ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading Asian hotel management company based in Thailand, has been appointed by Methodist Centre Limited (MCL) to manage the Wesley in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong commencing 1 February 2012. The 250-room property is strategically located on Hennessy Road, a prime business and commercial area on Hong Kong Island, just minutes’ walk from Pacific Place.
Mazy brings to the flagship Sheraton in Hong Kong with her 15 years of experience in Human Resources. She first started her career in the hospitality industry in 1996 as Assistant Human Resources Manager at Hotel Nikko Hong Kong. She then moved to InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong as Director of Human Resources in 2001.
With just under 10 days to go until this fantastic Conference takes place on May 12th and 13th at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, below is an updated list of our International Speakers, Panelists and Moderators.
A German national, Martin brings with him more than 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
As a New York woman of high standards and discipline, it is a surprise to learn that Weinberg spent her early twenties in remote villages in Asia, with a backpack. Her travels took her through Thailand, China, Laos and Cambodia, and it was on this tour that she realised a once childhood hobby, in making herb poultices, would shape her future. Living in Asia, Weinberg had been privy to learn herbal medicine among village tribes, which on return to her native land, led to her forging her path to achieve three things: "I wanted to learn to heal myself, learn to live off the land and learn to help others." She then moved to Orient Express Hotels to open their spa at the Maroma Resort on the Mexican Riviera, and was eventually brought into the company’s head office as director of spa development. From 2006 through 2008, Weinberg travelled the globe learning trends, creating trends and opening new spas. In 2008 Weinberg took herself away from the corporate environment and launched Shree Spa, a company that would enable her to open new spas and assist smaller businesses that needed ad hoc management and marketing expertise.
Besides managing the operations of the hotel and responsible for the continued success of Sheraton as the leading hotel providing luxurious comfort in Hong Kong, Charles also oversees Starwood’s footprints in Hong Kong and Macau, including W Hong Kong, Le Méridien Cyberport and The Westin Resort, Macau.
Dan Voellm has been promoted to partner and managing director of HVS Hong Kong’s Consulting and Valuation service. Voellm began his HVS career in New York in 2005 where he successfully performed numerous consulting and valuation assignments throughout the United States and Canada. Since moving to Hong Kong, he has provided advice in major markets, including China, South Korea, the Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Voellm has been an active participant at major industry conferences, having served as speaker at the China Hotel Investment Summit, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Hong Kong International Hotel Investment Forum. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leader Group and a graduate of the Lausanne Hotel School. He enjoys snowboarding, an eclectic cuisine, reading, and traveling.
Mr Gnaegi is an experienced hotel operator and has held several senior management positions at Kempinski Hotel Group. Prior to joining Marco Polo Hotels, he was the Hotel Manager of Kempinski Hotel Baltschug Moscow in Russia. In his new position as Hotel Manager of the Gateway Hotel, he will oversees the overall operations and management of the centrally located Gateway Hotel on Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong.
Regal iClub Hotel, the new contemporary boutique hotel of Regal Hotels International, announces today that the hotel will be Hong Kong’s first hotel to go carbon neutral. This announcement coincides with today June 5th, the World Environment Day.
ibis, the worldwide reference for economy hotels, announces today the development of the largest ibis in Asia Pacific, in central Hong Kong. The hotel will be the second ibis for Hong Kong and the first purpose built ibis hotel. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2012.
The Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ricky Lam as Director of Food & Beverage. The move comes following a successful two-year stint in the same capacity with Prince Hotel. In his new role with the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Ricky will be responsible for the overall management of food and beverage operations, focused on maintaining optimum levels of product and service standards to ensure guest satisfaction. He will also be driving business profitability for the hotel’s banquet facilities and award-winning restaurants and bars.
Since first joining Marco Polo Hotels in 1985, Simon has held key positions in food and beverage operations for the Group’s hotels in Hong Kong. Prior to his appointment with Prince Hotel, Simon was Food and Beverage Manager for Gateway Hotel. In his current role, Simon will be leading and training his team towards delivering a superb experience to guests of Prince Hotel’s renowned restaurants and bars, on top of overseeing the daily operations of his department.
Shenzhen, China -- JDRQUEST&Co., a boutique global executive recruiting firm specializing in the hospitality industry, is pleased to announce the opening of their new Shenzhen location, lead by Robert Fisch.
An interesting panel of speakers, the relevance of the topics discussed, the economic climate, increased interest in the role of technology in the hospitality industry – all contributed to make this year one of the most successful forums at HOFEX. Held on May 7th - the second day of HOFEX, the Forum attracted more than 130 registrants from home and overseas. The house was full for both the morning and afternoon sessions, and every so often with standing room only.
Marco Polo announces the appointment of Mr Mark Heywood as General Manager of the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel. Mr Heywood, who joined the company on May 5, 2009, brings with him a wealth of experience in the hospitality sector and has spent his entire career in Asia, primarily with Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts. His most recent posts were as General Manager of the Shangri-la Qingdao in China and the Kowloon Shangri-la in Hong Kong. Mr John Girard, current General Manager & Area Director of Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel will be retiring from the company to pursue other interests. His last working day with Marco Polo will be July 15, 2009.
Novotel Citygate Hong Kong has been selected once again as “Best Mid-range Hotel in Hong Kong” in the TTG China Travel Awards 2009. It is the second consecutive year that the Hotel has been honoured this recognition by the publication. 15,800 nominations cast by the readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice and TTG-BTmice China who determined the most outstanding performers in China’s travel and tourism industry.
As the global economic uncertainty continues to affect the wider hospitality industry, many hoteliers are desperately searching for new innovative technological solutions to their problems. The fifth bi-annual Hospitality Technology Forum being held on MAY 7th at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center, will bring together leading members of the hospitality industry to discuss a wide range of topics of importance to hoteliers. The Hospitality Technology Forum will include practice discussions and workshops by twenty key industry members from around the world, providing a truly global perspective to many of the current challenges facing the wider hospitality industry.
Gottfrid has over 10 years work experience in the hospitality industry primarily in the Front Office operation within the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). He was previously the Front Office Manager at the luxury property InterContinental Shenzen; and the Reception Manager at InterContinental Hong Kong.
Co-organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Tourism College of Huangshan University, the Fifth China Tourism Forum took place in picturesque Huangshan, Anhui Province, China on 13 -- 14 December 2008. The two-day forum drew together industry leaders, academics and students, taking nature-based tourism as its theme.
Mr Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) gave a public lecture on the prospects of the hospitality industry amidst the current global financial crisis on 26 November at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).