven't had any problems living or working here because I am quite familiar with the culture," Mueller says. But he admits some funny things happened in his early days.
"Back then, I remember, a Western chef wanted to have 'fresh chicken.' But when the 200 or so arrived, he told the receiver to 'put them into the freezer.'
"Guess what? When he went to freezer later, he had formerly live fresh chickens, feathers and all, everywhere in the cold room. We had to extract them with pick axes and hot water," he says.
When he left for Australia, Mueller's memories of Shanghai were of gray buildings and transport problems. "It has turned into a fantastic, vibrant, world-class city unlike any other I have ever worked in," he says. "The Chinese are learning and developing so fast. It's mind-boggling."
Though busy at work, Mueller says he tries to finish everything on his desk every day. Busy work and an easy life is his credo.
"I am lucky to work with excellent people, so I can take off on weekends," he says. "I guess I'm not a typical German, probably a result of having drifted around the world for so many years. "
Mueller has a house in Brisbane, Australia, which he and his wife will eventually occupy. But he is enjoying his working life and has no plans to retire soon. "I am very active, have lots of energy and creativity, so I don't see the point (of retiring). Right now the house is just locked up and waiting for us," he says with a smile. |
