John Primmer
Appointed General Manager
At Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Malaysia
A New Zealand national, Primmer has 27 years of hospitality experience, having held senior management positions in Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom for the past 17 years. He was previously the General Manager of James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor Wellington New Zealand. Scheduled to open in mid-2009, Hard Rock Penang will be the first musically themed resort in Malaysia, which aims to infuse new excitement and energy into the popular holiday destination. Most of the 249 guestrooms are configured as deluxe rooms with sea views; while the lagoon deluxe rooms come with direct pool access off the guest balconies. Five food and beverage establishments are planned for the resort, which will include a Hard Rock Café, an all-day dining restaurant, pizzeria, poolside bar and lounge. Facilities include a full service luxury spa, a fully equipped gym, a specialised Lil’ Rock Kids Club, Teens club, Hard Rock merchandise stores, and a 26,000 sq ft free-form swimming pool – the largest pool in Penang.
HPL Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in Singapore, HPL Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company, operated and wholly owned by Singapore main-board listed, Hotel Properties Limited (HPL). Associated with some of the most prominent brands, HPL operates luxury resorts, business hotels, theme hotels and hotel apartments worldwide, offering distinct experiences ranging from lifestyle hotels to adventure and eco-tourism.
Recent Appointments at HPL Hotels & Resorts![]()
Aldo Cadau - Executive Chef
23 February 2018 — Chef Aldo joins the Gili Lankanfushi team in an exciting phase of the island"s gastronomic journey, as he spearheads developments in the resort"s restaurants, news of which will be announced in Spring 2018.
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David Stepetic - General Manager
28 August 2017 — Gili Lankanfushi has announced the appointment of David Stepetic as General Manager. Over the past five years, the resort has set the benchmark for barefoot and understated luxury in the Maldives, with 45 sophisticated over-water villas and a serious commitment to sustainability.
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Andrew Khoo - Vice President, Operations
17 November 2014 — A passionate Singaporean hotelier with a career spanning over 40 years, Andrew graduated from The Ealing Hotel School, London, United Kingdom and pursued his career with THF Hotels. He has held senior roles in the region with Goodwood Park Hotel, Raffles International, CDL Hotels & Resorts and HPL Hotels & Resorts.
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