Gary Au has been named General Manager at Dorsett Tsuen Wan
Dorsett Hospitality International is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Au as the General Manager of Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.
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Pedro Samper has been named Executive Chef at The Langham, Hong Kong
Born in San Sebastian, Spain, Chef Samper is a seasoned culinary professional with over 20 years of experience.
IHG announces sale of InterContinental Hong Kong for $938 million
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces that it has agreed to sell IHG's ownership interest in InterContinental Hong Kong (the "Hotel") to Supreme Key Limited, a consortium of investors advised and managed by Gaw Capital Partners (the "Buyer"), for a gross purchase price of US$938m. The Buyer has paid a cash deposit to IHG of $94m, with the remaining proceeds payable in cash on completion.
Kwek Leng Beng to Receive HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award
Mr. Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Chairman of the Hong Leong Group of Companies in Singapore, will be presented with the HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th annual HICAP being held 14-16 October 2015, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
Hong Kong: PolyU Released Report on 2014 Tourist Satisfaction and Tourism Service Quality Indices
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) released a report on the PolyU Tourist Satisfaction Index (PolyU TSI) and the Tourism Service Quality Index (PolyU TSQI), presenting both indices for Hong Kong in the year 2014. The 2014 PolyU TSI and PolyU TSQI stood at 74.50 and 74.51 respectively, both recording year-on-year drops.
Benjamin Bahn has been appointed as VP Asia Pacific at Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin Bahn as Vice President of Global Sales for Asia Pacific. In this capacity, Benjamin is charged with overseeing all sales activities driven by the company’s dynamic team of 10 associates in seven offices across the region to ensure strategic engagement and retention of the company’s member hotels.“Benjamin’s appointment comes at a pivotal period of growth for Preferred Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific. His expertise and rich experience will prove instrumental in supporting our goal to continue the momentum our sales team has created in driving more incremental business and revenue to our member hotels across the region,” says Richard White, Senior Vice President of Global Sales.
ISHC 2015 Rising Star Award Asia Pacific - Call for Nominations
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), has announced a call for nominations for the second annual Rising Star Award Asia Pacific. This is an important award, as both organizations recognize the importance of identifying and saluting future hospitality leaders in the Asia Pacific region.
PolyU Study Finds Hong Kong Hotel Employees’ Efforts Key to Successful Implementation of Green Practices
Hotels in Hong Kong that are looking to implement environmentally friendly policies should consider the knowledge, awareness, attitudes and behaviour of their employees, according to the Drs Eric Chan, Alice Hon, Wilco Chan of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-researcher. Attempting to implement new policies with employees who are unwilling to change their behaviour could increase staff turnover and reduce the success of the programme. Selecting the right employees and providing in-depth training on environmental issues are thus important strategies for ecologically conscious hotels.
Craig S. Smith has been appointed as President & Managing Director at Marriott International Asia Pacific
Marriott International Asia Pacific (APAC) announced today that Simon F. Cooper, President and Managing Director of Asia Pacific, will retire at the end of the month and Craig S. Smith, currently President of Marriott International Caribbean & Latin America (CALA), succeeded Mr. Cooper on June 1, 2015.
Raymond Cheung has joined Hyatt Regency Hong Kong as Executive Chef
With his distinct culinary mastery, Chef Raymond Cheung joins Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui as the hotel’s Executive Chef.
HICAP Sustainable Awards Now Open For Entries
Burba Hotel Network (BHN), Horwath HTL, and Stiles Capital Events, co-hosts and organizers of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), are pleased to announce that entries for the HICAP 2015 Sustainable Hotel Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for Awards submissions is 31 July 2015. The 26th annual HICAP will be held 14-16 October 2015, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
Professor Bob McKercher has been named President at International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST)
Professor Bob McKercher was elected President of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST) in April 2015. Professor Bob McKercher is a Professor in Tourism in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has been a tourism academic since 1990, beginning his career at the Albury-Wodonga campus of Charles Sturt University. Prior to that, Professor McKercher worked in the Canadian tourism industry in a variety of advocacy and operational roles. He was also a ski instructor and back country guide. Professor McKercher spent four years as Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Outfitters Association, a trade association representing the wilderness fishing lodges in northern Canada. Professor McKercher has wide ranging research interests. He has published over 200 scholarly papers and research reports on a variety of cultural tourism, socio-cultural tourism, nature-based tourism, regional tourism development, tourism marketing and tourism education issues. He is the author of The Business of Nature-based Tourism (1998) and co-authored Cultural Tourism: The partnership between tourism and cultural heritage management (2002). He has also co-edited two other books. Professor McKercher is the member of the editorial board of 15 international tourism journals. He received his PhD from the University of Melbourne in Australia, a Masters degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada and his undergraduate degree from York University in Toronto, Canada. Professor McKercher is a member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, a Fellow of CAUTHE, the Council for Australian Tourism and Hospitality Education and is listed in Who’s Who Asia.
