Hurrah, More Poster Childs for Singapore Hotel Talent
Above, Sherona Shng. Right, Gino Tan. The appointments also reflect the trend of hotel chains streamlining and expanding roles, accelerated by the pandemic
5 July 2022
Two appointments show the strength of Singapore general managers in luxury hotel operations.
Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group has named Sherona Shng managing director of The Langham Hong Kong and regional vice president operations Asia. She oversees the operations of all Langham and Cordis hotels, including properties under development.
Over at Singapore-based Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, Gino Tan has stepped into a newly created role as country general manager overseeing The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.
The appointments also reflect the trend of hotel chains streamlining and expanding roles, which the pandemic has accelerated. This has the potential upside of making a hotel career more exciting. The industry has, even before Covid-19, struggled to draw or retain talent. An oft-cited reason is the narrowness of roles, a bane especially for the younger generation.
What’s more, Shng came from a non-operations background. She joined Langham Hospitality Group in 2003 and was its vice president communications before stepping into her first operational role as hotel manager at The Langham Hong Kong in 2012. Shng returned home in 2017 to join the Four Seasons Singapore and became general manager of Four Seasons Shenzhen in 2019.
“I am delighted to return to The Langham, Hong Kong, where I first discovered my love for operational excellence and enabling our people to deliver Langham bespoke touches and memories that the guests remember,” said Shng.
“I also look forward to equipping and mentoring future generations of hoteliers, including female leaders, with the skills and attitudes to be successful in their careers, affording them all opportunities to achieve their career and life goals,” she added.
Tan, too, wants to bring out the team’s best.
“I look forward to leveraging the talent and resources of our teams in Singapore and Sydney to build upon the success the Fullerton brand has attained through its signature hospitality and distinctive positioning of its landmark properties,” he said.
“I am delighted to come full circle in my career as both hotels in Singapore are steeped in our country’s heritage and culture. In addition, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney is equally iconic as it shares a similar history with The Fullerton Hotel Singapore as a former General Post Office,” said Tan.
A seasoned hotelier with almost 30 years of operational and marketing leadership experience, Tan was vice president hotel operations at Pan Pacific Hotels Group. Before that, he was area general manager of the group’s five hotels in Singapore and concurrently general manager of Pan Pacific Singapore, the group’s flagship property.
Tan started his hospitality career with Raffles Hotels & Resorts and was resident manager of Raffles Singapore and the former Raffles Beijing Hotel.