In an industry so heavily reliant on talent, evolving technology, consumer trends, and where change is the norm, the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Research (IHTER), a division of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU) set its sights on addressing key issues faced by the hospitality industry with the launch of the Visionary Leaders Forum in Singapore.
Neo Ping Peng started her career with Albert Court Hotel, Singapore in 2001 as Sales Coordinator and was soon promoted to the position of Sales Manager. She moved to the Royal Plaza on Scotts, Singapore in 2004 as Sales Manager and took on the role as Senior Business Development Manager in 2007.
Capella Hotel Group has appointed Alejandro Helbling as General Manager of Capella Singapore effective Oct 1, 2013.
Lance Ourednik has been named general manager of the Westin Singapore. With more than 39 years of experience in the luxury hospitality sector, Ourednik has held several senior roles with Starwood in Beijing, Guilin and Xiamen. Most recently he opened the Westin Mumbai Garden City.
Shantha de Silva has been appointed general manager at the InterContinental Singapore, while remaining as IHG’s director of operations for Singapore, Malaysia & the Philippines. De Silva started his career in 1982 at the InterContinental Colombo and has since worked in Cambodia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has announced the appointment of Mr Bill Sheppard as General Manager, taking over from Mr Steven Chan with effect of today. The 320-room hotel is the only Crowne Plaza hotel in Singapore and the first international brand name hotel to open in the direct vicinity of Singapore’s award-winning Changi Airport. Bill will oversee all operations of the award-winning property which has been ranked one of the top airport hotels in the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2012, World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012 and SkyTrax World Airport Awards 2013. He will continue to build a winning team and bring the hotel to new heights. Prior to his appointment, Bill was the Regional General Manager for United Arab Emirates (UAE) and General Manager of Crowne Plaza Deira Dubai. Bill will be joining Crowne Plaza Changi Airport with a wealth of experience in hospitality with a career spanning over 35 years across Europe, US, Middle East and Australia.
Cornell University and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have launched Asia's first hospitality management program for senior professionals in the industry.The Cornell-Nanyang Advanced Management Program (AMP) in Hospitality Management will help senior industry executives with more than seven years of managerial experience advance their knowledge of hospitality management in a multinational setting. Combining industry best practices with cutting-edge hospitality management theory, participants can further sharpen their decision making abilities and strategic thinking.Conducted by world-class faculty from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration and NTU's Nanyang Business School, the program will give participants advanced and leading-edge insights into critical business and management issues facing Asia's booming hospitality sector.Associate Professor Nilanjen Sen, Associate Dean of Nanyang Executive Education at Nanyang Business School, said, "As Asia's hospitality industry grows rapidly, demand for senior hospitality leaders with exceptional skills in developing and managing change is on the rise.""The Cornell-Nanyang AMP will leverage upon participants' industry experience and equip them for higher responsibilities, putting them at the forefront of innovation amid Asia's ever-changing business landscape."Thomas Kline, Executive Director of the Office of Executive Educaiton, Cornell School of Hotel Administration, said, "This program represents an opportunity to gain knowledge, upgrade skills and get re-inspired. The managers in the program will have the distinct advantage of making their already successful careers even better. This joint effort between Nanyang Business School and Cornell will leverage the best qualitieis of both schools and deliver exceptional value for participants and their companies."The four-week program will be presented in two locations: Cornell's Ithaca campus in New York, USA, and NTU's Yunnan campus in Singapore. The first intake will be admitted in March 2014 and applications are now open.Patrick Imbardelli, president and chief executive of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said, "The world is changing and along with it, the challenges in hospitality. As leaders we owe it to the industry, our colleagues and customers to keep ourselves connected and on top of issues that affect how we negotiate and spearhead change and innovation in our industry.""The Cornell-Nanyang AMP will plug you into the key aspects of our industry that are critical for leadership, equipping you with the skills, knowledge and network to raise your game."The program is offered throught the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI), a long-standing partnership that was set up in 2004 to develop leaders, managers and entrepreneurs for the hospitality and tourism industry in Asia.Housed at NTU's Nanyang Business School, the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management combines the education and research strengths of two top universities in the world -- Cornell, an American Ivy League university with a world-renowned School of Hotel Administration, and Singapore's NTU, ranked fourth top business school in Asia by The Economist. For more information on the Cornell-Nanyang AMP in Hospitality Management program, visit www.hotelcornell.cornell.edu/amp.
Pauline Ng has joined the Singapore Marriott Hotel as its new director of sales. Ms Ng joined the hospitality industry in 2000 and most recently served as assistant director of sales for MICE at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, prior to joining the Singapore Marriott Hotel.
Rajesh Dewan has been appointed as the new director of finance at the Singapore Marriott Hotel. As qualified chartered accountant, Dewan has 15 years of experience in the industry. He started his career at Hotel Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu before moving to India and Singapore.
