Industry-leading provider of SaaS Revenue & Yield Management solutions to the global hotel industry, Easy (Ez) Revenue Management Solutions Ltd (EasyRMS) has moved into one of the largest hotel companies in China, HNA Hotels and Resorts. HNA owns the TANGLA and HNA hotel brands, with properties including: TANGLA Grand Palace, The TANG Hotel, Gardenlane Hotel by TANGLA, HNA Grand Hotel and HNA Express Inn.
Andrew Whitaker brings 18 years experience working for highly successful hospitality companies in Asia. Most recently, Mr. Whitaker was general manager of Andara Resort and Villas in Phuket, Thailand. Previously, he was general manager of Golden Sands Resort Hotel, Malaysia owned by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and was general manager of Hong Kong’s Premier Private Family and Business Club, owned and managed by Shangri-La Hotels, from 2004 to 2008. He has held hospitality industry general manager positions for more than 12 years in Beijing, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan.
With the opening of the Kempinski Hotel Huizhou, Kempinski established its presence in the city and the whole province of Guangdong. The modern five-star hotel beautifully combines the European flair for which Kempinski is known with Chinese culture. Including this latest addition, Kempinski now has eleven properties in China.
Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide, said, "Xi'an has always been an important cultural and industrial hub, and now it is continuing its growth as a center of tourism. Hilton Worldwide's portfolio of hotels in China is growing rapidly with more than 80 properties in the pipeline, and we are extremely excited to now have a presence from our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in such a key location."
"Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe is yet another milestone in Hilton Worldwide's growth strategy for China. The opening of this hotel will expand upscale accommodations in the region and contribute to the local community by providing exciting new employment opportunities for local talent," added Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.
A Korean national with a wealth of experience in the industry and the region, following 25 years of working in the hotel industry, and 20 years within Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, John Lee is well equipped to join the Hyatt Regency Jing Jin City team.
In this newly created role, Ip will act as an adviser to Hilton Worldwide, primarily overseeing all of the company’s operational interests in Greater China, including implementing a new organizational structure, assisting in recruiting best-in-class talent, and aggregating the growth from the numerous hotel openings in the next few years. He will be based between Singapore and Shanghai. Ip brings with him more than 30 years of expertise in the hospitality business. He was most recently non-executive director and chief adviser to the board of the Kosmopolito Hotels International Ltd. Prior to this, he spent more than 10 years with the Intercontinental Hotels Group, where he held several positions, including chief adviser for Asia Pacific. Prior to the Intercontinental Hotels Group, Ip held senior positions in CDL Hotel International and the Thai Wah Group of Companies, including being the co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. Ip’s career in hospitality began at Hyatt International Corporation in 1973. During his tenure there, he was based in Indonesia, Singapore, London and the company’s Chicago headquarters. Prior to joining the hospitality industry, Ip was the group chief accountant for Li Po Chin Group of Companies in Hong Kong, and Auditor at the then Price Waterhouse in Hong Kong.
Fairmont is pleased to announce several recent management and supervisory-level appointments at its properties worldwide. Reto Borer takes on the role of director, food & beverage, Fairmont Beijing. Borer brings extensive culinary expertise to his new role having worked in kitchens from Cairo to Australia. He joined Fairmont Beijing in 2010 as executive chef and he will continue to oversee the culinary department in his new role.
Fairmont is pleased to announce several recent management and supervisory-level appointments at its properties worldwide. Denis Lartigue joins the kitchens of Shanghai’s Fairmont Peace Hotel as executive chef. Lartigue has held several senior culinary positions over the course of his career and has honed his skill in some of the world’s top hotel kitchens. Most recently, he was executive chef, the Conrad International, Bangkok.
Shangri-La's first Russian restaurant, Salt and Bread, opened at Shangri-La Hotel, Manzhouli on 29 July 2011. The restaurant offers a combination of authentic Russian cuisine and contemporary décor, dance performances and a Russian band creating a truly enjoyable dining experience for guests.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, owner of the Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza hotel brands, plans to expand further with a new upscale brand in China and another midmarket brand in the U.S. IHG executives spoke about their preliminary plans for the new brands while detailing the U.K.-based company’s second-quarter results on Tuesday. Those included a 6.5% gain in revenue per available room globally. More recently, IHG posted for July a revenue-per-room gain of 5.6%, including a 2.7% increase in the average rate.
Once again, The China Hotels Association (CHA) held its 12 Th. Chinese Food Festival and the 10th International Gourmet Expo in Shenyang supported by the Ministry of Commerce of China and IHRA as well as CHA and People Government of Shenyang between 23rd and 26th of July 2011.
Grand Hyatt Beijing has announced the appointment of Malcolm Zancanaro as General Manager effective 1 August 2011. Malcolm has been with Hyatt for over 20 years, his career includes more than 10 years in senior management positions in Hyatt properties.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the appointment of Edmond Ip as Chairman, Greater China. In this new role, Edmond will act as an adviser to Hilton Worldwide, primarily overseeing all of the company’s operational interests in Greater China, including implementing a new organizational structure, assisting in recruiting best-in-class talent, and aggregating the growth from the numerous hotel openings in the next few years. Ip will be based between Singapore and Shanghai.
RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced it has expanded its network in China through its affiliation with Shining Star Vacation Club, Xing Yao Shui Xiang Resort. Shining Star Vacation Club, Xing Yao Shui Xiang Resort is located in the Jia Lize wetland in Kunming.
The hotel has 30 luxury rooms each with its own unique contemporary decor. The renowned hotel restaurant has been re-named 'Yi House' to honor the hotel's origins. It offers modern Mediterranean and Asian cuisine and has a superb wine cellar. Grace Hotels has stated that this is its first property in the region and that there will be more Grace hotels in Asia Pacific in the coming years. The acquisition follows the group's major expansion into the Americas at the end of 2010 with the announcements of Grace Panama, Grace Cafayate in Argentina and the Vanderbilt Grace in Newport Rhode Island.
"The demand for world-class accommodation in China is growing at a staggering rate, and Hilton Worldwide is continuing its growth momentum with our newest offering in the Chinese market," said Martin Rinck, area president, Hilton Worldwide, Asia Pacific. "With our internationally renowned standard of products and services, coupled with a location that boasts an awe-inspiring mountain backdrop and nature-rich environment, Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort will contribute to making Qiandao Lake an even more attractive destination."
Horwath HTL released its Annual China Hotel Industry Study 2011 (Financial Year 2010) today at the 8th China Hotels Development Conference, organized by the China Tourist Hotels Association (CTHA). The conference, held at the Dragon Hotel Hangzhou, attracted more than 200 participants from across the country, including leaders of hotel management companies, hotel owners, developers, investors and government officials.
Nigel is an experienced hotelier with a passion for old style hospitality, a true believer in premium class service delivery based on solid training, development and real motivation of employees. He brings with him years of experience in food & beverage and hotel operations, having worked with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons Sydney and Tanjung Rhu Resort Malaysia. Prior to the appointment of this position, he was General Manager of the Marco Polo Davao, Philippines.
The Zhangjiajie Observatory, located in Hunan Province, is part of a network of observatories assisting policy makers to ensure sustainable tourism growth. It will gather and report data on the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism in the area based on UNWTO sustainable tourism indictors.