Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced the official opening of Hyatt Regency Shanghai Global Harbor in Shanghai"s Putuo District. Hyatt Regency Shanghai Global Harbor marks the seventh Hyatt-branded hotel in Shanghai, joining Park Hyatt Shanghai; Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai; Grand Hyatt Shanghai; Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai; Hyatt Regency Chongming and Hyatt Regency Shanghai, Wujiaochang.
This month has seen Deutsche Hospitality open up an account with WeChat in China. WeChat is one of the country's leading mobile communication platforms and is used on a daily basis by more than 900 million smart phone owners. The app provides instant messaging and social media functions alongside numerous other services such as mobile payment.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts today announced the soft opening of the 325-room Shangri-La Hotel, Xiamen. Situated in the city"s important newly developed business district, Guanyin Shan Business Centre, the hotel is less than 10 minutes" drive to the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Centre and 20 minutes from the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport. The hotel will hold a grand opening celebration in November.
Grand Hyatt Changsha, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in China"s Hunan Province, celebrated its grand opening today. The 354-room hotel crowns a 61-story tower on prestigious Xiangjiang Road, offering breathtaking views of Xiang River and the city skyline. A riverfront landmark just steps from Changsha"s historic sites, Grand Hyatt Changsha is expected to be the destination for impressive views and unforgettable dining experiences in the heart of this cosmopolitan city.
A Dutch national, Marcel N.A. Holman has been appointed as the General Manager for The Sukhothai Shanghai, a contemporary design hotel managed by The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts, scheduled to debut in December 2017. Prior to joining The Sukhothai Shanghai, Mr Holman was formerly the General Manager of Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei and MEGA 50, an external Food & Beverage lifestyle Complex from 2012 till mid-2016, followed by General Manager Projects for Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties based in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta. Mr Holman started his international hospitality career in Asia Pacific 24 years ago as the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager in Queenstown, New Zealand followed by several assignments with InterContinental Hotels Group, Rotana Hotels and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in Australia, China, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. In July 2005, he joined the Shangri-La Fuzhou, China as Resident Manager and was responsible for the entire hotel’s operations during the soft opening period. After a year tenure with the Shangri-La, Fuzhou, China, Mr Holman was transferred to Shangri-La Chengdu, China in a similar capacity for the pre-opening of the hotel and one year after opening, he took up his first assignment as General Manager with the China World Summit Wing, Convention Centre (A Shangri-La Hotel) Beijing in 2008. In this capacity, Mr Holman was tasked to set-up the structure and streamline the process in preparation for the pre-opening of this flagship Shangri-La hotel. He remained until his move to Wuhan to oversee the USD25 million renovation. After two years, Mr Holman was assigned to the Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Taipei, Taiwan to execute the USD52 million renovation project and the hotel relaunch program. In 2015, he was instrumental in the conceptualization, preparations and execution of Shangri-La’s first external Food & Beverage complex consisting of 3 lifestyle venues and a ballroom located on the 48th, 49th and 50th floor which opened successfully in 2016. In mid-2016, Mr Holman took on the position as General Manager - Projects for the various Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta. One of his greatest achievements was being awarded the winner of “Food & Beverage Creativity Award” InterContinental Hotels North Asia. Mr Holman now heads a team of 249 professionals in the operation of the 17-storey - The Sukhothai Shanghai with 201 uniquely designed guest rooms and suites, five lifestyle venues and event space accommodating up to 350 persons for reception, a state-of-the-art 198 square metre fitness centre and a Spa. In addition, Mr Holman will also oversee the leasing and catering management of the “Cha House”, a restored heritage 3-storey building annexed to the Hotel. During his career, Mr Holman has been involved in 6 hotel openings and 3 hotel renovation projects in senior roles and studied International Hotel Management in The Netherlands, complimented with several Cornell courses and has completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2014. Mr. Holman holds a duel role as Vice President Mainland China for The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts responsible for the brand development and expansion of the Sukhothai brand within Mainland China.
Hotel Éclat Beijing, the number one hotel in China ranked by TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dany Lützel as General Manager.
