The latest industry appointments

THAWATCHAI ARUNYIK has become the new governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). He took up the position late last month, having spent the last 30 years with the TAT in various roles. Most recently he was the tourism board’s deputy governor for domestic marketing.

JUAN TORRES has become Etihad Airways’ new general manager for the Philippines. The move marks a return to Manila for Torres, who previously served as the airline’s Philippine GM from October 2006 to March 2010. In between times, he served as Etihad’s GM in South America and Japan.

FRANCK LAFOURCADE has returned as general manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. A French national, LaFourcade previously managed the property from 2000 to 2005, before leaving to spend almost nine years in China, including spells as GM and area GM for Sofitel in Shanghai.

JAMAL HUSSAIN has been announced as the new assistant vice president and general manager of the Regent Bali. Having started his career at the Hilton Vienna, Hussain became a GM in Malaysia in 1997. He arrives at Regent from Banyan Tree, where he held senior positions in several countries.

MARKUS SCHNEIDER has been named as the new general manager of the Mövenpick Hotel Saigon. A German national, Schneider has 28 years of experience in India, Egypt, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He arrives in Vietnam following a stint as GM in the Philippines.

DENIS THOUVARD has been appointed general manager of the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. Thouvard has more than 20 years’ hotel experience, including spells in France, Hong Kong and the UK. He previously held the position of area general manager at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Phuket.

DORIAN ROMMEL has been appointed general manager of the Shangri-La Dalian. A German national born in Monte Carlo, Rommel has 20 years’ hotel experience. He has worked in the US, Switzerland and Singapore, and most recently served as general manager of the Kempinski Hotel in Yinchuan, China.

KANIT SANGMOOKDA has been named as the new general manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan. A Thai national, Kanit has 13 years’ experience, five of which have been spent with Starwood. He moved to Malaysia in 2008 as director of revenue management at the Westin Kuala Lumpur.

LI XIANG has been named as the new director of convention & incentive sales at the Shangri-La Dalian. Li is no stranger to the hotel, having been part of the operating team since it opened in 1997. He started as a reservation agent and most recently served as director of business development.

JEAN-LUC VASSEUR has been announced as the new executive pastry chef at the Ritz-Carlton Beijing. A French national, Chef Jean-Luc arrives in the Chinese capital from his previous posting as executive pastry chef with Four Seasons in Guangzhou.