When Julian Wipper stepped into his role as General Manager of New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel in January 2022, it was more than a career milestone; it was a personal homecoming.

Having spent his earlier years in Hong Kong, Julian has found the city to hold special meaning for him. It was where his younger son Alex was born, and where many of his most impactful professional experiences took shape. “Being back in Hong Kong felt like returning to the place I truly call “home away from home” he shares. “This city’s energy, resilience, and vibrancy have always inspired me, and to come back during one of the most challenging periods for the hospitality industry felt purposeful.”

At the early age of six, his passion for hospitality was solidified through early exposure to part-time jobs during his school years. His career started in 1997 in Cologne, Germany, and across the globe from Washington D.C. to London’s finest luxury hotels, then on to Asia with roles in Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and earlier stints in Hong Kong.

“Hospitality, at its core, is about people,” Julian reflects. “It’s about creating moments that matter, cultivating environments where guests and colleagues feel genuinely seen and valued.”

Starting in a Storm: Leadership during a Pandemic

Julian’s first day on the job was unlike any other. Due to quarantine regulations, he spent his first two weeks in isolation, meeting his new team remotely and learning about the hotel virtually.

“Not long after I started, the third wave of COVID-19 hit Hong Kong. To ensure the ultimate care towards the well-being and safety of our colleagues and guests was our top priority. That period tested us all. But through these challenging times, it reminded me of why I love this industry, as hospitality is about people.”

Rather than merely endure the crisis, Julian inspired the team to innovate and adapt. “Every situation comes with opportunities, and we did not just want to survive, but we invented to emerge stronger- from strategy to product offers to the way we engaged with our colleagues to show our gratefulness and appreciation. Until today, our team's resilience and commitment during the pandemic takes my breath away.” 

He shared that one of his most memorable moments was in 2023 when l Hong Kong’s borders reopened, "I stood in the lobby welcoming back overseas guests, it was emotional. It reminded me how much we missed these simple interactions, to never take things for granted, as simple as they might appear, and to appreciate those moments even more.

Commercially, the hotel achieved its highest revenue since opening in both 2023 and 2024—a testament to the team’s competitive spirit, its’ commitment and the philosophy of continuous improvement. Among the initiatives was the transformation of a previously underutilised space into a world-class wine cellar Vin et Vin, within the newly renovated The Lounge, housing over 1,000 labels and redefining wine experiences in the city.

“With this concept, we have not only created a one-of-its-kind venue in Hong Kong and even in Southeast Asia but challenged existing industry-norms. I can confidently say, that The Lounge and Vin et Vin remains “talk-of-the-town” within the industry and the local market.

What makes The Lounge and Vin et Vin truly exceptional is its philosophy to democratise access to fine wines not only for enjoyment in the hotel, but also as part of a retail strategy with an outstanding team of sommeliers being an important key pillar for the uniqueness.

More than just a venue, The Lounge and Vin et Vin guides guests through immersive wine journeys, pairing sessions, and curated events that reflect sophistication and approachability. The concept has received glowing recognition from industry peers and local connoisseurs, quickly becoming a new destination within Hong Kong’s dining and hospitality scene.

This bold venture arrived when many F&B businesses grappled with post-pandemic recovery. Yet, The Lounge and Vin et Vin delivered a strong commercial performance and demonstrated that with the right team, innovation can flourish even in the most challenging environments.

Julian credits the hotels’ success to the tremendous foresight and support from the ownership and continuous reinvestment. Even during the pandemic, the hotel underwent extensive upgrades from rooms and suites to the club lounge and event spaces.

“But what truly sets us apart is our team,” Julian says. “It all comes back to the wonderful group of people I have the privilege to lead. We have a deep-grounded culture of caring for our colleagues and while we are all here to maximise performance and results, we do so in a sustainable way and never leave out opportunities to share our appreciation with them”.

“Many of our team members have been here for decades. Their loyalty, passion, and service mindset are the heart of who we are.”

A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in People and Performance

Julian’s leadership style draws inspiration from his beginnings and lifelong involvement in sports, particularly football and tennis.

“High performance comes from creation of unity, building of a competitive spirit, pursuing of joined goals, ownership, accountability and celebrating successes I want to create an environment where people feel empowered to take initiative, innovate, and grow. For me, success in our industry is all about a joined vision and maintaining and building achieving teams where people feel valued, inspired, and empowered to do their best. Those principles have been guiding me throughout my career, and I simply see myself as having the great privilege of being a custodian of our culture and history here while also initiating and leading transformation to achieve results together with our team. Any awards, accolades or financial results are simply byproducts of getting this culture right”.

He is also passionate about mentoring young hospitality professionals, remembering how crucial those early interactions were in shaping his journey. “Today’s talents have grown up differently, we need to lead with empathy and purpose. Our job is to excite them about the industry, support their development, and help them build fulfilling careers. That is our responsibility to the future of hospitality.”

When asked how he hoped to be remembered, Julian’s response was a humble one. “If my colleagues remember me as a leader who made drive for results enjoyable, made them feel good and proud of joined successes and who deeply cared about their happiness and growth, then I have served my purpose.”

He leaves us with two quotes that guide his approach as a leader:

“Don’t expect people to do what you would not do yourself.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.” – George Van Valkenburg