Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Centara Hotels & Resorts, has announced the appointment of Wim N M Fagel as General Manager of Centara Watergate Pavilion Hotel Bangkok. Mr Fagel is a Dutch national who has almost 30 years' experience in management at leading hotels, including the Summit Hotel in Nepal and Amari Rincome Hotel in Chiang Mai.
The Soneva Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Marisa Aranha as Managing Director Sales & Marketing. She will be based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Soneva Group’s portfolio is comprised of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. Chairman and CEO, Sonu Shivdasani warmly welcomed Marisa to her new role, saying, ‘Marisa comes to us after many months of deliberate and diligent search. She is someone who has great energy, great intelligence and brings a wealth of her experience which will definitely contribute to developing our niche business in the hospitality industry.’ With over twenty years experience, Marisa has previously held senior sales & marketing roles with both Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, her most recent role being Vice President of Sales for the Minor Hotel Group Thailand with responsibility for the global sales strategy for Anantara Hotels.
Continuing its expansion in Thailand, Best Western International – The World’s Largest Hotel Chain® – has announced the introduction of the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Sukhumvit Hotel in the heart of Bangkok. Conveniently located on the vibrant Sukhumvit Soi 1, in the heart of the city’s central business district.
Marriott International further strengthens its leadership position in Thailand with the opening of three new properties this year. The Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, The Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit and the Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok - Sukhumvit Thonglor will all open in 2012 bringing Marriott International’s portfolio to 16 hotels in the country.
Well known hotel executive Danny McCafferty has been appointed as General Manager and Regional Director at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui.
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is about to add its first property in Phuket to its portfolio. The international hotel group has been appointed the manager of the existing Courtyard by Marriott at Kamala Beach, which will be re-branded as Swissôtel Resort Phuket on 1 April 2012. This will be the group's third property in Thailand and its first resort property in Southeast Asia.
With luxury hotels in Bangkok oversupplied and room rates falling, more owners have shifted their focus to mid-range offerings that better match the emerging tourism trend from fast-growing markets such as India and China. The upscale room glut shows no sign of easing while demand from clients for no-frills accommodation is on the rise, says a new report by the property services company Colliers International.
Mr. Peter Caprez, Cluster General Manager of JW Marriott Bangkok, Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok and Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa, has appointed Ms. Sanne Emborg as the new General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has appointed Claudia Pronk as general manager at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. Pronk was previously general manager of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa and sister hotel Naladhu. She joined the company in 2009 from The Grand Mauritian Hotel in Mauritius, where as general manager she led the hotel pre-opening and the first full year of operation. A Dutch national, Pronk has spent almost 25 years in the hospitality industry, the majority of those years spent working for Le Méridien in hotels in Germany, France and her homeland of The Netherlands. Replacing Pronk, Jeffrey F. Seward has been appointed as cluster general manager of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa and Naladhu Maldives properties. He joins Anantara from Taj Hotels where he held the role of general manager at Taj Boston in the USA.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a new management agreement with Magnolia Finest Corporation Limited to introduce the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Southeast Asia, and Hilton Worldwide’s ninth property to Thailand. Scheduled to open in 2015, the 170-room Waldorf Astoria Bangkok marks the debut of Hilton Worldwide’s world renowned luxury brand in Thailand.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts named Keith Hardie as the new general manger at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Tower last week. He has been working at the hotel since 16 February. Mr Hardie was most recently the GM of the 761-key Le Royal Meridien, Shanghai, but had a spell as general manager of the Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, during a 18-year career with the group. A British citizen, Mr Hardie started his hotel career with Trust House Forte in 1977 and moved to Dubai 29 years ago.
Khun Apichart has enjoyed an extensive hospitality career in Thailand that began as a receptionist. He has progressed through the ranks of rooms division to the position of General Manager, working at a number of popular resort destinations in Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket in southern Thailand. Prior to joining Outrigger in 2011, Apichart was General Manager at the Metadee Resort in Phuket. Community responsibilities have been a recurring theme of Apichart's hotel career. Apichart has been a committee member and registrar for the Patong Hotel Association and served on the sub-committee of the Phuket Tourist Association. He has also served on the executive committee of the Thai Hotels Association, Southern Thailand Chapter, and as a community committee member of the Chalong Police Station in Phuket. He also enjoys networking with B2B peers at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) events and has regularly attended the Asean Tourism Forum in Southeast Asia and the World Travel Market in London.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate signed a management agreement for Park Hyatt Bangkok for Central Embassy, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Central Group of Companies. The iconic hotel will be located in a prime location in the city’s central business district. Slated to open in 2014, Park Hyatt Bangkok will be housed within a new, modern mixed-use building, bringing the legendary Park Hyatt luxury brand to one of Southeast Asia’s leading business and leisure destinations.
Jean-matthieu has a very strong hotel operations background with more than 11 years of experience with international hotel chains.
Buddy Group is pleased to announce new General Manager at Buddy Oriental Samui Beach Resort, Mr. Vinit Chidchanognarth, who has joined Buddy Group recently.
Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov has been appointed as ibis Hua Hin’s General Manager to oversee operations of the hotel. Mr Stoyanov who was previously Operations Manager of ibis Pattaya has had extensive operational experience and played a key role in the deployment of the network in Thailand. ibis, Thailand’s leading economy hotel brand, announces its exciting expansion with the opening of ibis Hua Hin. Located in Khao Takiab, Hua Hin with easy access to the beach, the night market and many tourist attractions, this newly constructed 200-guest room hotel provides guests with an international quality seaside getaway at value for money rates.
Robert has been managing all aspects of the construction and development of Beyond Resort Khaolak, taking the project from concept to successful launch. The resort is already enjoying strong levels of occupancy by discerning international guests prior to its official launch.
A Canadian national with many years of experience in Sales and Marketing positions with the Accor hotel group. Anthony began his career in 2003 at Accor Hotels World Trade Centre, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) where he was Director of Business Development. Consequently he worked as Director of Sales and Distribution Accor Middle East, based in the Regional Office in Dubai. In November 2008, he was promoted as Regional Director of Sales for Sofitel South East Asia & India based in Bangkok. Anthony will be responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing activities for the property, whilst continuing to hold the position of Regional Director of Sales for Sofitel South East Asia & India. He will drive sales revenue, establish a reputation for Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit as top corporate and leisure destination hotel and increase the profile of the hotel both regionally and nationally. He will play a major role in spearheading and steering the hotel in all markets.
A graduate of Thammasat University, with a M.A. in Mass Communications and Administration, Bangkok, she has extensively worked in the Public Relations and Communications field with luxury properties for the past eight years. Virinya began her hotel career with Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Bangkok, rising to the position of Public Relations Manager. She subsequently expanded her experience at the former Marriott Resorts & Spa Bangkok-Pattaya-Hua Hin, where she was Assistant Cluster Public Relations Manager. Prior to joining Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, she was later promoted as Director of Marketing Communications of Sofitel Bangkok Silom in 2010.
A French national with almost 20 years of extensive experience in hospitality and service operations from five continents including South America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. In August 2008, Christophe was promoted as Vice President, Sofitel South East Asia & India based in Bangkok. Prior to Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Christophe was General Manager of Sofitel Bangkok Silom and is also Vice President of Sofitel South East Asia & India. Christophe began his career with Accor in the early 1980’s, in a range of Accor’s multi-brand group in France and West Africa. He rejoined Accor in 2001, as General Manager of the five-star Sofitel Resorts Complex at Costa do Sauipe – Bahia in Brazil, Subsequently, he was promoted as Director of Operations Accor Hospitality Middle East based in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).