The latest industry appointments

MARIO HARDY has been confirmed as the new chief executive officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The move marks a promotion for Hardy, who has served as PATA’s chief operations officer since January this year. Previously he spent 14 years working for UBM/OAG, heading up its Asian operations.

ALEJANDRO BERNABE has been confirmed as the new chief executive officer of Kempinski Hotels. Bernabe worked in Switzerland, South Africa, France and Sri Lanka, before joining Kempinski in 1998 as pre-opening F&B manager. He was responsible for spearheading the group’s development efforts in Southeast Asia in 2013.

MARCUS VAN DER WAL has been named as the new chief operating officer of Kempinski Hotels. An experienced hotelier, van der Wal has been with Kempinski since 1998, holding a range of roles in hotel operations. Most recently he served as the company’s senior vice president for Europe, overseeing 22 properties.

CHRISTIAN LUKEY has been named as Amadeus’ new head of hotel distribution for Asia Pacific. With more than 16 years’ in hospitality roles across Asia Pacific, Lukey joins the travel technology company from HRS, where he served as commercial director. He also previously worked for Amari Hotels & Resorts.

KARIN SHEPPARD has been announced as IHG’s new chief operating officer for Australasia, Japan, Korea & Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA) – franchising. The move marks a promotion for Ms Sheppard, who was previously the company’s chief commercial officer for AMEA. She will now oversee more than 100 hotels.

MAEL VASTINE has been appointed general manager of the Ozo Wesley Hong Kong. Vastine has worked with Accor since 2006, starting as GM of three hotels in London and moving to China in 2009 as GM of the ibis Beijing Sanyuan. Most recently he was resident manager of the ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan Hotel.

TONY LI has been appointed general manager of the Shama Heda Hangzhou. He joins the Onyx Hospitality Group with more than 20 years of hospitality experience. Prior to joining the Shama, he worked for Shangri-La Hangzhou, Sofitel Hangzhou, Sofitel Suzhou and Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou.

KAI DIECKMANN has been announced as the new resort manager of the Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand. Following roles in Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland, Dieckmann moved to Soneva Kiri, on the remote Thai island of Koh Kood, in 2011 as the resort’s executive assistant manager.

JACK BARTHOLOMEW has become Khiri Travel’s new regional director for Indochina, handling the company’s operations in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. He previously worked as Khiri’s general manager in Cambodia, but now moves to Hanoi to take on the expanded role.

RUBEN DERKSEN has become the new general manager of Khiri Travel Sri Lanka. Formerly the company’s general manager for Laos, Derksen now moves to Colombo to oversee the new unit. Derksen has been working closely with joint venture partner, Luxe Asia, to develop new Sri Lankan travel experiences.

CHANELLE GARVEY has been named as the new sales and marketing director at the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit. Ms Garvey has more than 23 years’ hospitality experience, the last seven of which have been spent directing the sales and marketing efforts at the Sofitel Brisbane Central and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

PAUL CUTLER has been appointed as Outrigger Resorts’ new director of sales & marketing for Fiji. Based in Sydney, he will handle the company’s two resorts in the South Pacific country. Cutler moves to Outrigger from his most recent position as the Australia-based sales and marketing manager for Fiji’s Nanuku Resort & Spa.

CHRISTINE WONG has been named as Onyx Hospitality Group’s new director of human resources for North Asia. She joins the company with more than 20 years of HR experience. Prior to joining Onyx, Ms Wong worked for Sheraton Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Country Club, L’hotel Management and the Renaissance Kowloon.

WOOTHIGRAI MUNGJIT has been appointed executive chef at the Conrad Koh Samui. Chef Woody, as he is better known, arrives in Samui from his previous role as director of culinary at the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort. He has also worked as a chef at other resorts in Thailand and Fiji.