Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced the appointment of Stephen Ho as President – Greater China, Global Operations, in line with the group’s plans to accelerate growth in Greater China.
Effective April 16, 2018, Stephen will be responsible for the growth and operations of the hotel network, talent development and owner relations in the Greater China region. He will also refine and reinforce the group’s China outbound strategy from a commercial and operations perspective.
Prior to joining Hyatt, Stephen was Chief Executive Officer, Greater China Region at Marriott International, Inc., where he oversaw all hotels in operation and under construction in the region. He was Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Asia Pacific President from 2012 to 2016, and winner of the prestigious CNBC Travel Business Leader Award (TBLA) 2014, in recognition of his leadership excellence.
ÒChina has been identified as one of the key priorities for Hyatt.Ê We see great opportunities as it continues to rise as a global economic power and as the Chinese increase travel both domestically and globally,Ó said David Udell, Asia Pacific Group President. ÒWith over 35 years of experience in managing all aspects of hotel operations and development and an intimate knowledge of Greater China, Stephen is the ideal leader for our Greater China region, to boost Hyatt’s overall development and to bolster our strategy to better cater to the Chinese market, globallyÓ.
Since the establishment of the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Greater China in 1969, Hyatt has become a favourable choice for premium business and leisure travellers. Hyatt currently operates 50 properties across seven brands in Greater China and plans to open around 60 hotels in Greater China in the next three years.
ÒThere is a growing consumer demand in China and people are crossing countries and continents with increased frequency,Ó said Chuck Floyd, Global President of Operations. ÒThe growth in outbound Chinese travellers will be the biggest driver of global travel expansion over the next decade and Stephen will spearhead our efforts to cater to this growth, whether they’re travelling domestically or going abroad.Ó
ÒI am very excited to join Hyatt, a company I have admired for many years.Ê HyattÊhas strong global consumer recognition and loyalty across all its brands.Ê It is the trendsetter and the undisputed leader when it comes to stylish accommodations, innovative food & beverage offerings, and creative meeting solutions.Ê Furthermore, Hyatt’s expansion in Greater China and better addressing the needs of Chinese travellers has become a global priority,Ó said Stephen Ho.ÊÒHyatt has built a strong brand reputation by focusing on quality and service. Together with the established leadership team, we intend to continue Hyatt’s journey of excellence and bring the company’s brand presence in Greater China to the next levelÓ.
A native of Singapore and a permanent Hong Kong resident, fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Fujian, Stephen enjoys running, hiking and travelling.Ê He completed his MBA with the University of Ottawa.ÊDue to his strong interest in Eastern philosophy, he also completed a Master Degree in Buddhism at Hong Kong University in 2012.ÊStephen began his extensive hospitality career in 1981.Ê Since then, he has served in a variety of roles across multiple functions and geographies, including Brunei, Auckland, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Singapore, Dhaka and Beijing.
