| Srijan Vadhera has joined Phoenix Group Global as
director - sales & marketing. Vadhera brings with him a decade of experience
in this field. Prior to joining Phoenix Group Global, Vadhera worked with
Hyatt South Asia sales office in Delhi as the regional director (sales)
where he was responsible for the maintenance and generation of business
from the Geo territory for Hyatt South Asia and Hyatt International. Vadhera
has also worked with Hyatt Regency (Kolkata) and Grand Hyatt (Delhi) |
| Sreenivasan Jayaganapathy has been appointed as manager-human
resources and administration at Le Royal Meridien, Chennai. He has over
23 years of experience in the HR function which includes 15 years of hospitality
experience. Jayaganapathy brings with him his rich experience gained both
in India and abroad in various capacities |
 Following
a distinguished career in hospitality, Bhagwan Balani has been promoted
to director of marketing, Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa in April 2008. With
this new position as director of marketing, at the Park Hyatt Goa Resort
and Spa, he will oversee the setting and induction of marketing agendas,
planning the sales and distribution strategies for the relevant national
and international market segments amongst others |
 Abhijit
Chitnis has been promoted to director of sales Park Hyatt Goa Resort
and Spa. An alumnus from Rizvi College of Hotel management, he brings with
him eight years of experience. His first stint with the Hyatt began in 2002
at Hyatt Regency Mumbai as a sales manager. After his promotion to associate
director of sales, Chitnis then got internally transferred to the Hyatt
South Asia sales office and his last tenure was with Grand Hyatt Mumbai
in 2006 |
 Manish
Raj has joined Cabana Hotel Management (Master Licensee for Bestwestern
International), Bangalore as assistant vice president - sales. Prior to
this assignment, Raj was with VCI Hospitality as director - sales for two
years |
 The
Connaught has announced Michelin-starred French chef Hélène
Darroze, as the chef at the helm of the landmark hotel in Mayfair. One
of France's most distinguished chefs, she currently holds two Michelin stars
at her restaurant 'Hélène Darroze' on the Left Bank in Paris.
At The Connaught in June 2008 she will initially launch a signature restaurant
to be known as 'Hélène Darroze at The Connaught' In addition
to this restaurant, Darroze will also oversee all culinary aspects of the
hotel |
 Rubal
Chaudhry has joined The Claridges, New Delhi as general manager. Chaudhry
comes armed with over 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry
in India and abroad. He has worked with some of the leading hospitality
chains like Inter-Continental Hotel Group and Hyatt Regency. In his current
position, he will be responsible for the overall management and operations
at The Claridges, New Delhi, the flagship hotel of The Claridges Hotels
& Resorts |
| Carlson Hotels, one of the world's largest privately-owned
hotel companies, has appointed Frank Trampert to the newly-created
position of executive vice president - revenue generation. Trampert will
be responsible for revenue optimisation, e-commerce, sales and marketing
as well as reservations, distribution services and information technology.
Trampert takes up this new role after five years spearheading the strategic
direction and management of reservation and distribution services in Asia
for Carlson |
| Meritus Hotels & Resorts has appointed Geoffrey
Richard Howe as general manager of its latest hotel, the Meritus Mingde
Shanghai.With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian & International Studies
from Southern Cross University, New South Wales and a Graduate Certificate
in International Hotel Management from Griffith University, Howe started
his hotel career at the front office of the Hilton Hotel, Brisbane. Howe
was most recently in the employ of Argyle Hotel Management Group (Australia)
holding the double portfolio of vice president of operations (China) and
general manager Argyle International Airport Hotel Shanghai |
| Scott Thomson has been appointed hotel manager
of Langham Place, Mongkok. Prior to joining Langham Place, Thomson was hotel
manager at The Langham, Auckland. With over 20 years experience within New
Zealand hospitality, he has worked for various hotels and entertainment
establishments in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown which
include positions at the Grand Hotels International Group. As hotel manager,
Thomson is responsible for the day-to-day hotel operations. He will also
play an integral role in positioning Langham Place within the Hong Kong
market |
| David Sullivan has been appointed general
manager of the Pan Pacific Seattle.With over 20 years of international and
domestic hospitality experience, Sullivan has held executive management
positions in operations and human resources with 16 years of rooms division
experience with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Canada. He also held
executive and management positions at Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas; Four
Seasons Resort & Club, Dallas; Four Seasons Resort, Nevis, Caribbean;
Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver. David also spent nearly two years at the
Regent Hotel, London as assistant executive housekeeper |
| Jürgen Baumhoff has been appointed general
manager of the InterContinental Semiramis Cairo. Baumhoff has over 35 years
experience in the hospitality industry and will play a vital role in maintaining
this celebrated property's position as a symbol of modernity and style in
Egypt. Having worked within InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for over
25 years, including a regional general manager's role in the United Kingdom
for InterContinental Hotels, Baumhoff will take a pivotal role at the InterContinental
Semiramis Cairo where he will oversee all hotel management operations |
| Ascott International, a leading international serviced
residence operator, has appointed a new country general manager and director
of sales and marketing in Thailand. Eddie Lim takes over as country
general manager Thailand, replacing Henry Lim who is now Ascott International's
country general manager based in Vietnam. Sylvia Tan has been appointed
director of sales and marketing Thailand. Eddie Lim has 15 years of experience
in the hospitality industry. As the director of sales and marketing, Tan
will be responsible for accelerating sales performance and overseeing marketing
initiatives for all of Ascott International's properties in Thailand |
| Bavaria Hotels International has appointed Ahmad
Hashwa as director of finance of its Bavaria Executive Suites in Dubai.
