Design Hotels expands Asia-Pacific team

BERLIN – Design Hotels has recently expanded its Asia-Pacific team with the appointment of two new senior management positions. Carsten Lima takes on the role as Area Director for Asia-Pacific and Brandon Chan leads the team as Director of Sales and Marketing.

The appointments emphasize the growing importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the development strategy of Design Hotels as it celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. With this expansion, the Berlin-based company will increase engagement with trade and consumers within these growing markets. Arno Schwalie Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Design Hotels™ said: ‘We're pleased to see increased investment in design-led hospitality concepts in the Asia-Pacific region as our aim is to continually grow and diversify our offerings. As the niche gains foothold domestically we are also seeing more travelers from the region seeking out unique hotel experiences abroad.’
 
As part of the growth strategy in the region, immediate initiatives include three events this October in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore reaching out to key influencers, media and the travel trade. Plans for 2014 include a 40% increase in the number of sales events in emerging markets like China and India, as well as mature markets like Japan and Korea. The events also provide a platform for member hotels to reach leisure and corporate travelers in the region.
 
Carsten Lima, Area Director, Asia-Pacific
With over 20 years experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Carsten Lima joined Design Hotels as Area Director for Asia-Pacific. In his new role, he heads the Asia-Pacific operations with a focus on portfolio development and account management. Lima started his career at Thomas Cook followed by British Airways and has since held several senior sales and marketing roles including a key account management position in Luxury Lifestyle Hotels & Resorts (now Franklyn Hotels) in Barcelona, and as Director of Spain, Portugal and France for Epoque Hotels. He was most recently Head of Sales Worldwide at Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Lima speaks five languages and is Danish.  He made his journey in the travel and hospitality industry through key European cities such as Paris, Barcelona and London before arriving in Singapore in June 2013.
 
Brandon Chan, Director of Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific
Brandon Chan began his career in the travel and hospitality industry in 1978 at Singapore Airlines. From there he moved on to Starwood where he trained and worked in various departments before embarking on a career in sales and marketing. He is a hospitality veteran with extensive experience in the industry, taking on sales and marketing leadership positions at properties of Starwood, Grand Hyatt, The Raffles, Fullerton, Shangri-La and Meritus Mandarin. Chan was instrumental in setting up the Singapore office for Small Luxury Hotels of the World as Director of Sales for Asia-Pacific and was most recently Vice President of Sales for Alila Hotels and Resorts.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews