Jati, Koh Russey Island, appoints new GM
Lisa Gerosa has been named general manager at Jati resort on Koh Russey Island, Cambodia, due to open in 1Q2025.
She has worked in European hotels including the Sheraton Belgravia in London and The Westin in Venice. She recently spent 10 years in the Maldives as general manager with Atmosphere Core properties, giving her the experience in managing logistics and teams living on private islands.
Sharjah targets high-end Indian travellers with niche properties
The Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is ramping up efforts to attract high-end travellers from India by promoting a range of ‘niche’ properties that offer authentic, immersive and diverse experiences in the emirate.
As part of its efforts, SCTDA organised a series of roadshows in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai from September 5 to 9 to create awareness about these unique properties among travel trade partners.
Some of these properties include The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah – a GHM hotel, Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection and Kingfisher Retreat by Sharjah Collection.
“Brands like Sheraton, Pullman and DoubleTree by Hilton have already established a presence in Sharjah. We now have a strong portfolio of niche properties that offer unique experiences to visitors which we want to promote in India,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA, during a media briefing at the New Delhi roadshow. He further announced that two additional luxury properties, Lux*Al Jabal and Lux* Al-Bridi, are expected to become operational in the near future.
Giving an example of the experiential nature of these products, Midfa said Al Faya Retreat located in the heart of the desert has an inventory of five rooms and guests can engage in activities like dune bashing or stargazing. The retreat is ideally positioned to explore the Mleiha region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The emirate has also been improving infrastructure, such as in the east coast where some of these properties like Kingfisher Retreat are located.
“Earlier, it used to take about two hours to reach the east coast from Sharjah city. However, this time has been reduced to about 50 minutes because of infrastructure developments like roads and tunnels,” said Al Midfa.
Sharjah welcomed 165,000 hotel guests from India last year and is expecting a 10 per cent growth in the numbers by the end of the current fiscal year.
Agora Hospitalities, Dorsett Hospitality to debut new Dorsett by Agora brand in Osaka
Agora Hospitalities Co. and Dorsett Hospitality International are introducing a new brand, Dorsett by Agora, and will launch the first property in Osaka, Japan.
Scheduled to open in Spring 2025, Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai will offer 321 rooms and suites, with facilities such as a restaurant, seaside terrace, lobby lounge, and conference rooms.
Located just a 10-minute train ride from the heart of Osaka’s Minami district, Namba, the hotel is surrounded by Osaka’s only World Heritage site, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, as well as areas rich in the history and culture of Sakai. Within Sakai City, visitors can explore traditional townscapes from the Edo period, historic commercial districts, and ancient shrines, offering a close encounter with Japan’s deep history and culture.
The hotel also provides access to Osaka City, with popular areas like Minami and Kita easily reachable. A five-minute walk from Sakai Station on the Nankai Main Line, guests can also get to Kansai Airport in just about 37 minutes by train.
New hotels: Dusit Thani Bangkok, Best Western Adelaide Airport and more
Dusit Thani Bangkok, Thailand
At the Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, a singular corridor floor plan ensures that every room faces the verdant expanse of Lumpini Park, providing guests with uninterrupted scenic views through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows.
The hotel has been reconstructed to offer an opulent accommodation experience, with fewer rooms (257 versus the original’s 517), banqueting and meeting facilities spanning over 5,000m², dining outlets, spa, and even a multi-level rooftop bar.
Best Western Adelaide Airport, Australia
Best Western Adelaide Airport has been transformed, featuring guestrooms with double-glazed windows and soundproof doors to ensure a restful night’s sleep, a restaurant and bar, EV charging facilities, airport shuttle service and other amenities.
Situated directly across from Adelaide Airport, and a short drive from Adelaide city centre, the newly-renovated hotel is also nearby some of South Australia’s prime attractions and beaches like West Beach, Henley Beach, and Glenelg.
Wafaifo Resort Hoi An, Vietnam
Wafaifo Resort Hoi An will give visitors to Hoi An and the greater Danang area access to a range of wellness and spa services at the new 134-room and suite lifestyle resort.
The facility comprises a detailed health diagnostic report using epigenetic testing, hair follicle analysis, AirPod hyperbaric chamber sessions, infrared saunas, and ice baths will also reduce blood pressure, improve circulation, flush toxins and reduce inflammation and swelling. Guests can also benefit from a Nu Calm sleep and restoration experience in their room.
The resort also has an advanced gym with personal fitness consultants, and will roll out more health and wellness services in the later phases.
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, Australia
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens is housed within the historic walls of the former Salvation Army printing press, located opposite the picturesque Parliament Gardens in Melbourne. The property features 137 rooms, studio apartments, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and two penthouses with panoramic views over the city.
Facilities comprise a wellness centre, swimming pool, fitness centre, and a restaurant and bar.
The Robertson House welcomes new GM
The Robertson House has appointed Kris Wong as its new general manager, where she is set to enhance the hotel’s offerings by creating unique, personalised experiences that connect guests with Singapore’s culture and history.
With a career spanning over 20 years in the hospitality industry, she brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence to her new role.
Prior to her tenure at The Robertson House, Wong held key leadership positions at renowned hotels across Singapore and Malaysia.
The Eve Hotel Sydney names new GM
The Eve Hotel Sydney welcomed Ben Mellor as general manager ahead of the boutique luxury hotel’s summer debut in Sydney’s new Wunderlich Lane precinct.
With more than two decades of experience in luxury hospitality, he brings a wealth of leadership and expertise to his new role. He has held senior management positions at Sydney’s top five-star hotels, including Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains and, most recently, as general manager of InterContinental Sydney Double Bay.
Massimo Brancaleoni joins Kempinski Hotels as chief commercial officer
Kempinski Hotels has named Massimo Brancaleoni as its chief commercial officer with effect from November 1.
Having worked in destinations such as Paris, Genoa, Hong Kong, Madrid, Miami and Monaco, he brings over 25 years of commercial experience to his new role.
Prior to joining Kempinski Hotels, he served as the senior vice president sales and revenues at Silversea Cruises.
Hilton leads as Asia’s top hospitality workplace for eighth year running
Hilton has once again been recognised as the highest-ranking hospitality company on Great Place to Work’s Best Workplaces in Asia list for the eighth consecutive year, placing at number two among the top 100 companies across all industries in the multinational category.
This latest recognition validates Hilton’s commitment to offering a best-in-class employee experience reflective of its signature hospitality – driven by humanity and focused on inclusion, wellness, growth and purpose. Through its programme and global employer proposition, Thrive@Hilton, the company empowers its team members across Asia-Pacific to thrive, regardless of their background, role, or location.
This latest win reinforces the steps that Hilton has taken to transform the hotel work experience and better align with the changing priorities of today’s workforce, such as streamlining its recruitment and on-boarding processes, adopting new approaches to hotel staffing that prioritise flexibility and efficiency, and reducing time spent on transactional tasks. For instance, Hilton successfully rolled out a GIG model in China and Japan, becoming the first international hotel company to offer flexible employment to over 17,000 gig workers across over 100 cities in these markets, resulting in over 240,000 shifts completed to date.
Globally, Hilton was named #1 World’s Best Workplace by Fortune and Great Place to Work in 2023, the first and only hospitality company to ever receive this accolade.
“The hospitality landscape is rapidly evolving, and it remains Hilton’s priority to distinguish itself as an employer of choice, and strengthen a culture that values inclusion, growth and innovation. As we write our next growth chapter, this presents a huge engine of opportunity for our 62,000 team members, the driving force behind Hilton’s success,” said Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton.
Patsy Ng, vice president, human resources, Asia Pacific, Hilton, added: “A best-in-class culture attracts the best talents, and the best work experience brings out the very best in our team members to deliver the best stays for our guests. As we celebrate our eighth consecutive year as Asia’s leading hospitality workplace, we are more committed than ever to fostering a future-ready workplace that delivers a truly human experience for all.”
IT&CMA 2024, CTW Asia-Pacific weaves in fun and rewards for delegates
Set for September 24 to 26 at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, this year’s IT&CMA 2024 and CTW Asia-Pacific will offer delegates a vibrant start to the event with a fast-paced musical ice-breaker as well as a gamified format that will earn them rewards for participation.
Asia Ability, the creative teambuilding experts, will host Boomtime, a lively and inclusive musical ice-breaker using Boomwhackers. This activity is designed to energise and unify teams, providing a dynamic environment for networking and exploring potential collaborations.
As the exhibition begins so will Game On, an interactive challenge where the hall is one big dynamic game floor. Attendees can check in at multiple checkpoints, tackle exciting tasks, and watch their name rise on the live scoreboard. Organisers have lined up exclusive prizes for this.
David Fotheringham, director, Asia Ability Creative Teambuilding, said: “Our first major collaboration was celebrating IT&CMA’s 15th anniversary and CTW’s 10th anniversary back in 2007, and it’s been a pleasure to maintain that partnership over the last 14 years.
“Although we were disappointed when Covid-19 restrictions halted our plans to gamify the exhibition floor at IT&CMA 2020, we were pleased that the show continued in a virtual format, and we were able to support it virtually. With restrictions lifted, we’re now moving full steam ahead to gamify the exhibition floor for 2024, enhanced by the digital innovations developed during lockdown.”
There are more opportunities to win prizes through the Buyer’s Incentive Programme. This presents exclusive rewards to those who complete the highest number of business appointments, whether pre-scheduled or walk-in while earning top ratings from exhibitors.
Additionally, organisers are stepping up knowledge retention with the introduction of an AI Technology Partner, Gevme, providing participants with instant sharable summarised takeaways and a topic-aggregated Idea Cloud, designed to be inclusive for all delegates, especially those for whom English may not be the first language.
Additional collaboration with Audience Engagement Partner, Pigeonhole, will allow audience inputs to live Q&A sessions, polls, quizzes, and word clouds to be collected for analysis and use towards event improvement.
IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2024 are expected to welcome more than 1,000 delegates who will meet with suppliers from around the region and beyond to exchange industry knowledge and open up new business avenues.
Minor Hotels has appointed Simon Beaumont as the new general manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort. In his new role, Beaumont will oversee operations at the resort leveraging his extensive experience and strategic vision to elevate guest experiences and drive business growth.
Most recently, he served as interim chief executive officer at Azerbaijan’s Absheron Hotel Group, where he oversaw 14 internationally branded properties, spearheading strategic growth and operational excellence.