-- Mandarin Oriental, Macau is delighted to announce the appointment of Kai Jansen as its General Manager. Kai will provide strategic leadership for the hotel and lead the team to continue Mandarin Oriental's legacy of legendary service and innovative guest experiences.
Kai is an open-minded, highly motivated leader with a great passion for sports. Originally from Rheine, Germany, he began his career at an early age with a traditional restaurant apprenticeship in his hometown. He later earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stenden University in the Netherlands and Rangsit University in Thailand. After his studies, Kai gained professional experience in luxury hotels in Shanghai, China, and Berlin, Germany.
In 2014, he joined Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo and progressed steadily through the ranks of the hotel's dining and beverage services and taking on increasing levels of leadership. Kai moved to Southeast Asia in 2018 to join Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur — the Group's largest hotel — as Director of Food and Beverage. He oversaw the hotel's entire food and beverage department, its culinary operations and management, in all its restaurants and bars. In this role, he successfully led a team of 350 colleagues through the challenges of the pandemic while maintaining strong team engagement and operational excellence.
Before joining Mandarin Oriental, Macau, Kai was Hotel Manager at Mandarin Oriental, Munich from 2021 to 2023. He most recently led the pre-opening team at Mandarin Oriental, Savoy Zurich, positioning the hotel as Gault&Millau's Hotel of the Year 2025, one of Switzerland's top hospitality honours, and securing the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award in 2026.
While in Switzerland, he earned a master's degree in hospitality from Glion Institute of Higher Education and ESSEC Business School, France.
“I am truly excited to take on this new role at Mandarin Oriental, Macau — a hotel with a proud history and strong ties to the local community. After five years in Europe, I am delighted to return to this amazing part of the world and work with a team known for its energy, dedication, and commitment to excellence. I look forward to working alongside a passionate and driven team, embracing Macau's fast-paced and service-oriented environment and continuing to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests in this vibrant city,” said Kai.
Kai is fluent in German, English, and Dutch. He is eager to continue his passion for badminton in Macau, a sport he discovered and grew to truly enjoy while living in Malaysia as a way to unwind after work. He will be relocating with his wife and three children - and they look forward to exploring Macau's local culture and cuisine.
About Mandarin Oriental, Macau
Mandarin Oriental, Macau is an elegant non-gaming lakeside urban retreat in Macau offering stunning views towards Nam Van Lake, the Macau Tower and South China Sea. All 213 rooms and suites enjoy stunning open sea views, while highlighting a range of dining facilities, including Chinese cuisine with a flair of Portuguese at Vida Rica Restaurant, Southeast Asian favourites and signature afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge, artisanal cakes at The Mandarin Cake Shop and award-winning cocktails at Vida Rica Bar. All meeting facilities are equipped with the latest technology and The Spa, awarded Forbes Five-Star, provides a comprehensive array of wellness programmes, including a state-of-the-art fitness centre and an outdoor heated swimming pool.
