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Boutique Venice Beach, Hotel Erwin, announces new GM

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Boutique hotel in Venice Beach, California, Hotel Erwin, recently announced the appointment of new General Manager, Derek Haug, to oversee all hotel operations and management.

Mr. Haug comes to Hotel Erwin with more than 20 years of hospitality experience and a well-rounded understanding of all facets of hotel management. Most recently, Derek held leadership roles with Loews Hotels for the past twelve years and comes to Hotel Erwin from Loews Santa Monica Beach. There he oversaw all food, beverage, conference, catering and spa operations for the resort, creating and launching new restaurant and bar concepts. He has more than six years of experience in Southern California in addition to hospitality experience in Tucson, Arizona, Snowmass Village, Colorado. Derek holds a degree in hospitality management from the University of Minnesota.

With his extensive knowledge and experience with lifestyle brands and resorts, Derek is a great asset to Hotel Erwin’s dedicated team of associates as they undergo concept changes and renovations to the unique property with unparalleled rooftop and signature restaurant. Derek strives to continue to provide guests with a memorable Venice experience and uphold the standards of excellence and effortless Venice beach culture Erwin himself has infused into the hotel.

“Hotel Erwin never gives the ‘normal’ experience. I am excited to join a team who truly embodies the colorful culture of Venice Beach. A team who is pushing the boundaries of what we can do to make a guest’s experience above the ordinary,” Derek said. “It’s evident that the dedicated team at Hotel Erwin takes pride in the mission and values of the culture ownership has created.”

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New GM appointed at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

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Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu announced the appointment of Mr. Kanit Sangmookda as the new General Manager responsible for all areas in the Malaysian hotel including product development, financial performance, brand compliance, and guest satisfaction.

Born in Thailand, Mr. Kanit holds a master’s degree in International Business Management majoring in Management and Economics from Wollongong University in Australia. He brings with him more than 19 years of experience, working in leading international chain hotels including Marriott International, Minor Hotel Group and former Starwood Hotels and Resorts. His first taste of the hospitality industry was as a Reservation Agent in JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok. Through continuous learning and self-development, he has proven himself to be proficient and competent with his appointment as the Director of Revenue Management at Bangkok Marriott Resorts & Spa and The Westin Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Regional Director of Revenue Management for Starwood Hotels & Resorts – Southeast Asia.

Mr. Kanit is no stranger to the hospitality industry in Sabah where he served as the General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan for almost three years. Prior to his appointment at Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, Mr. Kanit was the General Manager for Le Méridien Jakarta where he spearheaded the renovation of the hotel rooms and their lobby lounge as well as the migration to Marriott International after the acquisition of Starwood.

Passionate, articulate and personable, Mr. Kanit is a creative leader who believes the success of an organization comes from a competent and innovative team. He drives his team to efficiently achieve their business goal by mentoring them to fulfill their full potential both professionally and personally.

Besides the dedicated contribution to the internal companies, his team and hotel owner, Mr. Kanit is also passionate in serving the tourism and hospitality industry in almost every market he presented as he believes in giving back to community and pay it forward to the next generation. Back in Thailand, he spent his weekend being part time lecturer at Hotel Management Faculty of Assumption University. During his time in Sandakan, he was part of the pioneer Executive Committee team of Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN) which established in 2015. While at the same time, he also represented Sandakan hotels as Executive Committee in Malaysia Hotels Association (MAH) – Sabah/Labuan chapter as well. When he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia; he also joined Jakarta Hotel Association as Executive Committee which he spearheaded Education and CSR sector and driven multiple activities for the organization.

As the new General Manager, Mr. Kanit looks forward to bringing new ideas and initiatives to revive the existing Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu to a new level. “With a different pair of eyes and my experiences, some things are better when seen from a new perspective,” he said.

When not on hotel grounds, Mr. Kanit is a family man who enjoys music, sports and fitness activities as well as photography.

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Aloft Kuala Lumpur has a new GM

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Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral welcomes Rubel Miah, as its newly appointed General Manager. Rubel joins the sassy 4-star Hotel with 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry with a solid foundation in driving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

A Master’s Degree holder in International Marketing and Business Development from the University of Evry in Paris, Rubel, a French national, began his career in hospitality as a Sales Manager at the Novotel Peace Beijing, followed by a three-year stint with the Sofitel brand in China before moving on to Sofitel Saigon in Vietnam as Director of Sales & Marketing where he spent two years, repositioning the hotel into the Luxury market before joining the pre-opening team of the Sheraton Chongqing Hotel in South West part of China.

Following a successful opening of the Sheraton Chongqing, Rubel joined the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, A Luxury Collection Hotel, in Bangkok, in 2012. In his capacity as the Director of Sales & Marketing of the Hotel, Rubel continued to excel and successfully increase the Hotel’s profitability which led to his appointment as Hotel Manager at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, where he held the position for three years, making it his most recent adventure before moving to Malaysia.

