Interview with Mani Ng, Group Assistant Director Finance, Wharf Hotels
To better understand how Wharf Hotels Management Limited modernised its budgeting and forecasting processes, we interviewed Mani Ng, Group Assistant Director Finance, Wharf Hotels. She shared how the group transitioned from Excel-based planning to FairPlanner by Fairmas, implementing a structured hospitality financial planning & analysis software solution supported by strong local expertise in Mainland China.
Moving Beyond Excel: The Need for a Scalable Financial Planning & Analysis Software
For a growing international hotel group operating across multiple regions, financial planning & analysis becomes increasingly complex. Wharf Hotels faced mounting challenges as budgeting and forecasting were managed through Excel spreadsheets across departments and properties.
Over time, coordination became difficult and risk exposure increased. As Mani explains, “Managing disparate data sources and coordinating multiple reviewers created a convoluted and error-prone process.” Manual data handling across teams not only slowed down workflows but also “heightened the risk of inaccuracies, resulting in unreliable forecasts.”
Frequent updates required significant consolidation efforts from the finance team and were “labor-intensive for our finance team and hindered effective verification and reporting.”
At this stage, it became clear that spreadsheet-based hotel budgeting and forecasting was no longer sustainable for a multi-property portfolio operating across different accounting systems and regions. The group required a centralised, collaborative financial planning and analysis software that would improve accuracy, efficiency, and oversight.
Selecting FairPlanner: Technology Strengthened by Local Support in China
Wharf Hotels selected FairPlanner by Fairmas as its web-based financial planning and analysis software after recognising that it could address both structural and operational challenges.
“We recognized that the web-based FairPlanner could effectively address our challenges.”
However, the decision extended beyond software functionality. With more than 60% of Wharf Hotels’ portfolio located in Mainland China, successful implementation depended heavily on local expertise and language adaptation. “The specialized local support available for our hotels in mainland China was a key consideration in our choice.”
Fairmas offered not only a robust hospitality financial planning and analysis software solution, but also specialised local support in China; a combination that proved decisive for Wharf Hotels.
Implementation Across Multiple Accounting Structures
Implementing a group-wide financial planning and analysis software within a tight timeline required careful coordination. Wharf Hotels operates with multiple accounting systems and distinct local charts of accounts, adding complexity to the rollout.
Despite this, the implementation was completed efficiently and without operational disruption. Mani describes the experience as “remarkably constructive, efficient, and successful, particularly given our tight timeline.”
Through a structured approach, accounting mappings, and clearly defined planning processes, Fairmas ensured a smooth transition from spreadsheets to a unified financial planning and analysis software. As she notes, “their active listening and customized suggestions ensured meticulous execution.”
The result was a successful shift to a centralised hotel financial planning, analysis and consolidation software that aligned properties and corporate finance under one structured framework.
Localised Chinese Training Driving Adoption
Given the group’s strong presence in Mainland China, localisation was critical to adoption. Training was conducted in Chinese and aligned with local accounting structures to ensure clarity and relevance for hotel teams.
“The localized training provided by Fairmas was impressive and critical to the overall success of the implementation.”
These sessions were described as “instrumental” in enabling teams to understand and confidently use the system. Delivering training in the local language “allowed our teams to better understand the new system, thereby enhancing adoption and comfort.”
Localised onboarding significantly accelerated system adoption and ensured consistent usage across the portfolio.
Transforming Monthly Forecasting and Annual Budgeting
Once fully operational, FairPlanner fundamentally improved Wharf Hotels’ budgeting and forecasting processes. Actual accounting data is now imported directly into the system, reducing manual reconciliation and improving data reliability.
“FairPlanner has significantly streamlined our workflow for both monthly forecasting and annual budgeting.”
Multiple users can collaborate simultaneously within the software, improving coordination between finance teams and department heads. As Mani highlights, this “greatly enhances overall efficiency.”
By centralising financial data and enabling structured collaboration, Wharf Hotels strengthened transparency, reduced consolidation time, and improved forecasting accuracy.
Planning the 2026 Budget with Greater Confidence
The 2026 budget cycle clearly demonstrated the impact of automation and structured workflows. While the initial system setup required effort, the long-term operational benefits quickly became evident.
Automation features “significantly reduced manual data entry, allowing a greater focus on strategic analysis rather than administrative tasks.” Real-time collaboration ensured that “all relevant data and commentary were centralized, thereby minimizing confusion and miscommunication.”
As a result, the group approached its budget presentation “with heightened confidence in our reliable data.”
The budgeting process shifted from administrative consolidation to strategic financial analysis; strengthening decision-making at both property and corporate level.
Faster Consolidation and Enhanced Scenario Planning
Beyond improving efficiency, FairPlanner strengthened group-wide financial consolidation and scenario modelling capabilities. Hotels can now test different revenue assumptions quickly and are able to “swiftly generate profit and loss statements under various revenue assumptions.”
At corporate level, “reviewing and analyzing figures across hotels has become seamless.” Centralised data management has “drastically reduced the time dedicated to data aggregation and reconciliation.”
This has resulted in faster reporting cycles, improved financial oversight, and stronger scenario planning capabilities across the portfolio.
Greater Transparency and Stronger Collaboration
The move to a centralised hospitality financial planning and analysis software has also improved internal transparency. Financial assumptions and detailed figures are accessible within the system, eliminating the need for separate reconciliation files. The finance team is “no longer required to provide reconciliation files when inquiries arise.”
This transparency has “fostered trust and accountability among teams,” enabling more focused and productive discussions around financial performance.
Conclusion: A Future-Ready Financial Planning & Analysis Software
For Wharf Hotels, implementing FairPlanner by Fairmas has delivered measurable improvements in budgeting efficiency, financial consolidation, collaboration, and reporting accuracy.
As Mani Ng concludes, “Fairmas delivers exceptional value as both a global technology provider and a locally supportive partner.”
By implementing FairPlanner by Fairmas and leveraging Fairmas’ specialised local support in Mainland China, Wharf Hotels has established a unified, data-driven hospitality financial planning and analysis framework that strengthens financial control, accelerates decision-making, and supports sustainable portfolio growth.