Liversidge, who will be based in Singapore, was previously the chief marketing officer of CSL Limited, a leading mobile communication business based in Hong Kong. In this position, he drove the development of the multi-brand business, with personal responsibility for leading 120 marketers across eight departments, including Brand & Communications, Product, Pricing and Customer/Market Research. Liversidge graduated with a degree in Business, Politics & History from the University of Durham, United Kingdom and developed his career with roles across Europe, Australia and Asia. Mark has been named in the Global Telecom Top 40 under 40 for the last two years and delivered multiple award-winning projects during his career, including CMO Council Asia’s ‘Best Marketing Campaign of the Year’, IPA ‘Best Retail Interior Asia Pacific’ and a Gold EFFIE.
Previously the Executive Assistant Manager for Rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Viri brings with her almost three decades of stellar hospitality experience with the Shangri-La group across a spectrum of responsibilities in hotel operations. Previous positions she has held include Garden Wing Manager, Valley Wing Manager, Director of Diplomatic Affairs, Director of Rooms. Under her leadership, Viri had also led her teams to clinch numerous awards such as AICR Best Front Office Department for Deluxe Hotels in 2009 and was also guest judge for the National TV reality show “Can you Serve”. The exposure and experience she has gained abroad has inspired her to move back to Singapore where she is keen to explore further opportunities to contribute back to the Singapore hospitality arena.
Sok Hia who was previously the Director of Sales & Marketing for the sister properties, leads the integrated Sales & Marketing efforts as well as drives the Revenue Management of both Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford, one of the largest hotel complex in Singapore with an inventory of 2,030 guestrooms, 15 food & beverage outlets, the 70,000sq.ft Raffles City Convention Centre and Willow Stream Spa - one of the largest luxury spas in Asia.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Simon Hirst as General Manager of Raffles Singapore. One of the UK’s best-known hoteliers, Simon moves from sister property Raffles Praslin, Seychelles to take up the position in Singapore on August 1, 2013. Simon’s role in the Seychelles will be filled by Christoph Ganster who succeeds him as General Manager, Raffles Praslin, Seychelles, from July 15, 2013. Simon established his reputation in the hotel industry with over 15 years of working with hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray. In 1997, Simon was appointed opening General Manager of One Aldwych, London. In 2008, he moved on to be Operations Director of Campbell Gray Hotels, overseeing the whole hotel collection. Simon’s career began with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he held management positions in Hong Kong and San Francisco over 11 years. He then joined Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in 1988, as Resident Manager of the Four Seasons, Park Lane, London. He returned to Asia in 1991 as Hotel Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and then re-joined Four Seasons in 1994 as opening General Manager of The Regent Chiang Mai (a Four Seasons hotel). Ever since it opened in 1887, Raffles Hotel has epitomized the romance of the Far East – an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and colonial ambiance that no other hotel can match. It is still home to the legendary Raffles Butlers and the Singapore Sling. The story begins at the door: Raffles’ fabulous doormen, Narajan, Swaran and Sarjit, greet their guests in true Raffles style. Their splendid uniforms are from Gieves and Hawkes – and their smiles are wide and genuine. Simon’s role as General Manager of Raffles Praslin Seychelles will be filled by Christoph Ganster, effective from July 15, 2013.
Singapore announces today six senior appointments to oversee the internal and external operations of the luxury design hotel, which marks the Sofitel Luxury Hotels group's first strategic foray into the local market. Joining General Manager Tony Chisholm to firmly establish the upcoming hotel as one of the country's treasured landmarks and the benchmark of 'glocalisation' in the hospitality industry, are:
With extensive experience as a communications professional across five cities across the globe, Prerna will create, implement and measure the success of Sofitel So Singapore's marketing, communications and public relations initiatives. Driven by her strong track record delivering sound communications solutions for clients through both traditional and digital channels, she will maintain a strategic positioning unique to Sofitel So, weaving the hotel into Singapore's rich and vibrant tapestry.
YOTEL, the revolutionary hotel concept, is today announcing that it will open for business inSingapore with a 600 cabin property on Orchard Road, the epicentre ofSingapore. The hotel is due to open in 2018. It will act as a springboard intoAsia for YOTEL, following the opening of its 669 cabin hotel in Times Square,New York.
Raffles Singapore has announced the appointment of Christian Westbeld as Hotel Manager with effect from 1 June 2013.
Darren Edmonstone, Outrigger Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, has announced the appointment of Mark Simmons as Vice President Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific, effective June 5, 2013. Mr. Simmons, an Australian national with 23 years' experience in hospitality in Asia-Pacific, most of it in sales and marketing, will be based at the Outrigger regional headquarters in Phuket, Thailand. He will report to Mr. Edmonstone.
Prior to arriving in Singapore, Kelly was Director of Food & Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf, where he managed seven food and beverage areas including Catering. A UK resident with more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kelly’s career in Four Seasons includes Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsular Papagayo and Four Seasons Hotel Miami. He joined the latter Hotel’s opening team as Conference Services Manager.
Nor1, the technology leader in Upsell solutions, today announced the expansion of its global business development organization to Singapore, which is to be led by Allan Taylor. Allan recently joined the Silicon Valley-based company as Vice President Asia Pacific - Business Development. The move is in response to growing demand in the region for Nor1's suite of data-driven Upsell solutions.