In his new role at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Rubel Miah strives to continue the Hotel’s success and make it the best place for global corporate and leisure travellers.

Apart from work, Rubel, a father of two, is also highly committed to humanitarian causes. He was a Chief Boy Scout while completing his Master’s Degree where he found working to raise funds and helping out the less fortunate a very enriching experience. He carried on his passion throughout his career, championing the Marriott Thailand Business Council’s Corporate Social Responsibility chapter.

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Shenyang EXPO begins third year with optimism

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hree major exhibitions since March 15th have very successfully launched the third year of operations at the Shenyang New World EXPO (“EXPO”). The combined attendance exceeded 124,000 visitors and two of the three shows grew over 10% in licensed area compared to 2018.

Diane CHEN, EXPO General Manger expressed confidence that Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province in northeast China, would continue to experience growth. She cited excellent facilities, location and absolute government support as factors igniting the growth since the venue opened in March of 2017. Shenyang boasts of an excellent international airport with nearly 400 daily arrivals and departures along with high speed train service connecting all major cities in northeast China including Beijing. The city’s population exceeds 8 million.

Despite that China’s economy has slowed somewhat, management of the Shenyang New World EXPO (‘EXPO’) is significantly optimistic about the potential growth of the exhibition and meeting industry in Shenyang. Regional and national organisers are also showing serious interest in the market.

The first three major exhibitions of 2019, all recurrent, included the 2019 Advertising Festival (organised by Shanghai Modern International Exhibition Co., Ltd), the 21st China Northeast International Dental Equipment & Affiliated Facilities Exhibition Symposium on Oral Health and the 25th China Northeast International Building & Decoration Exhibition (both the latter exhibitions organised by Liaoning Northern Exhibition Co., Ltd).

Cliff Wallace, who led in EXPO’s operational and functional planning as well as its management staff organisation said, “I am especially pleased that the Dental Exhibition was audited by UFI, The Global Association of the Global Industry. I anticipate approval by UFI as the venue’s first UFI Approved Event.”

Liaoning Northern Exhibition GM, LI Zhi Song stated, “I anxiously await the anticipated news from UFI confirming our Dental Exhibition has achieved UFI approved status. An “UFI Approved Exhibition” is proof of high quality, thus providing exhibitors and visitors alike with the assurance of making a sound business investment.”

Wallace is an Honorary President of UFI and continues to advise EXPO relative to achieving its vision which is to be among China’s best venues with a dedicated professional staff delivering superb levels of customer care.

Four major exhibitions will be held in April again signifying the success of EXPO, northeast China’s newest venue offering 24,000 sqm (260,000 sq ft) of rental space to the market for exhibitions, conference and other events. In addition to transportation advantages including the venue’s own connected METRO station, the city continues to expand its hospitality industry adding state-of-the-art major brand hotels. Rooms within 10 km (6 miles) of EXPO now total over 19,000.

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Rocco Forte appoints GM for Masseria Torre Maizza

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Rocco Forte Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Franco Girasoli as General Manager of Masseria Torre Maizza set to open May 1 in Puglia.

An Italian native, Girasoli brings 30 years of hospitality experience to the new Apulian resort and has excelled at building strong relationships with an international clientele from key markets such as the United States, the UK, Russia, Japan, France and Germany.

Prior to taking the helms of the new Rocco Forte property, Girasoli spent a large part of his career with Belmond Group, where he started in the F&B department of Villa San Michele and eventually moved his way up to General Manager in 2004. After 20 years in Tuscany, Girasoli transferred to Ravello in 2008 where, for 10 years, he led the team at the Belmond Hotel Caruso.

Located in the charming town of Savellestri di Fasano, Masseria Torre Maizza is an historic farmhouse dating back to the 16th century, surrounded by ancient olive trees and a 9-hole golf course.

Rocco Forte Hotels has invested over 6 million euros to enhance the masseria back to its natural beauty.  Olga Polizzi, Director of Design for Rocco Forte Hotels has worked closely with local artisans to redesign the historic building. The hotel will now offer 40 luxurious rooms and suites, each boasting private gardens and terraces with stunning views across the Apulian countryside.

“I am proud to be joining the Rocco Forte Hotels team, especially to inaugurate their first luxury resort in Puglia.  This is one of the most attractive destinations in the south of Italy” said Girasoli.

Sir Rocco Forte, Founder and Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, added: “We are delighted to welcome Franco to our first luxury hotel in Puglia. I am sure that his experience will allow us to achieve great results in an exciting year for Rocco Forte Hotels.”

The appointment of Girasoli is part of an unprecedented moment of expansion for the Rocco Forte Hotels group which, in May 2019, will also inaugurate its second property in Rome, the iconic Hotel De La Ville a few steps from Piazza di Spagna.

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