Nenden Rukasah has been announced as the new Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. An Indonesian national, she joins the hotel following spells with several hotel chains, including Swiss-Belhotel, Archipelago, Marriott, Starwood and Mandarin Oriental.
Bruley’s post at the Metropole comes after a two-year sabbatical during which she achieved her Executive MBA from the European School ESCP. She complemented those studies with additional coursework at the University of Texas in Austin and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Two generations after his family anchored their working life in colonial Vietnam, a French chef has followed up on his fascination with this legacy to command the kitchens at the country’s most storied hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
With over 27 years of experience in hospitality industry, Surapun first established his career at Hilton International Hotel at Nai Lert Park, Bangkok as a supervisor of Ma Maison restaurant. He then joined Royal Garden Village, Hua Hin as food and beverage manager in 1988, before taking a position at Le Meridien President Hotel Bangkok (now InterContinental Hotel Bangkok) as maitre’d of the hotel’s Fire Place Grill. In 1991, he joined Asia Hotel Bangkok as director of food and beverage, heading the operation and administration team of 350 staff, managing eight restaurants and banqueting for up to 1,000 people, as well as providing food and beverage consultancy in Brunei’s Palaces between hotel and AC DSH BHD. In 1997, he became executive assistant manager at Amari Watergate Hotel Bangkok before he took up a new position as the general manager at The Wangtara Hotel & Resort in Chacheng-sao, followed by The Golden City Hotel in Rayong and Empress Hotels Group with the same position. In 2002, he was general manager at Siam Bayview Hotel in Pattaya, followed by U Chiang Mai in 2009 and Eastin Hotel Makkasan Bangkok in 2010. Prior to joining Eastin Easy GTC Hanoi as general manager, he was the group general manager at The Aetas Hotels & Residences.
Hilton Worldwide today signed a new management agreement with Hoan Kiem Tourism & Trading Company Limited to introduce the first Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Worldwide"s second property in Vietnam. Scheduled to open in the second half of 2012, the 86-room Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi marks the debut of Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide"s award-winning, mid-priced brand, in Southeast Asia.
Sofitel has promoted the current general manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Kai Speth, to a new position as area general manager for Vietnam. Now, in addition to ongoing responsibilities at the landmark Hanoi property, Speth will have oversight responsibilities for Sofitel Plaza Hanoi and Sofitel Saigon Plaza.
Mr. Beaumont, a British national, has over 25 years of experience in the hotel and tourism industry.
A native of Italy, Massimiliano “Max” Binda started work at Hanoi’s landmark hotel this month after nearly two years as director of rooms at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech. Prior to that appointment, he’d served two years as assistant director of rooms at a Mandarin property in Geneva. And prior to that, he was with Mandarin in Hong Kong. Binda’s rise in the hospitality is straight out of a storybook. His career in hospitality began more than two decades ago when he graduated from a tourism institute in Italy. His first post-graduate post was as a waiter. He quickly advanced to management, supplementing on-the-job experience with courses in Italy and at the famed Lausanne Hotel School. From 2000 to 2004, he was a member of the Reservation, Room Division and Revenue Managers Advisory Board for the Leading Hotels of the World. In addition to Italian, Binda speaks English, German and French fluently.
Kai Speth, General Manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Vietnam), has won the award for the Most Outstanding Hotel General Manager (upscale and luxury hotels) at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2009, organised by the French trade magazine HTR. Mr Speth will accept his award at the hospitality gala to be held in Paris tonight.
Hanoi will welcome its first new internationally-branded 4-star hotel for over a decade, when Mercure Hanoi La Gare opens tomorrow (September 1, 2009).
U.S.-based hotel giant, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) has signed a management agreement with a Vietnamese ownership group, Binh Minh Import Export Production and Trade Company, Ltd., to open a JW Marriott luxury branded hotel in Hanoi in 2012.