At the best of times, running a business is an uphill battle: a struggle to innovate ideas that put you ahead of the competition and turn a profit. In a post-COVID-19 world, however, those challenges have not only grown in scale but morphed into something unrecognizable. In this series, we talk to expat-entrepreneurs and find out what they’re doing to remain both successful in business, and happy at home.
At the beginning of the crisis, many expat families in Beijing had to make many difficult decisions, among them, whether or not they should leave Beijing. Mark Passmore, General Manager, The Opposite House, Sanlitun had to make this very concession, sending his family away for their own safety. Luckily, his family was among those able to return shortly before China’s borders closing. The joy of being reunited with his family coupled with his growing optimism have given Passmore a reason to cling on to the good old cliche ‘Taking one day at a time.’
Mark Passmore, General Manager, The Opposite House, and his family
How long has the business been in operation?
Nearly 12 years, we opened in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics.
How long have you and your family been in China and what made you decide to move this far East?
I’ve been in China for six and half years now, I was previously in Chengdu where I opened our first hotel there, The Temple House, and then I moved to Beijing three and a half years ago. Previously I had traveled out to Asia and after working in Hong Kong for a while I wanted to work on the mainland.
What were you and your family’s initial reactions when COVID-19 first hit the news?
I think the initial feeling is one of disbelief and uncertainty. You’re not really sure what you should be doing, how to prepare for it, and what impact it’s going to have on you. I have two small boys so I was concerned as to how they might be affected.
“I have two small boys so I was concerned here as to how they might be affected.”
What were your expectations as far as the virus and its effect on daily life and business in Beijing?
Initially I expected that we’d be spending a lot more time indoors because of the children. As it started to escalate and spread comparisons were made to SARS and so we expected there would be a considerable impact on travel and the hotel business.
What has been the reality for you and your family during the peak of the virus?
My family is from Hong Kong so after the virus escalated they decided they would move back to Hong Kong for a short period. I wasn’t in a position to fully work from home, given the nature of our business, and they had support from the family there since schools had closed. Being away from them was incredibly difficult especially seeing the children change and not being able to engage with them properly. They came back after two months so it’s been great having them home. My wife is working from home however it’s been very challenging trying to do this and home school them at the same time.
How, if at all, has your business been affected by the current situation?
It’s had a considerable impact to our industry, restrictions on travel have meant that there are minimal business guests and we rely solely on guests from within Beijing.
What form of support have you received from the expat community here in Beijing for both your family’s and business’s wellbeing?
We live in a great community and our neighbors and the team there have been very supportive and engaging, so I’ve felt very safe. The hotel has started to see some business return in our restaurants. For example Frasca has seen a wonderful show of support from our expat communities for which we’re very thankful. We’re trying to support local businesses and restaurants in the area as much as possible.
“The hotel has started to see some business return”
Do you believe the current situation will permanently change the face of business in Beijing? If so, why and how? If not, then why?
I think it will, certainly in the short to medium terms. I think that unfortunately, many smaller independent businesses are going to struggle to stay afloat and will end up closing their doors which will be a real shame as they provide a lot of Beijing’s character.
As the city continues to return to business as normal, what are some of the plans you have set in place for your business to ensure it is not adversely affected by such an unexpected situation in the future?
This is quite difficult especially for a business that relies so heavily on travel, we have crisis plans in place that help us navigate certain elements of these situations however (and thankfully) in normal times you never really have to execute them. Having gone through this over the past few months we now have an idea as to what works and what doesn’t so we can adjust our plans and be more fluid.
As a professional, what has been your biggest takeaway from this period of uncertainty?
The importance of having flexibility in your business so that you can adapt and be creative in the face of a crisis is key, especially when you are unsure of how long the crisis may last.
As a parent and partner, what have you learned from or about your family that will help shape your family life in the future?
It’s clichéd, I know but don’t take anything for granted and appreciate the small things in life. Once I accepted that I have no real control over the situation and was honest and upfront about what I was feeling, I found it much easier to manage my days and expectations as to what was going to happen.
Has the current situation deterred you from continuing to be a part of the business landscape in Beijing or are you here to stay?
Not really. I would say that I miss my family back in the UK more as I worry about them. However, COVID-19 is a global issue and once it’s overcome how we all recover will also be a global issue so it has no bearing on where I live.
What advice would you give to other business owners in Beijing at this time?
Adapt all your resources and be flexible with changes that you may encounter every day. And keep an optimistic attitude. There have been challenges but we also see how each business is supporting each other.
How can other expat families show their support for expat business owners in Beijing?
It will be very encouraging for us to see families come back to us, as we have been introducing some great value offers in our restaurants and bar or on some staycation packages.
“Don’t take anything for granted and appreciate the small things in life.”
Any words of encouragement or hope for the international community as a whole in Beijing?
As we can see things are slowly getting back to normal, I believe the city will be active again, and once that comes, I think that the community will be stronger than ever in supporting each other.
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Photos: Courtesy of Opposite House, Mark Passmore
