GHM is strengthening its foothold in Indonesia with an agreement to manage The Chedi Nusa Penida, a 100-villa resort scheduled to open in 2015 on a secluded island ten kilometres southeast of Bali.
Uday was born in India and his name means “sunrise,” honouring the fact that he was born at dawn. When he was 16, he immigrated to San Diego, California. After studying business management in the United States and Tokyo, Japan, he naturally gravitated to the world of hotels. As he explains, “my family is in the hotel business and I practically grew up in hotels.”
Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta has announced the appointment of Jeff Lee as Chinese Executive Chef for its Chinese restaurant, Xin Hwa. Jeff Lee, who previously worked at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, has more than fourteen years’ culinary experience in five-star international chain hotels with a successful career that took him to Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia and now Jakarta. A Malaysian citizen, Chef Lee specialises in fine Cantonese cuisine as well as large-scale Chinese banquets. Chef Lee started his career at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, before moving Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. He has also had the opportunity to work under the supervision of famed celebrity Chef Jereme Leung, from whom Chef Lee learnt to give innovative touches on Chinese cuisine from various regions of China.
IHG has announced robust expansion plans for Indonesia, identifying it as a key growth market within the region. Revealing a strong pipeline especially in the midscale segment for Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, IHG will also strengthen its position in the market with the launch of Hotel Indigo, which will bring its representation of brands in the market to five, alongside InterContinental and Crowne Plaza.
Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President, Mr. Gavin M. Faull has announced the Group's expansion of the 2-star Zest Hotel brand in Indonesia. This new hotel brand will enhance the Group's rapidly growing portfolio of 2-star to 5-star properties. Swiss-Belhotel International is targeting projects in a number of major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Bogor, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Balikpapan, Cirebon, Manado, Makassar and the islands of Bali and Batam as the Group strives to develop more Zest Hotels in various regions of Indonesia. The development of Zest Hotels across Indonesia will provide customers with an Internationally managed but affordable accommodation option.
Mr. Junianto, a 15 year veteran of the hospitality trade, has a wealth of experience as an organizer in the MICE field in Indonesia having worked for numerous international and local 5 star properties with his last position being Owner Representative of Pt. Melali, a private company dedicated to the organization of MICE events. Le Grande is the latest addition to the Absolute Hotel Services Hotel Management Company (AHS) management portfolio. Based in Bangkok, AHS will be re-branding Le Grande as U Agathis Pecatu Bali in the final quarter of 2012 where it will join the deluxe U Hotels & Resorts brand which is already active in Indonesia, Thailand, India and Vietnam. AHS also manages the 4 and 5 star Eastin Hotels & Residences and the mid-range Eastin Easy chain of properties throughout South East Asia, India and the Middle East.
Brand new to Four Seasons family, this Australian native most recently owned and operated three successful restaurants in Brisbane. Taking charge as Executive Chef of a major resort is a new challenge for Greg, but he’s definitely familiar with managing multiple venues and different teams. As Executive Chef, Greg oversees all the Resort’s dining venues, including the Italian-influenced Taman Wantilan and the Indonesian-focused Warung Mie, as well as coordinating In-Villa Dining and banquets. Greg was born on the eastern coast of Australia in New South Wales and was drawn to being a chef by the excitement and fast pace of the kitchen environment. He trained first in Canberra and Sydney, then worked in Hong Kong and Macau, cooking in many Chinese and Thai kitchens, gaining knowledge and expertise with Asian cuisine.
Mark Bradford, who is currently General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Manila, will succeed Andrew Abram as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta with effect from 17 September 2012. Mark embarked on his career with Mandarin Oriental in 2001 as Hotel Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and was appointed General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai in 2005. He moved to Manila in 2009.
Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta welcomes Ms. Yip Lai Pheng as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. Lai Pheng, a Malaysian national, completed her studies at the School Les Roches Bluche Montana, Switzerland with a diploma in Hotel Management and Tourism after which she commenced her career in Hostellerie Bon Accueil, Chateau d’oex, Switzerland as an Assistant Hotel Manager. Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta, Lai Pheng was Director of Sales & Marketing at the Pullman Kunching, Sarawak successfully launching the new property; in addition to this she has held strategic sales positions in Kuala Lumpur with Ritz-Carlton, Eastern & Oriental Hotel, and the JW Marriot.
