Shanghai Daily news

Reggie Shiu

Several hundred family members, friends and colleagues gathered yesterday to mourn the loss of a Shanghai-based hotel executive, his wife and two sons in the December 26 tsunami tragedy.
The memorial service for Reggie Shiu and his family was held in a meeting room at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in Pudong.
It featured reminiscences from those who knew and loved Shiu, along with videos of the executive's work and family life.
"Just like those poplar trees standing straight along China's western border, he was the tree of our family," said Sophia Meng, Shiu's sister. "He was a good father, son, husband and brother who donated all his love and passion to others. We hope he can be smiling forever."
It started off as a happy Christmas holiday for the Shiu family. But it ended in tragedy when an earthquake-triggered tidal wave swept the beach they were visiting on Khao Lak Island in southern Thailand.
The 49-year-old Shiu, his 40-year-old Singaporean wife Grace and their two teenage sons, Nicolas and Matthew, were lost in the waves. The only survivor was 6-year-old daughter Zoe, who is now living with Shui's sister in Singapore and did not attend yesterday's memorial.
Born in Shanghai, Shiu was educated in Hong Kong and the United States, graduating from New York State University in 1976.
He joined the Accor hospitality group in 1980 at the Roosevelt Hotel, left the firm in 1983 and rejoined it three years later. In 1993 Shiu was one of five recipients of Accor's most prestigious award among 145,000 employees worldwide. In 2000, he was appointed senior vice president-Asia and given responsibility for Accor's operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China's mainland in 2002.
"Reggie was a remarkable man with boundless enthusiasm and optimism," said David Baffsky, chairman of Accor Asia Pacific.
Michael issenberg, Accor's Asia-Pacific managing director, said he knew Shiu for 10 years.
"When I had problems, he was the one I always turned to," said Issenberg. "There was no more loyal, hardworking friend to me than Reggie."
He yizhao, chairman of Shanghai Restaurant Association said, "I met Reggie in April 1991 when I visited Thailand for the first time. Our car was stopped by a policeman taking motorcycle in Bangkok. When we were puzzled about the reason, the man put forward a cake and said happy birthday. On arriving Novotel Bangkok where Shiu was general manager, dozens of his staff stood at the gate, speaking out "happy birthday" and sending him a huge cake featuring two hands holding Shiu's portrait. I was deeply impressed by such good relations between Shiu and those who worked under him, and learnt from him rich experiences."