pjbooks Chapter 1030 10 Downing Street
Chapter 1030 10 Downing Street
"Haoran, is there something important you need to take care of in England this time?" Tang Kun asked curiously after exchanging pleasantries.
"Actually, I'm mainly here to look for investment opportunities, inspect my businesses in the UK, and also to visit you, Uncle Tang!" Lin Haoran laughed heartily.
The last time I saw Tang Kun was at his wedding, which was more than a year ago.
Lin Haoran always showed great respect to his elders, both to Bao Yugang and to Tang Kun.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness!" Tang Kun laughed heartily, clearly feeling very gratified.
Although he knew that Lin Haoran's visit to England was only a secondary purpose, he was still very pleased that Lin Haoran went straight to the tenement building as soon as he got off the plane.
Having spent most of his life in the business world, he had seen too many people forget their old friends after becoming rich. It was truly rare to see a young man like Lin Haoran, who, even though his wealth far exceeded his, still remembered to visit his elders.
The three of them had lunch at the tenement building, and Bao Yugang left first.
Lin Haoran chatted with Tang Kun for a while longer in the Tanglou before getting up to say goodbye.
“Uncle Tang, I have to go to 10 Downing Street for a small banquet tonight, so I’ll have to take my leave now. I’ll come see you again after I’m done with these few days,” Lin Haoran said to Tang Kun as he stood up.
Tang Kun also stood up, patted Lin Haoran on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Go ahead, business is important. If you need any help while you're in England, just give me a call. Although I'm not as rich as you, I still have quite a few connections in England!"
"Then thank you very much, Uncle Tang," Lin Haoran said.
"We're family, so let's not be so formal," Tang Kun said with a smile. "Your father was a close friend of mine, and you're like a junior in my family to me. I'm happy to be able to help you."
A warm feeling welled up in Lin Haoran's heart. He chatted with Tang Kun for a few more words before turning around and walking out of Tanglou. Li Weidong, Li Weiguo, and Liu Xiaoli followed closely behind him.
Outside the tenement building, two Rover cars were parked on the roadside. The man in the lead, a middle-aged white man in a suit and tie, wearing black-rimmed glasses, was recognized by Lin Haoran as Davis, the European president of Landsea Group.
Lin Haoran glanced at the other party's loyalty level, which was exactly 90, and nodded in satisfaction without realizing it.
He was already very confident in this level of loyalty; it was within the range of values that he could absolutely trust.
Upon seeing Lin Haoran emerge, Davis immediately stepped forward respectfully and said, "Boss, please get in the car. I have arranged accommodation for you at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the City of London."
"Okay, thank you for your help, Davis!" Lin Haoran patted the other man on the shoulder and got into the back seat of one of the cars.
Lin Haoran knew about the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the City of London; he had heard Ma Shimin mention it back in 1981.
Lin Haoran supported the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's expansion at the time.
London was clearly one of the core target cities for the expansion.
At the time, the wealthy and powerful Jardine Matheson Group directly bought a 38-story skyscraper in the City of London. Part of it was used as the European headquarters of Jardine Matheson Group, part was rented out, and part was handed over to Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to build the first Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, which officially opened in January of this year.
Although Lin Haoran had never seen it in person, he had some impression of the hotel.
He recalled that Simon Murray had mentioned in his report last month that the Mandarin Oriental Hotel was located in the heart of the City of London, adjacent to the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange, and surrounded by numerous international financial institutions and multinational corporations, making it an excellent location.
With over 200 guest rooms and top-notch dining and meeting facilities, the hotel quickly became one of the most popular business hotels in the City of London after its opening.
The car drove smoothly through central London, across the bridge over the Thames, and stopped in front of a modern skyscraper about twenty minutes later.
The building's facade is dominated by dark glass curtain walls, which gleam with a cool luster in the afternoon sun, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding historic classical buildings.
The sidewalks outside the skyscrapers were teeming with people, mostly elites from the City of London.
The men were dressed in sharp dark suits, and the women in well-tailored business suits. They walked briskly, carrying briefcases or coffee cups, their expressions focused and capable.
This is the heart of London, one of the world's most concentrated areas of capital flow, where the air seems to be filled with the scent of money and opportunity.
Lin Haoran got out of the car and stood in front of the building, feeling the unique rhythm of the financial city around him—fast, precise, and ruthless. Everyone was racing against time, and every second could mean the gain or loss of millions of pounds.
