Hauck Helms Galle Face
The Louis T Collection has appointed Robert C. Hauck as General Manager of the iconic Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka and Area Vice President for South Asia. He oversees the operations of this legendary, 156-room historic seafront property while supporting growth objectives and driving operational excellence for Louis T as it accelerates its South Asia expansion. A hospitality leader with over 25-years’ experience in hotels across Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean, Hauck was most recently General Manager of the 80-villa Kanuhura, the Maldives. He took this through a successful reopening and repositioning project after an 18-month renovation. A German native, Hauck was director of Asian operations for International Group Management (IGM), Shanghai, a five-star hotel and private member club at Zhejiang Circuit, China’s leading motorsport destination. He was also President of Thanyapura Phuket, Asia’s first sports resort.
New CEO at GHM
The 26-year-old luxury hotel group GHM has appointed Tommy Lai as its CEO. The Singapore national assumes some responsibilities managed by GHM co-founder and president, Hans R. Jenni but the primary motivation for Lai’s appointment is to spearhead development and to drive GHM’s growth. GHM is on the verge of significant new developments and Lai’s appointment is timely and strategic. He brings experience and knowledge, especially of North Asia markets. The CEO was previously with Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group, where he helmed its North Asia operations. He believes GHM will attract those seeking luxury and style, while staying true to its Asian roots and design strength. GHM’s hotels are located in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The Middle East is an upcoming growth market with the opening of Al Bait in Sharjah and news on soon-to-announce projects. The company’s interests in China are deepening with the development and introduction of hotels under a new flag, Ahn Luh Resorts and Residences. GHM’s involvement in Tin Hotels is another growth platform.
Centennial Singapore Appoints New Director of Operations
Teun Engbers joined the Conrad Centennial Singapore as Director of Operations in late 2018. He is responsible for the smooth running of the hotel’s operational departments including housekeeping, front desk, food and beverage, kitchen, engineering and security. Prior to moving to Singapore, he was the Director of Operations at the Hilton Beijing where he coordinated the refurbishment of the Spa, the renovation of Zeta Bar to Makan Kitchen Restaurant, conversion of an outdoor area into a multiple event space and, the consolidation of the kitchens. He started his career as a food and beverage trainee in Denver, USA and later as a management traineeship in front of house operations in Dublin, Ireland. After obtaining his Masters he started with Hilton as a Learning and Development Coordinator in its London Office. Located in the vibrant Marina Bay, Conrad Centennial Singapore houses 512 newly refurbished guestrooms.
Low Creates New High at Malaysia’s Greenest Hotel
Henry Low has joined Frangipani Langkawi Hotel and Resort as the General Manager of Malaysia’s greenest hotel. The new leader believes in good team spirit and elevating guest satisfaction to bring resort business to a higher level. He was last with Swiss Garden International Group from 2009 to 2018. Low started at Sandakan Swiss Inn in 2009 (SGI’s the first managed property) and relocated to Swiss Garden Hotel Damai Laut Resort and Golf of 300 rooms and recreational facilities including an 18-hole golf course from 2011 till 2014. He then moved to Swiss Garden Hotel Kuala Lumpur from 2014 to 2016 and then Swiss Inn Chinatown from 2016 to 2018. Prior to working with SGI, he spent seven years with Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur in its rooms division and the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur on its pre-opening team back in 1986 in the audit department.
New Appointment at Mantra Samui Resort
Louis T Collection has appointed Chaivaree Chitrakorn as General Manager of Mantra Samui Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. The Thai national, who has spent most of her career with Cathay Pacific Airways, relocated to her homeland last year to join Louis T Collection and assume this position as her second posting with the hospitality management company. Chitrakorn has a wealth of experience in managing teams and inspiring high performance. She joined Louis T Collection from her latest role as Attendance Management Executive at Cathay Pacific where she drove performance management and provided counselling and support for over 8,000 cabin crew. She was also an Inflight Services Manager for two decades, managing cabin crew, monitoring performance and continuously enhancing passenger satisfaction. She is responsible for all operations of the hotel overlooking Bophut Beach from its hillside location. The property features an infinity pool; the Jai Spa, which looks to nature for its treatment ingredients; and The View, an all-day Western and Thai restaurant.
Raj Rejoins Palace of the Golden Horses
Isaac Mohan Raj now leads the five-star Palace of the Golden Horses, Mines Kuala Lumpur. Cheerful, loves to sing, full of creative ideas, charismatic and enthusiastic, he leads a team of 250 employees. He left the hotel in 2011 to joined Glory Beach Resorts as a Senior General Manager, but was invited by the Founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew to take over as General Manager. He is tasked with turning around this 20-year-old property with three other portfolios namely Mines Cruise Sdn Bhd, Nouvelle Hotel and Palace Vacation Club. The hotel recently received two accolades under his leadership – Best Mice Award 2018 (Malaysia Tourism Council) and World Excellence Five- Star Wellness Hotel (WTM 2018).
