Langham Hospitality Group has appointed Markus Aklin as vice president – development, Asia Pacific, reporting to CEO Brett Butcher.
A Swiss national, Aklin led development in Asia Pacific for over 10 years for Onyx Hospitality Group. As vice president, development, he successfully executed the market entry strategies into eight regions.
He commenced his career in the region managing operations and pre-opening projects in 2003.
Uday Rao has been appointed as the general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.
Prior to his Australia move, Rao managed both Four Seasons resorts in Bali.
Rao has been with the Four Seasons family since 1991, where he started in Chicago as an overnight receptionist. He rose through the ranks, transferring to other properties in Tokyo, Singapore, Dallas and the Maldives. Rao then returned to India in 2006 to to open Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, serving as hotel manager.
How did you enter the events industry?
I am actually an IT graduate, with a major in application development, but the job did not feel right. I then chanced upon Singapore-based CMP (under United Business Media Group) and joined as a temp staff to do telemarketing, but I was converted into a permanent staff when I became a project executive. Looking back, it has been 18 years since I was first introduced to events.
What do you think is the best part of your job?
Picking up good values. For example, I think that my job teaches me to be very meticulous. Over time, I also gained a better understanding of how to deal with event limitations, and how to overcome hurdles. I have also learnt how to be fast-reacting, to provide the best possible service to my clients.
Event planning also comes with perks like travelling, where sometimes I get to visit destinations that may not be on my radar.
Name your most memorable event.
It was a new hotel brand launch held within the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing. This is the only place in the Forbidden City where events are allowed, and it is very rare that events are given permission to be held on its grounds. The event also gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore areas that were off-limits to the public. I remember it was snowing, and the scenery was beautiful. It felt like I was transported to the set of a period drama set during the Qing Dynasty.
Do you think you will retire in this industry?
Well, it depends. For now, I still have the passion for it, although I admit during the pandemic it felt like one of the worst industries to be in. But I kept myself busy by taking up digital marketing courses, and learning how to put together hybrid meetings.
What do people think you do for a living?
They think I’m a jetsetter, but behind all the glitz and glamour that people see, there is a lot of gruelling work that goes into organising and managing an event. There’s a lot of planning that goes on behind the scenes, and a lot of service customisatJUion is required now – more so after Covid-19.
Tell me something about you that not many people know.
I like to make pottery, and I am a proud owner of several cats. I also volunteer at Ground-Up Initiative, a volunteer-driven non-profit community that values connecting with the land. I’ve learnt a lot about organic farming and harvesting, as well as the many different types of vegetables there are and how I can grow them in my home. It helps me appreciate better where my food comes from!
Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas will now sail beyond the shores of Singapore, beginning with Penang and Kuala Lumpur, from June 30, 2022.
International sailings from the Singapore port was initially scheduled to begin in October.
“We are thrilled to be the first cruise line in Singapore to reconnect holidaymakers with Asia’s beautiful destinations once again. The vibrant and culture-rich cities of Penang and Kuala Lumpur have so much to offer, and that is only the beginning,” said Angie Stephen, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific.
Annie Chang, director of cruise, Singapore Tourism Board, shared: “We have been working closely with various governments in South-east Asia to align on cruise protocols and policies, and are excited to bring back port calls in Malaysia for sailings as a start.
“Port calls will provide more vacation options and we look forward to seeing more first-time and repeat cruisers in the coming year as more ports in the region open up.”
Spectrum of the Seas will offer new three- and four-night itineraries to Penang and Kuala Lumpur, with bookings open from June 2 on Royal Caribbean International’s website.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) welcomes the impending appointment of Christina G Frasco as secretary.
Frasco, who is currently mayor of Liloan, Cebu, will replace Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
In a statement on Monday, Romulo-Puyat said the DOT is ready for a “smooth turnover” to the new leadership, and will be handing the National Tourism Development Plan 2022 to 2028 to Frasco.
Frasco serves as the spokesperson of vice president-elect Sara Duterte since July 2021. She is also the daughter of Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has appointed Amit Mahajan as chief growth officer.
He is responsible for spearheading the business and product development efforts at Cygnett by implementing new growth initiatives, products, and programmes.
With over 23 years of progressive work experience, he takes on his new role after having served as director of development with InterGlobe Hotels.
The Westin Singapore recently welcomed its new director of sales and marketing, Jenny Lim.
In her new role, she will oversee the hotel’s sales and marketing strategies.
Previously director of sales and marketing at Parkroyal on Beach Road, Singapore, Lim brings with her two decades worth of knowledge and expertise in sales and marketing.
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has appointed Bree Milkovic to the role of senior vice president, head of digital, for the company’s portfolio of corporate brands.
Reporting to chief marketing officer, Frits de Kok, Milkovic takes up her new role on June 1, 2022, and will be relocating to Toronto.
Milkovic will be responsible for developing and implementing digital strategy with a focus on creating omnichannel digital acquisition and retention programmes to deliver revenue and growth for the company’s FCM and Corporate Traveller businesses.
Born in Australia, she first joined Flight Centre as digital marketing manager Australia in 2019.
Prior to FCTG, Milkovic forged a decade-long career in omnichannel digital marketing strategy, digital platform management and customer experience across B2B, B2C, e-commerce, non-profit and government sectors.
ASM Global has activated succession plans for Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), the venue management company’s flagship venue.
BCEC’s current general manager Bob O’Keeffe will combine his new position as CEO of BCEC with that of chief operating officer – venue operations for ASM Global (APAC), a newly-created role to meet the growing footprint of ASM Global APAC.
O’Keeffe will spend most of his time on head office duties, while also retaining involvement in BCEC operations for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, Kym Guesdon, currently holding the dual role of ASM Global group director, HR, for the region as well as the BCEC HR director role, has been appointed as BCEC general manager.
Guesdon is one of four female general managers of ASM Global venues in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region, and is only the second person to hold that position in BCEC 26-year history.
Emmanuel Menanteau is the new President for Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific’s Regional Board, commencing June 1, 2022 to end of 2024.
Having served ACI Asia-Pacific as the first vice president, Menanteau has also been appointed to the ACI World Governing Board.
Four new Regional Board Directors were also named for a three-year term, commencing June 2022: Iskandar Mizal Bin Mahmood, managing director of Malaysia Airports Holdings; Kyung Wook Kim, president and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation; Cheok Kuan Kan, executive director of Macau International Airport Company; and Hyeong Jung Yoon, president and CEO of Korea Airports Corporation.
