How long have you been in the travel industry and what do you enjoy most about your job?

I have been working as a meeting planner in Okinawa for 10 years and, for me, there is nothing better than seeing our guests experience our programmes and then giving us big smiles in return. It is great when we can all see the targeted effect happening and again when we are able to share the client’s excitement with our team.

What is your greatest career achievement to-date?

For six years, I served as a ISO9001-standard chief auditor. That experience has helped me to plan and offer services with our company that take into consideration the importance of process management.

I have never stopped striving to devise ways to make a process more efficient, to determine ways in which we can heighten the degree of achievement in our programmes and how we can deliver additional satisfaction to our clients.

Does anything about your job keep you awake at night?

My mind is constantly occupied with how we can develop better plans to provide greater satisfaction to our clients, and what we can do to brush-up our overall services.

I also often think if all members of our team are sharing and understand the company’s purpose of helping clients to achieve their aims.

What are your top three tips for achieving success in a career in this industry?

First, you should build a network that encompasses global issues, the meetings industry, regional culture, regional economics and, of course, clients.

Second, make sure you understand your clients’ interests and share that knowledge with your entire team.

Third, raise the motivation levels of your team and make sure they are sharing the organisation’s goals.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Chan as area general manager, China and general manager, Pan Pacific Suzhou. He has over 30 years of industry experience spanning China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines and the US. He is no stranger to the Group, having helmed Pan Pacific Ningbo from 2014 to 2016.

O’Keefe is now Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s chief technology officer of hotel distribution. He brings 20 years of technology and software experience, as well as rich expertise and deep knowledge of the travel industry, to his new role. He was most recently chief technology officer for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

Caravelle Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City is now helmed by Robinson, who has been promoted from his former position as director of rooms.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel has named Brennan its vice president of hotel operations. He most recently served as vice president of field partner management of QSI Facilities.

Pittion is now executive assistant manager of F&B for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central, having moved from Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong where he was director of F&B.

Oakwood Asia Pacific has appointed McKie as the new general manager of Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta. He was most recently general manager of Nine Dragons HNA Hotels in Zhejiang, China and was responsible for the Nine Dragons Resort Complex. His extensive career spans 20 years.