Two generations after his family anchored their working life in colonial Vietnam, a French chef has followed up on his fascination with this legacy to command the kitchens at the country’s most storied hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
Queensland native Marland brings more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her new post at the 84-room resort in Mui Ne, Vietnam’s most dependably sunny beach destination.
Mr. Patrick Basset, Senior Vice President, Accor Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, says, “Novotel Saigon Centre’s prime location makes it an ideal place to stay when visiting this city. We are proud to introduce this new Novotel hotel as it completes the spectrum of Accor hotel brands that guests visiting the city can choose from – from luxury Sofitel, upper-midscale Novotel, to economy ibis. Saigon now has an Accor hotel to meet all travellers’ budgets and expectations.”
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the leader in luxury hospitality, has announced the brand's first hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), marking another step in the group's expansion in Asia. The Ritz-Carlton, Saigon is owned by the Bitexco Group, one of Vietnam's most prestigious property developers.
Mr. Wicker moves into the role from his former position as General Manager of New World Wuhan Hotel in China, a role he has held for the past three and a half years.
Nguyen studied at the Paris Culinary Academy, where he met celebrity chef Eric Robert M.O.F (Meilleurs Ouvrier de France or Best Craftsman of France), the highest distinction for chefs in France. During his time in Paris, Nguyen also had the chance to join Alain Ducasse’s three star Michelin restaurant at the Plaza-Athenee under the culinary expertise of both Ducasse and chef Jean-Francois Piege. Later, he followed chef Piege to open his Michelin two-star “Les Ambassadeur” restaurant at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris. Nguyen returned to Vietnam in 2006. He is now in charge of Anantara Mui Ne’s five restaurants and bars.
Banyan Tree Group announces the upcoming launch of Vietnam's first world-class integrated resort, Laguna Lăng Cô, on 1 November 2012. Nestled along the coast of tranquil Central Vietnam, Laguna Lăng Cô is Banyan Tree's first foray in the country, and echoes the ethos of Laguna Phuket, the company's flagship integrated resort community in southern Thailand.
One of South East Asia’s most anticipated new resorts, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has opened its doors, heralding a new standard of luxury accommodation in Vietnam. The Bill Bensley-designed InterContinental Danang is nestled within one of the region’s most exquisite locations, cascading through rainforest-covered mountain slopes that act as a natural amphitheatre for the resort’s private bay on the Son Tra Peninsula.
With over 27 years of experience in hospitality industry, Surapun first established his career at Hilton International Hotel at Nai Lert Park, Bangkok as a supervisor of Ma Maison restaurant. He then joined Royal Garden Village, Hua Hin as food and beverage manager in 1988, before taking a position at Le Meridien President Hotel Bangkok (now InterContinental Hotel Bangkok) as maitre’d of the hotel’s Fire Place Grill. In 1991, he joined Asia Hotel Bangkok as director of food and beverage, heading the operation and administration team of 350 staff, managing eight restaurants and banqueting for up to 1,000 people, as well as providing food and beverage consultancy in Brunei’s Palaces between hotel and AC DSH BHD. In 1997, he became executive assistant manager at Amari Watergate Hotel Bangkok before he took up a new position as the general manager at The Wangtara Hotel & Resort in Chacheng-sao, followed by The Golden City Hotel in Rayong and Empress Hotels Group with the same position. In 2002, he was general manager at Siam Bayview Hotel in Pattaya, followed by U Chiang Mai in 2009 and Eastin Hotel Makkasan Bangkok in 2010. Prior to joining Eastin Easy GTC Hanoi as general manager, he was the group general manager at The Aetas Hotels & Residences.
Hilton Worldwide today signed a new management agreement with Hoan Kiem Tourism & Trading Company Limited to introduce the first Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Worldwide"s second property in Vietnam. Scheduled to open in the second half of 2012, the 86-room Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi marks the debut of Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide"s award-winning, mid-priced brand, in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Acker joins the Nam Hai from his previous position as Beverage Manager at the MGM MACAU. Prior to that, he worked for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts for five years, including Four Seasons Hotel Singapore; Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru Maldives; Four Seasons Island Explorer Maldives; Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok; The Regent Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Four Seasons Hotel Berlin. The Nam Hai is situated on the picturesque 1 km stretch of pristine white sand beach of Ha My, near the historic town of Hoi An, and successfully combines the unique and gracious culture of Central Vietnam with innovative design, state-of-the-art technology, first class facilities and impeccable service.
Mr. Hess was formerly Executive Assistant Manager at the One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives. Before that, Mr. Hess worked with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts for over ten years where his prior postings include: Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies, Caribbean; Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica; Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC; Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia; Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago. The Nam Hai is situated on the picturesque 1 km stretch of pristine white sand beach of Ha My, near the historic town of Hoi An, and successfully combines the unique and gracious culture of Central Vietnam with innovative design, state-of-the-art technology, first class facilities and impeccable service.
Sofitel has promoted the current general manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Kai Speth, to a new position as area general manager for Vietnam. Now, in addition to ongoing responsibilities at the landmark Hanoi property, Speth will have oversight responsibilities for Sofitel Plaza Hanoi and Sofitel Saigon Plaza.
Best Western International (BWI) has recently announced the latest addition of a new hotel on Vietnam’s stunning southeast coast, Vung Tau. The deal, signed with local developer Cong Ty Co Phan Du Lich Hoa Anh Dao, will see Best Western take the reigns of the 200-room Oceanami Resort & Luxury Home in Vung Tau. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in the third quarter of 2013.
Mr. Beaumont, a British national, has over 25 years of experience in the hotel and tourism industry.
Olivier has more than 35 years of experience in hotel industries and was in the position of General Manager for over 10 years at various well known hotels and resorts such as the Accor Group in Hanoi Vietnam, Indonesia, New Caledonia Gambia and Thailand. Olivier began his career with Centara Hotels and Resorts as the General Manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort and Spa Sokhna in Egypt.
"Vietnam is fast joining the ranks of the region's most popular tourist destinations as well as becoming an increasingly important center for business," said Willi Martin, Area Vice President, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. "Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa is the second Hyatt hotel in Vietnam, joining the award winning Park Hyatt Saigon, and we believe the resort will further strengthen our brand portfolio in South East Asia."
The Nam Hai is getting a new general manager without losing its previous boss. Hospitality veteran Ed Linsley is moving from the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay to Vietnam's premier seaside resort while his predecessor, John Blanco, becomes an executive for the acclaimed property's ownership group, Indochina Capital. Linsley, who was in the prestigious Four Seasons organization for exactly two decades, assumes the responsibility of overseeing The Nam Hai’s day-to-day operations and maintaining the resort’s lofty reputation in a coastal region developing faster than smartphone technology.
Less than two years after opening as the first 5-star, internationally renowned hotel on the beach in Vietnam, Sheraton Nha Trang has notched another first in the country’s march to maturation as a tourist destination with the appointment of a female general manager, Catherine Racsko. Trailblazing is nothing new to the Australian hotelier. She was the first foreign female to pick up the reins at a Starwood property in China where she worked at Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai. While it’s tempting to dismiss the differences between the sexes when it comes to managing a hotel, Racsko insists there is a difference — not better, not worse, just different. “The so-called ‘female touch’ can be a very positive characteristic for a GM,” she said. “We tend to pay closer attention to detail and can multi-task better than most men. It’s also, I would say, easier for us to convey a contagiously enthusiastic spirit!” For other reasons, too, Racsko expects to feel right at home in Vietnam where, like many foreign travelers, she’s already observed the prevalence of a hard-working female workforce, both among the ranks of the blue collar and white collar workforces. “There are a lot of really influential women in this country,” Racsko said, just weeks into her appointment. “Maybe this is a legacy of the Hai Ba Trung sisters, or of the crucial role women played during Vietnam’s struggle for independence, but it is immediately apparent.”
Best Western International - The World's Largest Hotel Chain® - is expanding its presence in Vietnam, with the signing of a new hotel in a new destination. BEST WESTERN PREMIER Indochine Palace is due to open in 4th Quarter 2011 in the historic city of Hue.