The design of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the City of London is similar to that of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central, both featuring a clever combination of contemporary international design aesthetics with traditional Asian service philosophy and decorative elements.
The lobby is spacious and bright, with light-colored marble as the main color, complemented by dark wood decorations and exquisite Chinese elements, which have both the modern feel of an international hotel and the charm of the East.
Several uniformed staff members stood behind the front desk, smiling and behaving politely.
In the lounge area on one side of the lobby, several men in suits were talking in hushed tones, with open briefcases and documents beside them, clearly in the middle of a business meeting.
A middle-aged white man walked over quickly and greeted Lin Haoran and Davis respectfully.
"Boss, this is the general manager of the Mandarin Oriental London City Hotel. He was previously the general manager of the Marriott London City Hotel and has over fifteen years of management experience in the high-end hotel industry in London."
Davis stepped aside and introduced, "His name is Andrew White, and I personally poached him from Marriott."
Andrew White was a tall, middle-aged man wearing a well-tailored dark blue suit, his hair was neatly combed, he had a polite smile on his face, and his eyes exuded confidence.
He bowed slightly and extended his right hand to Lin Haoran: "Boss, it is a great honor to meet you. I have always looked forward to the opportunity to report on the hotel's operations to you in person."
Lin Haoran shook hands with him and said with a smile, "Mr. White, you're too kind. I've heard Davis mention you before, saying that you have a very good understanding of the high-end hotel market in London. How has the hotel been doing since it opened?"
Upon hearing this, Andrew White proudly stated, "Although our hotel has only been in operation for a little over two months, the occupancy rate has consistently remained above 83% since its opening. During holidays, it's even difficult to find a room, such as Valentine's Day, which was booked well in advance."
As one of the world's three major financial centers, the demand for high-end business hotels in the City of London has always been very strong. Our main clientele comes from business travelers from major investment banks, law firms and multinational corporations in the City.
They have high standards for hotel quality and service, but are also willing to pay a premium for a high-quality accommodation experience.
Our average room rate is now over £200 per night, placing us among the leading hotels of our kind in the City of London.
After listening, Lin Haoran nodded in satisfaction: "To achieve such occupancy rates and room rates in just over two months after opening shows that you and your team have indeed done a good job."
However, I'd like to know what our customer base is like? Is it mainly composed of local British business travelers, or are there more international business travelers?
"Currently, international business travelers account for about 60%, mainly from the United States, continental Europe and the Middle East, while local British business travelers account for about 30%, and the rest are leisure travelers and conference attendees."
"We are actively expanding into the Asian market, especially business travelers in Hong Kong and Japan. Mandarin Oriental has a high brand awareness in Asia, which is a significant advantage," Andrew White replied.
Lin Haoran nodded and said, "Take me to my room to rest first. I need to attend the Prime Minister's banquet tonight."
Upon hearing this, Andrew White and Davis were immediately filled with respect.
The Prime Minister's dinner party, in their understanding, is only for the world's most elite figures.
Their boss, at such a young age, was already able to step into 10 Downing Street and dine with the Prime Minister—this in itself was a silent testament to his power. As the European president of Landsea Group and the general manager of Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Davis and White had naturally met many dignitaries, but they had never seen a Chinese businessman like Lin Haoran, who at such a young age was being received by the British government as a state guest.
Therefore, they are also proud to work for such a boss.
Lin Haoran was assigned to the most luxurious presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This suite usually costs more than three thousand pounds per night and is one of the most expensive hotel rooms in the City of London.
According to Andrew White, the room was reserved in advance because he knew his boss was coming to the UK; otherwise, the room would have been booked in advance.
Especially those members of Middle Eastern royal families and Wall Street investment banking tycoons, they always request this suite whenever they come to London.
The presidential suite is on the 36th floor and includes a bedroom, a study, a living room, a dining room, and even a small private gym and massage room.
The living room's floor-to-ceiling windows face the Thames River, offering panoramic views of the City of London.
After putting her luggage away, Liu Xiaoli ran happily to the French windows on the balcony, looked at the London cityscape outside, and exclaimed in admiration: "Wow, boss, the view here is so beautiful, the whole of London is at my feet."
Lin Haoran smiled noncommittally and did not reply.
However, for him, staying in his own hotel is indeed comfortable, at least it's safe, private, and everything is arranged according to his own standards.
