Pan Pacific Hotels Group has a new CEO, with Bernold Olaf Schroeder taking the reins of the Singapore-based chain on January 2, 2014.
Schroeder replaces outgoing CEO Patrick Imbardelli, who departed the company last month.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group is a wholly-owned hotel subsidiary of Singapore-listed UOL Group, one that owns and/or manages over 30 hotels, resorts and serviced suites across Asia, Oceania and North America under two brands, Pan Pacific and Parkroyal.
A German national, Bernold brings to Pan Pacific Hotels Group a wealth of executive management experience within the hospitality industry.
Most recently, he was Chief Executive Officer of Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co. Ltd and based in Shanghai, Bernold oversaw a portfolio of some 120 owned, operated and asset-managed hotels with a total inventory of 35,000 rooms.
Prior to that, Bernold spent 14 years with Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts where he assumed leadership responsibilities in the areas of business development and hotel operations.
With his vast industry experience, knowledge and business networks in Singapore and China, Bernold will lead Pan Pacific Hotels Group and be responsible for its overall performance, day-to-day business and operations management.
He will also oversee the Group’s business development and growth through management contract strategy and foster stronger partnerships with hotel owners.
“Following the Group’s recent privatisation under UOL Group, the appointment of Bernold as Chief Executive Officer marks another significant milestone in the company’s development,” says Gwee Lian Kheng, Group Chief Executive, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
“We are delighted to welcome Bernold on board and look forward to working with him to guide the Group to greater heights in its next stage of growth, through the strengthening of our internal management processes and the continued extension of our presence in major gateway cities across Asia Pacific.”
Over the last five years, Pan Pacific Hotels Group has successfully introduced and expanded its Pan Pacific and Parkroyal brands in the key growth markets of China, Australia and Indonesia, with the rebranding of properties in Sydney, Parramatta, Perth, Melbourne, Bali, