Aged 42, Ms. Katja Henke is a German/Swiss national and is currently Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Shanghai. She will be promoted to General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok, effective 27 December 2012.
Ms. Aumpa’s managerial career began in 1996 when she joined The Westin Banyan Tree Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, as an Assistant Manager in the Front Office department. At the start of her tenure at Banyan Tree Bangkok, she demonstrated strong hospitality skills with the outstanding achievement of the Thurston Dupar Inspirational Award in the same year. The following year, she received another award, Service of Legend.
Mr. John Westoby, jointly Absolute Hotel Services Managing Director for South East Asia & General Manager of the Eastin Grand Sathorn, has delightedly announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Manthe as Hotel Manager for the group’s flagship property Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn in Bangkok. Patrick, a Swiss national, joins the Eastin from his previous position as pre-opening General Manager at the 5-star Fusion Alya Resort in Hoi An, Vietnam. Prior to his last appointment he spent 3 years as pre-opening Executive Assistant Manager and then General Manager of the Moevenpick Hotel in Hanoi and possesses a solid background in both Rooms Division and Food and Beverage having gained vast experience at the Conrad Maldives and numerous Hilton hotels throughout Europe and Asia.
Krieg joins Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit, managed by Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, from Accor Australia, where he held several general manager positions at hotels such as Mecure Geelong in Victoria and Ibis Sydney King Street Wharf. Prior to that, he held various executive roles in Novotel hotels and at the groups corporate office.
Ms. Suwanich will be responsible for the implementation and development of room and catering sales strategies to achieve the hotel’s revenue targets. Prior to joining the pre-opening team at Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn as Director of Catering and Events in 2011 her extensive background in the sales and catering arena consisted of almost 20 years’ experience in leading luxury hotels such as Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Conrad Bangkok and Four Seasons Bangkok. Ms. Suwanich’s knowledge and expertise in the hospitality field has been a definite asset to the hotel and her new position will allow her full range of talents to come to the fore.
Novotel Bangkok IMPACT is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Zayne Boon as the new General Manager. Zayne was previously the Regional General Manager at Novotel & ibis Auckland Ellerslie in New Zealand. Zayne joined Accor in 1992 as Executive Assistant Manager at Novotel Launceston Tasmania and he has held General Manager positions at various Accor hotels in Australia and New Zealand. He has had more than 20 years experience in hospitality industry.
Mr. John Westoby, Managing Director – South East Asia of Absolute Hotel Services, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs. Chutima Kaewta-Fortescue as the new General Manager of its 280-room 4-star property, Eastin Hotel Makkasan Bangkok as of 1st September 2012. Mrs. Kaewta-Fortescue, who has a Bachelor of Arts – Business Management from Bundit Boriharn Thurakit College, began her career at The Regent of Bangkok. She then joined the pre-opening team of the Emerald Hotel Bangkok and was appointed Assistant Executive Housekeeper in 1995. After that, she joined Sofitel Raja Orchid Khon Kaen (currently rebranded as Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid) as Executive Housekeeper, and in 2006 was promoted to Rooms Division Manager and later as Director of Rooms before she made a decision to join U Inchantree Kanchanaburi as General Manager in 2010.
Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gilles Evrard as Hotel Manager with immediate effect. Gilles has more than 18 years of extensive experience in hospitality industry with Food and Beverage roles. He has been acknowledged in his performance for the success to the companies. Prior to joining Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, he was Deputy General Manager of Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villa & Spa in Egypt.
With 35 years of hospitality industry experience, he already has extensive pre-opening and opening experience at hotels in various countries including Oman, Dubai, Maldives, India and Thailand.
Mr. Marc Begassat, General Manager of Pullman Bangkok King Power appoints Ms. Wanitchaya Kietdamrongwong as a Business Development Director in charge of Sales, Marketing and Public Relations of the hotel.
This appointment marks a return for Eric Piatti, who was once Executive Assistant Manager at Swissôtel Nai Lert Park. He first embarked on his career with the group at Swissôtel Le Plaza, Basel, Switzerland and has since progressed to assume several senior executive roles. Prior to his current appointment, Eric Piatti was General Manager at Fairmont Towers, Heliopolis, Cairo and previously held similar positions for Swissôtel in India and China from 2007.
Best Western International (BWI) – the World’s Largest Hotel Chain® – has unveiled plans to add its sixth hotel in Bangkok; BEST WESTERN PLUS Grand Howard. Hot on the heels of the launch of the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Sukhumvit – the company’s first upscale BEST WESTERN PREMIER hotel in downtown Bangkok – Best Western has now expanded its upper-midscale BEST WESTERN PLUS brand in the thriving Thai capital.
Holiday Inn Express, one of the world's fastest growing hotel brands, officially launched the Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam in Thailand today. The opening of the property in Bangkok represents Holiday Inn Express' foray into the South East Asian market with 12 additional properties to follow in the next two years.
French native and graduate of the University of Evry, France, Mr. Miah began his career as Assistant Marketing Manager at Gore-Tex. Fascinated by hospitality industry, he entered the world of luxury hotels with Accor where he spent almost seven years, beginning with his first assignment at Novotel Hotel in Beijing, China. This was followed by various senior positions including Sofitel Hotels & Resorts in Xian, and in Beijing while the city hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, and finally Saigon. Mr. Miah joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in early 2011 as part of the pre-opening team at the renowned Sheraton Chongqing Hotel, a prestigious property that set the benchmark for luxury and exceptional service within six months of opening.
Amanda Hyndman joined Mandarin Oriental in 2007 as General Manager of The Excelsior, Hong Kong. Here, she focused on enhancing the hotel’s Guest Advocacy and Colleague Engagement scores and oversaw the renovation of various hotel outlets and guest facilities. In 2009, she was appointed General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC, and during her tenure has been instrumental in raising the profile of the property both locally, through significant community involvement, as well as internationally. She was awarded General Manager of the Year at the Hotel Association of Washington DC – ‘Stars of the Industry’ Awards.
Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Centara Hotels & Resorts, has announced the appointment of Wim N M Fagel as General Manager of Centara Watergate Pavilion Hotel Bangkok. Mr Fagel is a Dutch national who has almost 30 years' experience in management at leading hotels, including the Summit Hotel in Nepal and Amari Rincome Hotel in Chiang Mai.
The Soneva Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Marisa Aranha as Managing Director Sales & Marketing. She will be based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Soneva Group’s portfolio is comprised of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. Chairman and CEO, Sonu Shivdasani warmly welcomed Marisa to her new role, saying, ‘Marisa comes to us after many months of deliberate and diligent search. She is someone who has great energy, great intelligence and brings a wealth of her experience which will definitely contribute to developing our niche business in the hospitality industry.’ With over twenty years experience, Marisa has previously held senior sales & marketing roles with both Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, her most recent role being Vice President of Sales for the Minor Hotel Group Thailand with responsibility for the global sales strategy for Anantara Hotels.
Continuing its expansion in Thailand, Best Western International – The World’s Largest Hotel Chain® – has announced the introduction of the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Sukhumvit Hotel in the heart of Bangkok. Conveniently located on the vibrant Sukhumvit Soi 1, in the heart of the city’s central business district.
Mr. Peter Caprez, Cluster General Manager of JW Marriott Bangkok, Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok and Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa, has appointed Ms. Sanne Emborg as the new General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has appointed Claudia Pronk as general manager at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. Pronk was previously general manager of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa and sister hotel Naladhu. She joined the company in 2009 from The Grand Mauritian Hotel in Mauritius, where as general manager she led the hotel pre-opening and the first full year of operation. A Dutch national, Pronk has spent almost 25 years in the hospitality industry, the majority of those years spent working for Le Méridien in hotels in Germany, France and her homeland of The Netherlands. Replacing Pronk, Jeffrey F. Seward has been appointed as cluster general manager of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa and Naladhu Maldives properties. He joins Anantara from Taj Hotels where he held the role of general manager at Taj Boston in the USA.