22 Aug 2017
A Dutch national, Marcel N.A. Holman has been appointed as the General Manager for The Sukhothai Shanghai, a contemporary design hotel managed by The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts, scheduled to debut in December 2017.
Prior to joining The Sukhothai Shanghai, Mr Holman was formerly the General Manager of Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei and MEGA 50, an external Food & Beverage lifestyle Complex from 2012 till mid-2016, followed by General Manager Projects for Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties based in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta.
Mr Holman started his international hospitality career in Asia Pacific 24 years ago as the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager in Queenstown, New Zealand followed by several assignments with InterContinental Hotels Group, Rotana Hotels and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in Australia, China, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan.
In July 2005, he joined the Shangri-La Fuzhou, China as Resident Manager and was responsible for the entire hotel's operations during the soft opening period. After a year tenure with the Shangri-La, Fuzhou, China, Mr Holman was transferred to Shangri-La Chengdu, China in a similar capacity for the pre-opening of the hotel and one year after opening, he took up his first assignment as General Manager with the China World Summit Wing, Convention Centre (A Shangri-La Hotel) Beijing in 2008. In this capacity, Mr Holman was tasked to set-up the structure and streamline the process in preparation for the pre-opening of this flagship Shangri-La hotel.
He remained until his move to Wuhan to oversee the USD25 million renovation. After two years, Mr Holman was assigned to the Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Taipei, Taiwan to execute the USD52 million renovation project and the hotel relaunch program. In 2015, he was instrumental in the conceptualization, preparations and execution of Shangri-La's first external Food & Beverage complex consisting of 3 lifestyle venues and a ballroom located on the 48th, 49th and 50th floor which opened successfully in 2016. In mid-2016, Mr Holman took on the position as General Manager - Projects for the various Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta.
One of his greatest achievements was being awarded the winner of "Food & Beverage Creativity Award" InterContinental Hotels North Asia.
Mr Holman now heads a team of 249 professionals in the operation of the 17-storey - The Sukhothai Shanghai with 201 uniquely designed guest rooms and suites, five lifestyle venues and event space accommodating up to 350 persons for reception, a state-of-the-art 198 square metre fitness centre and a Spa. In addition, Mr Holman will also oversee the leasing and catering management of the "Cha House", a restored heritage 3-storey building annexed to the Hotel.