Ramesh Ronald Takes Over Oakwood Kuala Lumpur
Oakwood Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur has appointed Ramesh Ronald as General Manager. He was previously General Manager at The Gurney Resort Hotel and Residence Penang, which has the same owners as his new property. He brings with him vast experience as he started his career in Hilton Petaling Jaya in banquet and sales before becoming Assistant Sales Manager. He then moved to Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur as a sales manager and he also worked at The Westin Kuala Lumpur. His belief is that to take care of the guest, he must first take care of the associates and ensure that the internal processes are in order to deliver the best service possible. He advocates going the extra mile to achieve guest satisfaction. The 251-unit hotel opened for business in 2016 as Malaysia’s first Oakwood property. Oakwood was launched in 1969 featuring furnished apartments offering a spacious alternative for business travellers.
Louis T Collection Appoints GM to Newly-Named Perth Hotel
As Louis T Collection continues to oversee the multi-million dollar redevelopment and repositioning of Perth’s New Esplanade Hotel, the management company announced the hotel will reopen in early 2019 as Quay Perth. Lovelynn Clark will helm the four-star boutique hotel. An Australian national born in Malaysia, Clark brings some 30-years’ experience in hospitality to Louis T Collection with her career taking her through Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Most recently, she was on the pre-opening team of the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai, where she served as Executive Housekeeper. The 80-room Quay Perth will feature modern, Western Australia-influenced interiors. Dining options will include a lobby café and an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the Swan River and promenade below. The transformation of Quay Perth is Louis T Collection’s first Australian project and its second large-scale repositioning project.
Treeline Urban Resort Welcomes New General Manager
Sokoun Chanpreda, Managing Director of Hospitality Management and Development Asia (HMD Asia) and owner of Shinta Mani Hotels, announced the appointment of Joni Aker as General Manager of their first managed property, Treeline Urban Resort, which opened in late 2018. Located along the Siem Reap River, the resort comprises 48 rooms and suites, together with modern culinary outlets and rooftop pool and bar. A native New Zealander, she has extensive management experience in operations across a many fields, including luxury hospitality, most recently as Cruise Director for Aqua Expeditions operating on the Mekong River between Cambodia and Vietnam and in the Peruvian Amazon. She has eight years Cambodian work experience. The resort is sophisticated, vibrant and modern yet manages to encompass elements of nature and the growing Khmer arts scene.
Guido Farina Helms RuMa
The RuMa Hotel and Residences has appointed Guido Farina as General Manager. Originally from Caravaggio, Italy, Farina has travelled the world working for a variety of five-star luxury hotels and resorts. His three decades of experience spans five continents. Since landing his first job at Da Vittorio, a three-star Michelin restaurant close to his hometown, Guido Farina has been motivated by a desire to service people. In his new role, he will oversee the daily operations of the 253-room hotel, in addition to serving as an ambassador of The RuMa’s culture of hostmanship. Farina will welcome each member of staff and every guest to an experience that goes well beyond conventional luxury to embrace authenticity, local identity and human intuition. He will implement the hotel’s signature host experiences.
Lanson Place Appoints New CEO
Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited (Lanson Place) has appointed Michael Hobson as Chief Executive Officer. Lanson Place is the hospitality arm of Wing Tai Properties Limited, currently managing luxury boutique hotels and premium serviced residences in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Melbourne. The new CEO has in-depth hospitality and brand experience to further strengthen the group’s senior management as well as brand expansion to capture the business and leisure opportunities in Asia’s rapidly growing hospitality sector. Prior to joining Lanson Place, he was Chief Marketing Officer of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and played a pivotal role in their global development and brand efforts over a 25-year career.
Avani FCC Angkor Appoints Dennis Gordienko
Premiering in Cambodia, the renowned FCC Angkor – Managed by Avani, opening in mid-2019, has appointed Dennis Gordienko as General Manager. He is a passionate hotelier with experience across Europe, the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Asia. Last at Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul, Malaysia, where he held his first leadership position, he began his hospitality career in 2008 as a Restaurant Manager for Copthorne Tara Hotel in London. Afterwards, he moved to his native Ukraine in 2009 to work with Intercontinental Kyiv Hotel as Deputy Manager and then with Riviera Boutique Hotel Kyiv and Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv as Front Office Manager. In 2013, he joined Holiday Villa Bahrain where he led the pre-opening team as Operations Manager. He then joined Onyx Hospitality Group leading the pre-opening of Amari Dhaka.