You don't have to worry about being disturbed by strangers, about inadequate service, or about being spyed by malicious individuals.
In the blink of an eye, several hours had passed, and it was 5:30 in the afternoon.
Davis called: "Boss, we can head to 10 Downing Street now. I've arranged the car; it's right downstairs at the hotel."
"Okay, I'm coming down now." Lin Haoran hung up the phone, stood up, and straightened his suit.
Liu Xiaoli quickly walked over, checked his collar and tie, and carefully examined his cuffs to confirm that there was nothing wrong with it.
"You stay at the hotel tonight. The hotel will arrange dinner for you. I'll head out now," Lin Haoran said to Liu Xiaoli.
He planned to bring only one person to the banquet when he went to the Prime Minister's residence. As the president of Hongkong Land Group's European region, it would obviously be more cost-effective to bring Davis along.
Therefore, he did not intend to bring Liu Xiaoli.
"Okay, boss, I understand." Although Liu Xiaoli was a little disappointed, she knew how to keep her distance.
Lin Haoran responded and turned to leave the room. Li Weidong and Li Weiguo were already waiting outside the door. Seeing Lin Haoran come out, the two silently followed behind him.
When I went down to the lobby on the first floor, Davis was already waiting there, wearing a well-tailored dark blue suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he looked very energetic.
“Boss, the car is already at the door.” Davis greeted him. “Mr. Bao just called and said he will meet you at the entrance of 10 Downing Street.”
Lin Haoran nodded: "You'll come in with me tonight."
Davis paused for a moment, then a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes: "Okay, boss."
The group walked out of the hotel and got into a black Rolls-Royce, with Davis driving.
The car slowly started moving and drove along the streets of the City of London toward 10 Downing Street.
About twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a black iron gate.
A simple, antique lamp hung above the iron gate, emitting a dim, yellowish light.
Two police officers in dark uniforms stood at the door, their posture upright and their expressions serious.
Lin Haoran looked out the car window and saw Bao Yugang and his young assistant already waiting at the door.
Bao Yugang was wearing a dark gray suit and holding a cane; he looked very energetic.
Lin Haoran pushed open the car door and got out.
The evening breeze was cool, carrying a hint of Thames water vapor, and felt very comfortable on my face.
He looked up at the centuries-old architectural complex before him; he had visited it once three years ago.
And this is the political heart of Britain, 10 Downing Street.
Lin Haoran walked up to Bao Yugang and said with a smile, "Uncle Bao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Bao Yugang smiled and waved his hand: "I just arrived too. Let's go in together."
The two walked side by side toward the black iron gate, with Davis following closely behind.
After verifying their identities, the police officers at the gate stepped aside and opened the iron gate for them.
Lin Haoran's fame in the UK is absolutely no less than it is in the US.
Although he didn't make any particularly sensational news in the UK, the sensational news that Lin Haoran caused in Hong Kong or the United States was reported simultaneously in the UK.
Especially in the financial and political circles, Lin Haoran's name is already widely known.
Therefore, when the two policemen at the door heard the name "Lin Haoran," their eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of curiosity and respect.
Although they were just ordinary police officers responsible for security, they had worked at 10 Downing Street for many years and had seen countless dignitaries and celebrities. A young, wealthy Chinese businessman like Lin Haoran, who frequently made headlines, was indeed a rare find.
Lin Haoran didn't care about this. He calmly walked through the iron gate and into the interior of 10 Downing Street.
The corridor wasn't very spacious. Several portraits of past prime ministers hung on the walls. The dark carpet was soft to the touch, and the wall lamps emitted a warm glow.
A butler in a black tailcoat was already waiting in the hall. Upon seeing them enter, he bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Lin, Sir John Paul, His Excellency the Prime Minister and several ministers are already waiting in the reception room. Please follow me."
Lin Haoran nodded and followed the butler through the corridor, up the stairs, and into a reception room on the second floor.
The room was small, but simply and elegantly furnished. A warm fire burned in the fireplace, several sofas were arranged in a semicircle, and exquisite tea sets and snacks were laid out on the coffee table.
A woman in a dark blue suit is standing by the window, her back to the door, seemingly looking at the street scene outside.
Standing beside her were several middle-aged and elderly people, including Lawrence, the British Secretary of State for Business and Trade who was there to pick her up at the airport today.
Hearing footsteps, everyone turned around, and leading the group was none other than the British Prime Minister known as the Iron Lady. (End of Chapter)