Alessandro Angelini has been appointed as Executive Chef at Kowloon Shangri-La
Ulf Bremer, general manager of Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alessandro Angelini to the position of chef at Angelini Italian Restaurant. With over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry, Rimini native Chef Alessandro has been exposed to the gourmet world spanning Europe, North America and Asia. Chef Alessandro is no stranger to the Shangri-La group, and not new to the Hong Kong dining scene either. He joins Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong from the Hong Kong-based Gaia Group, where he served as executive chef at Joia Restaurant for seven years. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Rosso Italian restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta. He has also worked as a chef for several sophisticated establishments, including Michelin-starred Italian restaurants in Ngapali Beach (Myanmar), Venice, London and Los Angeles. “We are thrilled to have Alessandro Angelini at Angelini to lead the culinary team in continuing to pamper the palate of our discerning guests,” said Mr Bremer.
PolyU celebrates the Second Inauguration of Endowed Professorships
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (13 May) held the Second Inauguration of Endowed Professorships at the Jockey Club Auditorium on PolyU campus to pay tribute to distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic achievements and significant contributions to the community, as well as to demonstrate the support and recognition from the community to PolyU for its research excellence.
Betty Yan has been appointed as Director of Business Development – Corporate at The Langham, Hong Kong
Betty has over 8 years of solid sales and marketing experience, including Sands China Limited and Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. Previously as the Director of Business Development at the Sheraton Hong Kong, Betty has a thorough understanding and effective skillset in exploring business possibilities in the corporate segment, leading her team to reach targets efficiently and strategically.
Ricky Li has been appointed as Director of Business Development – China at The Langham, Hong Kong
Having over 13 years of sales experience in various international hotels such as Sheraton Changzhou Wujin Hotel and Oakwood Residence Shanghai, Ricky has a strong foundation in the China market and has achieved revenue targets and guest satisfaction scores. His previous work as the Director of Sales of China Eaton Hotels in the Langham Hospitality Group Shanghai Regional Office, endows him with knowledge and understanding in the group’s culture, vision and market positioning.
Cachet Hotel Group And Drai's Announce Formation Of Joint Venture Nightlife Company
Cachet Hotel Group (CHG) and Drai's Enterprises (Drai's) today announced the formation of a joint venture nightlife management company, to be named Drai's Asia. The new venture will focus on the development and management of Drai's nightclubs, supper clubs, bars, ultra lounges and beach clubs throughout Asia Pacific in destination cities and resorts.
Hotel ICON Becomes First Hong Kong Hotel to Implement Duetto's Revenue Strategy Solutions
Duetto, the market leader in hotel profit optimization technology, announced that Hotel ICON is the first in Hong Kong to implement its revenue strategy solutions, bringing new insights on pricing and demand to the landmark property. A leader in design and luxury guest services, Hotel ICON is a teaching and research hotel owned by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Utilizing new consumer-centric data and a sophisticated pricing engine, Duetto provides hotels and casinos the tools they need to better manage distribution complexity and drive guest loyalty and profits.
PolyU to Launch the first-of-its-kind Master of Science in International Wine Management in Asia to Advance the Global Wine Industry
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been working in close collaboration with the international wine industry to develop a distinctive programme, The Master of Science (MSc) in International Wine Management, to groom the next generation of global industry leaders.
Langham Hospitality Group To Launch New Hotel Brand: Cordis Hotels And Resorts
Langham Hospitality Group is introducing a new upscale global hotel brand: Cordis Hotels and Resorts. Essentially a new generation of curated hotels devoted to the guests' needs and well-being, Cordis aptly derives its name from the Latin term meaning "heart." The holistic concept focuses on the core pillars of intuitive service, connectivity, sophistication and a sense of community. Introducing the brand, Langham Hospitality Group Chief Executive Officer Robert Warman said: "Building on the successes of Langham Hotels and Resorts, we saw the need to create a collection of international upscale hotels and resorts that will deliver what our guests desire: personalized and efficient services, seamless technology, and authentic experiences in the best locations around the world." "Each Cordis hotel will be individual in style, architecture and design, all of which will be reflective of its location and culture, and tailored to the requirements of our guests, from the corporate travellers to honeymooners to multi-generational families. For example, Cordis Hong Kong, due to welcome its first guests in May 2015, is vibrant, modern, and will feature family-friendly facilities and amenities that will complement its bustling neighbourhood." He continues, "Ultimately, it's all about the devotion to our guests' wellbeing during their stay with us. That will be interpreted through our service values and special offerings such as expansive meeting facilities, exciting restaurant social concepts, comprehensive kids' programs, and tailored neighbourhood excursions." The Cordis portfolio will include new built designs, resorts and contemporary residences. According to Warman, the brand will be developed through a combination of new-build and conversion projects in key cities in Asia and North America, with the first hotel expected to fly the Cordis flag this year in Hong Kong. Cordis has already signed management agreements and letters of intent to open eight hotels in seven cities within the next three years; apart from the Hong Kong hotel, the portfolio will include five hotels in China, and one each in Bali (Indonesia,) Colombo (Sri Lanka.) Other cities targeted for future Cordis hotels include London, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. "We are very optimistic about the growth of this particular brand," said Warman. "As there are financial, cost-efficient benefits to developing hotels in the upscale tier, the time is right for us to enter high density markets such as North America and especially in China where there is a rising middle class, increasing domestic and international travel, and higher consumption levels. We see Cordis as complimentary to our existing portfolio and a real opportunity to have multiple properties in new markets in the coming years."