Chapter 215 Can't Ask For It
The stock price of Celestial Waters Hotel went from falling to rising with just one move: the heavy reliance on Leopold. In just half a month, he single-handedly created a myth in the hotel industry.
Because of this, he became the biggest hidden danger within the group.
Preston understood this well, which was why he had previously tried to reduce Leopold's influence in the group. But clearly, it didn't work well, and his actions against Leopold even caused the stock price to crash.
If the group's development relied on just one person, the day that person left would mark the beginning of Celestial Waters Hotel's decline.
Preston needed Leopold's abilities, yet feared them at the same time.
Leopold knocked on Preston's office door. "Mr. Preston Wipere, this is the marketing plan for the second half of the year."
Preston gestured for him to sit down and opened the proposal. "Your team is very efficient."
From these recent conversations, Leopold clearly noticed that Preston was becoming more and more defensive towards him. Preston often used words like "your" and "my" in their dialogues, which was a way of drawing a clear line between them.
Reading between the lines, Leopold lowered his eyes and replied calmly, "Everyone is working hard for the company's future. When the company does well, they naturally earn more, so of course they'll work harder."
Preston's cold face formed a faint smile. While reading, he asked, "Other companies are putting their future development plans in the south and coastal cities, but you're doing the opposite. For the group, this is basically a strategic shift north. You're putting all the second half development focus on the northern regions - are you planning to give up on the southern and coastal markets?"
Leopold said, "Of course not. Celestial Waters Hotel's development started in the south and prospered along the coast. After years of development in these two areas, both the market and our related software and hardware are very mature."
"But the northern region has always been overlooked, without deep tourism resource development. In previous years, due to special reasons, the population didn't flow. Now the whole country is revitalizing the tourism industry, both inbound and domestic tourism are growing, and the tourism industry is expanding, this is good for our hotel business."
"I think the future opportunity is in the north, and the groups we serve will definitely move south and go north. This winter, the north will definitely see an explosion. This proposal is for a complete upgrade of all the northern chain hotels the group operates, plus direct connections with surrounding facilities and tourist attractions."
"In the coming year, after the northern winter boom, there will also be a summer escape boom. Later, we also plan to introduce thirteen chain hotels for more down-to-earth rural farm stay projects..."
"Farm stays?" Preston scoffed, interrupting him. "We run high-end hotels. The customers we serve are people with class. How can we do such low-class things?"
Leopold said with certainty, "If we want to develop, we also need to see where the country is putting its efforts. Look at a month of news coverage, where have the national leaders been inspecting? The slogan to revitalize the north has already been announced. Doesn't that say something?"
Preston fell silent, thought for a moment, and felt it wasn't unreasonable. He nodded and said, "Let's have a meeting tomorrow to discuss it and hear everyone's opinions. Try to catch the second half tourism bonus."
Leaving Preston's office, Leopold called Pearl.
Pearl was the person Preston had arranged for him to meet on a blind date. At that time, he already had Caroline in his heart, so he went under the guise of a blind date, but actually to talk business with Pearl. They hit it off talking about cooperation and immediately made a deal.
Receiving Leopold's call again, Pearl wasn't surprised.
To put it bluntly, they were all in the same circle. In business, hotels and travel agencies were a perfect closed loop.
Pearl's voice carried a smile. "I left the house this morning, and someone said I'd have good luck today. Turns out it's Mr. Wipere looking for me."
Leopold smiled warmly. "With that comment from Ms. Reynolds, it wouldn't be right if we didn't talk business."
Pearl said, "I'd love nothing more. Anyone who can connect with Mr. Wipere now is basically holding onto a gold mine."
Leopold laughed helplessly. Pearl really had a way with words. "Keep praising me and I'll need to find a hole to crawl into."
"Don't, you deserve it?" Pearl checked the time. "It's just about lunch break. Want to grab a meal together?"
"Sure, which place does Ms. Reynolds prefer?"
Pearl said, "How about Gastronomy Royale?"
"Sounds good, let's talk when we meet."
After hanging up, Leopold returned to his office, instructed Lily to start compiling current data for the northern chain hotels, then left for the appointment.
Leopold's car had just stopped in front of Gastronomy Royale when Pearl got out of her driver's seat. They ran into each other.
Leopold said, "I've reserved a table, private room number 3."
Pearl walked alongside him. "I saw the financial report. Mr. Preston Wipere gave you equity. Looks like he showed real sincerity in keeping you this time."
Leopold didn't deny it, just smiled and nodded. "Last night I was browsing the Reynolds Group's website and saw online membership broke three hundred million. Impressive."
Pearl replied modestly, "Compared to the huge tourism market, the Reynolds Group still has a long way to go. Still need to work hard."
The two walked into Gastronomy Royale one after the other. Nash had just gotten out of his car and watched their laughing and chatting backs, his gaze deepening.
He suddenly got back in his car, started it, and drove away.
He pressed Briar's phone number. When it connected, he said, "Something came up at lunch, I'm not coming. Order a few dishes you like."
After speaking, he hung up without waiting for Briar's response.
Today was the third day of rising temperatures in Seaside City. Nash went to a nearby supermarket and bought two cases of chilled bottled water to load in his trunk, then went to a fruit shop and got several boxes of cut fruit.
He remembered Jasper showing him the area for checking electricity theft last time. Caroline should be going to the farms around Dreamshire Village today, and coincidentally he had a friend who ran a chicken farm there.
"Felix, let me ask you something," Nash said.
Felix Carter was disinfecting the chicken coop. He put down his tools. "What is it?"
Nash asked, "Did the power company come inspect your place this year?"
Felix said, "They came. Just finished checking and left."
Nash floored the gas pedal, heading straight out of the city. "Are they still in the village?"
Felix said, "Still here. They left my place and went to check the farm up ahead."
Nash felt relieved. "Help me contact the best restaurant in the village, reserve a table for me, and order good dishes. I'll be there in half an hour."
Felix said, "Okay, you're coming over, I'll just have a drink with you."
Nash said, "Wait for me."
The drive from Seaside City to Dreamshire Village normally took forty minutes, but Nash made it in half an hour. Entering the village, he saw a Seaside City Power Company work vehicle parked at a farm entrance not far away.
Nash called Felix over. "This is the only decent restaurant in the village?"
Felix said, "Of course. Opening a big restaurant in this small place would lose money."
Nash asked again, "How long have the power company people been in there?"
Felix estimated, "About an hour."
Nash said, "Go take a look, find a chance to get them to the restaurant."
Felix blinked. "What are you trying to do?"
Nash said, "I need to talk to Ms. Tudor about something. Running into her by coincidence means she won't have her guard up."
Felix suddenly understood. "I see."
Nash gave Felix a few more instructions before letting him go.