ZDirect is positioned for explosive growth in Asia Pacific now that Michael Dunphy has been named Director of Sales for the APAC region. Operating from the company's regional office in Singapore, the 16-year hospitality industry veteran and former hotel general manager will focus on delivering ZDirect's eCRM and Hotel Marketing Automation solutions.
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has become the first hotel in Singapore to engage with guests in Asia via WeChat, the world's fastest growing social application that changed the way people connect and communicate with each other. To celebrate this new partnership, the hotel has launched a "Share and Win" campaign to encourage users to share the news of this initiative.
Infor, the world's third largest business software provider with almost US$3 billion in revenue, today announced the appointment of Eric Wong as Vice President of Infor Hospitality, Asia Pacific. Mr. Wong will be responsible for driving Infor's growth in the Asia Pacific hospitality sector, further solidifying Infor's leadership position in developing business software solutions specifically designed for the hospitality industry and building new partnerships throughout the region.
Mr. Wong has almost 20 years of experience in the business consulting, hospitality and business software industries in Asia and North America. He joins Infor from AJB Software Design, Inc. where he served as Director of Mobile Strategy. He also served previously as Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Agilysys, a hospitality solutions company from 2007-2012. Mr. Wong received a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen’s University, Canada and received his Chartered Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Asia Pacific's 10th Annual AsiaConnect Conference will be held in Singapore on September 3, 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Conference Center.
Oakwood Managed Properties, one of the largest serviced apartment chains in South East Asia and India, has selected eRevMax to optimize online sales through efficient channel management. Twelve properties of the group will be using the RateTiger Channel Management solution to manage rates and availability across multiple sales channels from single platform.
A marketing and communications professional, Lim’s career has been built with iconic brands in Regional Asia Pacific roles, including LVMH for its Guerlain Travel Retail division, BVLGARI South-East Asia, Procter and Gamble Prestige Cosmetics division, as well as Singapore exposure in Estee Lauder Companies and Amore Pacific. A firm believer in the art of communication, Lim is excited about ushering in a season of premium engagement and interaction across numerous platforms. "Four Seasons is a classic and grand institution, well known for being the first in many consumer-centric innovations in hospitality. We were the first to provide in-room amenities of shampoos and toiletries, 24-hour concierge as a standard service across all properties in the world, and customizable Four Seasons Beds that can be tailored according to guest preference."
Fresh, friendly and fuss-free. That's the genre of Hotel Jen, the new brand revealed today by Hong Kong-based Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. Catering to a new 'Jeneration' of independently minded business and leisure travellers, the brand will launch quickly with ten Hotel Jens opening in major cities in Asia Pacific by March 2015.
Prior to this appointment, Lelay was the Project Liaison Manager at The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa, where he managed the upcoming refurbishment of the hotel in preparation for the rebranding exercise into a Sofitel hotel in 2015. He has also held several senior management roles including Vice President of Hotel Operations for Greater China where he supervised and operated more than 50 hotel projects from development phase to operations. During this time, he developed a strong appreciation and a deep understanding of the Asian culture. As General Manager, Lelay was instrumental in the successful rebranding of the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel and Novotel Clarke Quay in Singapore. Before his successful venture in Singapore, Lelay spent eight years in Indonesia as the Regional General Manager of Operations for Accor in Yogyakarta and Central Java and managed numerous hotels in Asia and Europe for the group. Born in France, Lelay was educated in Strasbourg and Paris, and has attended the GM’s Program in Cornell University. He is married with a daughter and is fluent in French, English and some Spanish and Mandarin.
AsiaConnect, HSMAI Asia Pacific's annual learning and networking event for hospitality sales, marketing and revenue management professionals will focus on the dynamics of 'The New Sales Professional', Game Changing Consumer Trends, Real-time Marketing Solutions and Digital Customer Engagement.
Reporting directly to President and Chief Executive Officer J. Allen Smith, Crawford assumes primary responsibility for all business activities in the Asia Pacific region, including implementing the company's growth plan and delivering on financial objectives associated with the strategic plan for the region. Based in the company's corporate office in Singapore, Crawford is relocating from Shanghai, China, where he was senior vice president and general manager of the Shanghai Disney Resort and president of Walt Disney Holding Company, Shanghai. A 24-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company, his experience includes real estate, project management, hospitality and entertainment. Crawford was deeply involved in the negotiations that lead to Shanghai Disney Resort. In his most recent position, he was charged with creating the management company that will operate the Shanghai Disney Resort, which is The Walt Disney Company's sixth resort destination worldwide.
Born in England, Mackay began his Four Seasons career in San Francisco in 1982, and was most recently Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Under his leadership from its opening in 2005, the hotel has continued to receive international accolades, most recently 20 Forbes stars for the hotel, its spa and restaurants, and for the past several years, Michelin stars for its two signature restaurants, including Lung King Heen, the first Chinese restaurant in the world to be awarded three Michelin stars.
Oakwood Worldwide® the global leader in corporate housing and serviced apartment solutions, has appointed Scott Garber as director of supplier management. In this capacity, Garber will work closely with Craig Ryan, managing director of Oakwood Worldwide's Asia Pacific division, in the company's continued expansion across the region
The Singapore Marriott Hotel has welcomed Simon Bell as the newly-appointed General Manager. Simon brings with him a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, where he began his career in 1992 at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. Working up through the leadership ranks in operations, finance, revenue management, and Sales & Marketing, Simon was promoted to his first general manager role at the Courtyard Seoul in 2009, where he successfully opened the first Courtyard in South Korea. His leadership prowess helped paved the way the following year to winning the coveted Hotel of the Year award for 2010. Prior to joining the Singapore Marriott Hotel, he was the General Manager at the Renaissance Hotel Seoul, where he led the Seoul Business Council through challenging economic conditions and improved the hotel’s business in every aspect.
Sharmini Moganasundram moves from her General Manager role at PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur to become the Group’s first female hotel General Manager, in charge of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road in Singapore. A long-serving associate who has been with the Group for over 20 years, Sharmini was notably Hotel Manager of “Pan Pacific” and PARKROYAL hotels in Kuala Lumpur before she was promoted to General Manager of PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur last year.
TrustYou, the inventor of the Meta- ReviewTM and global online reputation management leader, has appointed Frederick Wong as its Vice President, Business Development - Asia as part of its international expansion plans and growth strategy in Asia.
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore, has announced the appointment of Tane Picken as its new resident manager. A hotelier with over 13 years of experience across China, Africa, Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, Mr. Picken will assist the resort’s general manager, Ben Bousnina, in managing daily operations and developing key strategies for the 454-room resort.
Hemant CHAUHAN - IMHI 2011 has been promoted to Head of Digital - South East Asia & Australia, Team Unilever Mindshare based in Singapore. Prior to that Hemant was Head of Digital for the same Company, based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Francis PARK ESSEC Hospitality MBA 2012 has been appointed Sales Manager for Grand Hyatt Singapore. Prior to that Fançis was Marketing & Business Development Executive for Tauzia Hotel Management Greater Jakarta Area, Indonesia.
Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd (Frasers), a world leader in premier serviced apartments and hotel residences, has appointed Mr Vernon Lee as the new General Manager for Capri by Fraser, Changi City/Singapore. In his new role, Lee will oversee the management and operations of Frasers’ award-winning flagship hotel residence catered to egeneration travellers.