Being in the right place at the right time can be elusive, but Rainer Stampfer seems to have landed perfectly. “We’re in the heart of the financial centre of China with plenty to engage our very energized clientele,” says the General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai. “Pudong is the future – the doorway to modern China. We’re on the pulse of where everything is happening right now.”

Located just a few hundred metres east of the Huangpu River, Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai has no shortage of competition from other first-rate properties. Stampfer isn’t fretting, however. “Why on earth should anybody stay with us? Because we offer authentic Four Seasons style service in a hotel most reflective of what Shanghai is all about these days,” he says, adding, “That’s something others can’t match. Our team is grounded in 50 years of tradition and is on top of local tastes, culture, and guest needs.”

Intimate in scope and glamorous in style, Stampfer’s “little jewel box” offers just 187 guest rooms and 73 private residences through 25 floors of the 21st Century Tower. Distinct from much of the traditional design found across the city hotel scene, the new Four Seasons address is laid out with luxe interiors and modern lines inspired by Shanghai’s art deco past. Materials show French influence from the 1930s and 40s but are finished in a very contemporary way. “Everything is inspired by the youthful energy that draws people to Pudong,” he says, ticking off the Hotel’s vibrant dining scene, the “Coco Chanel flair” of staff uniforms, the “bespokeness” of the bathroom amenity line, and the Ferrari Maserati showroom that models sports cars onsite.

Stampfer’s inspiration for getting into hospitality was pretty straightforward. Growing up in Germany, he travelled the continent with his parents and was about to apprentice at a bank until an uncle suggested he might prefer hotel work. His initial foray into the field was borne out of hopes of being able to live and work in different places. Once he got going, office work lost all appeal. “Of course, my role these days requires lots of time in the office for finance, administration and marketing. But at the end of the day, I’m immersed in the people aspect of the hotel business and in being part of the community. That’s where creativity comes into play.”

With more than a decade with Four Seasons under his belt, most of it in Asia or the US, Stampfer is a firm believer that the biggest impact he can bestow on his team is empowerment. “I don’t like to be micromanaged and I try not to micromanage either,” he explains. “It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you’re trying your best. I’d rather someone tackle 20 issues a day and get 5 wrong than handle 5 issues all together.”

Along with his management responsibilities, Stampfer is a Regional Vice President for Four Seasons overseeing several properties in China. Professional demands aside, he enjoys golf, tennis and skiing as well as collecting modern and Renaissance art – “on a humble scale” – as time allows.