Educated in Syria with advanced management courses from Cornell in Revenue
Management and Sales & Marketing, Hashwa has over 16 years of experience
in the hospitality industry in deluxe hotels throughout the Middle East.
In addition to his financial role with Bavaria Executive Suites Dubai, he
will play an active role in critical management decision making as well
as undertaking owner representative functions |
| Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, an international
group with a global portfolio of over 110 hotels, has appointed the highly
regarded industry expert and past Hotelier of the Year, Richard Hartman,
as chief executive officer. Hartman has over 30 years experience in the
hotel and restaurant industry. Since 1999 he has held senior positions at
InterContinental Hotels Group where he was a main board director from 2003
until 2007, most recently as managing director of InterContinental Hotels
Group, Europe, Middle East and Africa with the responsibility for 620 hotels
|
| HPL Hotels & Resorts has appointment Patrick
Ngian as its new vice president of financial services to be based at
its corporate office in Singapore. Ngian has more than 10 years of travel,
assurance and business advisory experience in property development and management.
As the new vice president of financial services at HPL Hotels & Resorts,
Ngian has main responsibilities for financial management of the Four Seasons
Pudong, Shanghai, and Four Seasons Phuket, Thailand, development projects.
In addition, he will assist in project developments and project reviews
in China and Thailand |
| The Westin Beijing, Financial Street, has made the
following executive committee appointments. Paul M Cunningham has
been appointed as hotel manager. Cunningham started his hotel career at
Claridges Hotel in London in 1990, and gained rich experience through a
variety of senior management positions with several leading hotel chains
in the UK, China and South Korea |
| Bernhard Alexander Langer has been promoted
from director of food & beverage to executive assistant manager. He
will be responsible for F&B operations, Six Sigma, Westin branding and
other projects. Langer joined the pre-opening Westin Beijing, Financial
Street team, and has been instrumental in building its reputation and credited
for creating an inspirational and renewing dining experience |
| Travelport GDS has appointed Hans Ebeling
as regional director - Global Accounts & Strategic Corporate Development
for the Asia region, based in Hong Kong. In his capacity, he will be responsible
for multinational and corporate agency accounts, managing and growing the
existing business, strengthening agency partner relationships and developing
new opportunities across Asia. Ebeling has held a number of senior positions
within the company prior to this new appointment. In his last role, he was
country manager for Galileo by Travelport, Hong Kong |
| Lawrence Liew has replaced Ebeling as the
new country manager for Hong Kong. Prior to this appointment, he was country
manager for Malaysia |
 Francis
Fernandes has been appointed as vice president - marketing of Harvey
India. He brings with him twenty years of experience in the travel industry.
Prior to this appointment, he worked with reputed companies like East West
Airlines and Qatar Airways |
|
Milan Karnik and Abhidip Namdeo have been appointed as managers
of business development. They bring with them seven years of industry experience,
and prior to this appointment they occupied the positions of sales managers
for Imperial hotel, Delhi |
| Radha Bhatia, chairperson of the Bird Group,
has been elected as the new chairperson of the World Travel and Tourism
Council (WTTC). Bhatia takes over from Nakul Anand, chief executive, ITC
Hotels. Bhatia's entrepreneurial skills have conceived several new and successful
organisations within the BPO, technology and travel segments. Apart from
being actively involved in several professional associations, Bhatia also
has the distinction of being the recipient of several awards including Outstanding
Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for nine years till 2007 |
| Bret Pidgeon has been appointed general manager
of Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Pidgeon has been with the company
for eight years, his last post being that of acting general manager for
Madame Tussauds in New York.
Bret has played an integral role in the opening
teams for Madame Tussauds in New York in 2000, Shanghai in 2006 and Washington
DC in 2007. He was also Project Champion for the redesign of the retail
store and café at Madame Tussauds New York; and was nominated for
Manager of the Year - Tussauds Group in 2006. Prior to working for Merlin
Entertainments Group, Bret had a seven year career as senior manager at
Planet Hollywood in the flagship New York City location
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