Mr. Didier Gourmaud has been appointed General Manager of the U Agathis Pecatu Bali hotel, effective 18 July 2012.
The 39-year-old chef brings more than 17 years of culinary experience to the Chedi, a 20-villa estate set amid five hectares of landscaped gardens, ponds and pagodas sharing a border with a sweeping panorama of undulating rice fields and tropical jungle.
Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts, under the management of PT Grahawita Santika, has expertise in a wide cross-section of industry segments, including luxury, upper-middle and smart hotel operations. They have a successful track record in operating ultra luxury boutique villas, a very select market niche since 1981. The Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resort brands include The Royal Collection (The Kayana and The Samaya), Hotel Santika Premiere, Santika Premiere Dyandra, Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta, Hotel Santika & Amaris Hotel by Santika. By end of 2012, Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts will be managing at least 64 properties which equal to 7,200+ rooms. The company's vision to be the most preferred and the biggest chain hotels and resorts in Indonesia, has kept the company moving progressively with its brand values "Indonesian Home" and service motto "Hospitality from the Heart".
Two years after being promoted to Executive Assistant Manager of The Setai South Beach Miami, the 35-year-old Swiss has been appointed General Manager of The Legian Bali, a sophisticated boutique resort on stylish Seminyak Beach. Abramowicz joined GHM in January 2007 as Director of Rooms at The Setai after an 18-month stint as Front Office Manager for Delamar Greenwich Harbor, a ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ property in Greenwich, Conn. The multilingual speaker has also worked in Hong Kong since getting his hospitality start in Zurich in 2000. Abramowicz takes the reins at a time when The Legian Bali is having its iconic, three-bedroom Beach House and nearly half its 68 suites renovated and a new lap pool installed. All work is scheduled to be completed as The Legian Bali welcomes the summer season.
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT), announced today the opening of its 80thhotel with the debut of Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, the brand"s first hotel in Jakarta. The hotel opening also marks the first of four new Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts which will debut in Asia within the next six months, including The Royal Begonia in Sanya, China, Twelve at Hengshan in Shanghai, China and ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, India.
Woizik comes to The Keraton at The Plaza with more than 20 years of hospitality experience, with the most recent four years as Resident Manager for an international property in Jakarta. Starting his hospitality career as an apprentice in Stuttgart, he progressed through the years in Germany and was an assistant manager in Munich before he made his first international move to London in 1998. After spending 4 years in London where he held positions that include Group & Incentive Manager and Front Office Manager, Woizik expanded his geographical exposure to the Australia-New Zealand region, where he was a Director of Rooms for a couple of properties before making his latest move to Jakarta.Nested in one of Jakarta’s most prestigious streets on Jalan Thamrin in the heart of the worldly business district of Jakarta, The Keraton at The Plaza is an iconic oasis of quiet luxury that would provide an intimate focal point for distinguished business and leisure travelers.
Born in Naples, Italy, Dario graduated from Instituto Professionale Alberghiero di Stato Ippolito Cavalcanti majoring in Food & Beverage and hotel management.
With 18 years of hospitality experience, Kling first joined the Hilton Worldwide family in 1996 as Director of Conference and Banqueting and Outside Catering at Hilton Strasbourg in France.
Indonesia, a land of 33 provinces, 17,508 islands and more than 238 million people, will soon be home to 13 new Best Western hotels.
Allwyn Drego joins Montigo Resorts Nongsa from the TAJ Group of Hotels, where he was the pre-opening and opening General Manager of the Vivanta Coral Reef in the Maldives. Drego led the considerable undertaking of a five-star resort launch from the ground up. He oversaw the entire operation where he was personally involved in everything from hiring and training top talent and quality control checks.
Swiss-Belhotel International Senior Vice President Operations and Development for Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, Mr. Emmanuel Guillard stated that, "Swiss-Belinn SKA Pekanbaru is the first hotel in Pekanbaru and the 5th hotel in Sumatera managed by Swiss-Belhotel International. The hotel will provide guests with services and facilities that meet international standards and is ready to provide visitors to the city with a new and fresh venue where they will have a warm welcome and an enjoyable stay."