S.C. Huang, Orchard Hotels
Born Chu Ya-tzen in Shanghai, China in 1923, Mrs. S. C. Huang was an education major at St. John’s University in Shanghai when she met her late husband, S. C. Huang. Married in 1946, they moved to Indonesia where she taught English to Chinese students. Their son Robert was born in 1948 and daughter, Lydia in 1958, the same year the Huangs moved to Singapore to open the original Orchard Hotel. While most wives of Asian business tycoons were leading lives of leisure, Mrs. Huang had different aspirations. She convinced her husband to allow her to manage their new 33-room hotel, a job in which she excelled and enjoyed. After many successful years, they expanded the hotel to 350 rooms in 1978. The Huangs sold their Singapore property in 1983 to build the Orchard Hotel in Perth, Australia in 1985. In addition, they purchased a San Francisco Hotel (now the Hotel Rex) and a vacant piece of land near Union Square. It was their wish that their daughter Lydia would develop the site into a hotel and manage the properties. Sadly, Lydia was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1990 and fell into a coma in 1993. That same year, Mr. Huang died of cancer and Lydia lost her battle with brain cancer in 1996 at the age of 38. After two years of mourning, Mrs. Huang sold both the Perth and San Francisco hotels to develop a brand new Orchard Hotel, and ultimately the Orchard Garden Hotel on Bush Street. In her signature hands-on style, Mrs. Huang worked closely with architects and designers. She even brought family antiques from Australia to decorate a special suite in honor of her husband and daughter, The Schwensiu Suite (a combination of her husband’s initials and Lydia’s Chinese name). There is also a plaque in the hotel lobby dedicating the hotel in loving honor of Lydia and Mr. Huang.
The Orchard Hotel and Orchard Garden Hotel have been repeatedly recognized with awards on San Francisco Business Times Book of Lists as one of the Bay Area’s Largest Women-Owned Business; one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies; and, one of the Best Places to Work. The Orchard Hotels are the only individual hotels to ever make these lists. The Orchard Garden Hotel is California’s first LEED-New Construction Certified Hotel, built to the exacting specifications of the U. S. Green Building Council, and fourth in the world. Other honors and commendations include Outside Magazine’s “Best New Eco Getaway, 2008” and Conde Nast Traveler’s 2007 “138 Top New Hotels in the World.” In 2008, The Orchard Garden was the Hotel Hero Innovation Award Winner for their sustainable building design and construction and operation. General Manager, Stefan Muhle garnered the 2008 Lifetime Achievement – Hotel Executive Award.
Up until quite recently, Mrs. Huang spent two to three months out of every year at the 105-room Orchard Hotel, working closely with General Manager, Stefan Muhle and staff. Muhle states: “Most hotel managers are not used to owners being so involved in daily operations as much as Mrs. Huang has been. I am very honest with her, and she’s very upfront with me. It makes it easy for us to talk and implement her ideas. The hotels are very close to her heart.” She was a regular presence in both hotel lobbies, meeting and greeting guests and engaging them in conversation, making sure that everyone was completely satisfied with their stay. At the age of 86, this tai chi expert admits that it’s time to start “slowing down.” Mrs. Huang says: “I am doing this work to complete what my husband and daughter wanted but had no time to do. I pray every day for good health, wisdom, strength and courage to hand over two successful Orchard San Francisco hotels to my family – maybe to my three grandsons.”
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