Chinese insurance company Anbang Insurance Group has been instructed by Chinese authorities to sell off their foreign assets, which include the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The insurance company has a spread of assets overseas, after going on a spending spree in the last three years with the purpose of accruing foreign acquisitions in a bid to position themselves abroad, eventually making a name for themselves on Wall Street. However, the company's dealings have been overshadowed recently with the controversy surrounding its Chairman Wu Xiaohui, who has been held for questioning since the middle of the summer, and also by the keen eye that is being kept on them by regulators who are skeptical of their takeover policies.
Larry has amassed two decades of luxury hospitality experience in his native country, having managed hotels under global brands such as Shangri-La and Intercontinental. Recognised for his deep knowledge of the market and operational expertise, Larry will lead Pan Pacific's flagship in China to being one of the top hotels in the city and set the benchmark for Pan Pacific brand’s expansion into other first-tier cities in China.
InterContinental Hong Kong is expected to close for a major renovation in the first quarter of 2019, with the entire renovation taking 12-16 months. The hotel will undergo a spectacular transformation that will position it as one of the top hotels not only in Asia, but also as one of the world"s most iconic hotels. The total transformation will span all guest rooms and suites including bathrooms, all public areas, restaurants and event venues, as well as a redesign of the building façade with a contemporary new look.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group has announced that Pan Pacific Beijing (北京泛太平洋酒店) will open on 20 August as the latest luxury hotel in the prime Xicheng district of Beijing, offering unparalleled access to the renowned Financial Street and the capital city"s administrative centre.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ("Alibaba") (NYSE: BABA) and Marriott International, Inc. ("Marriott International") (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced the establishment of a joint venture to redefine the travel experience for the hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers traveling abroad and domestically every year.
Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, the company"s 200th hotel in Asia Pacific.
Wharf Hotels is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Marcel Sawyere as General Manager for Marco Polo Lingnan Tiandi Foshan in China. A seasoned hotelier with a wealth of experience spanning over 34 years, Sawyere has held leadership roles in hospitality across Asia Pacific.
The relaxation of visa regulations for mainland Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong has dramatically increased the number of arrivals, almost completely changed the tourists' profiles and altered what they do once in the city, according to Ph.D. graduate Dr Anyu Liu and Professor Bob McKercher of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In a recently published article the researchers highlight the extent of changes to visitor behaviour and satisfaction, and note that other countries wanting to adjust their visa regulations to exploit the huge potential of the Chinese tourism market should consider the Hong Kong example and plan ahead.
A Dutch national, Marcel N.A. Holman has been appointed as the General Manager for The Sukhothai Shanghai, a contemporary design hotel managed by The Sukhothai Hotels and Resorts, scheduled to debut in December 2017.
Japanese retailer Muji is set to open hotels in Shenzhen, China and Tokyo, Japan, which will be styled with the minimalist brand's furnishings and products. The first Muji Hotel will open in Shenzhen later this year, while the second has just broken ground in Tokyo's Chūō City and is slated for completion in 2019. While details about both projects are currently vague, Business Insider Japan reported that the Shenzhen hotel will include 79 rooms and feature recycled wood interiors. Early models of the suites are shown to be compact and minimally styled.
Wanda Reign Wuhan has announced the appointment of international hotelier Robert Williams as General Manager effective June 26. Williams has previously worked at luxury hotels and resorts in Europe, Central America, and more recently Central Asia.
The Ascott Limited's CEO Mr Lee Chee Koon has been accorded the Business China Young Achiever Award (通商中国青年奖) for Ascott's contributions to Singapore-China relations. The award was presented by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Business China Awards Dinner 2017. Organised by Business China, the awards aim to honour outstanding individuals and enterprises for their contributions to Singapore-China relations as well as promoting bilingualism and biculturalism in Singapore.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of the Nanhai Wing at Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai. The new wing is an incorporation of the former Nanhai Hotel, one of Shenzhen's earliest and most renowned hotels, and will bring a host of new amenities and experiences to guests including three dining outlets, multiple recreation facilities and 218 additional guest rooms featuring sweeping views of Shenzhen Bay.
Leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a division of Minor Hotels, is delighted to officially announce the launch of its Chinese 'guì bīn' program across selected properties next month.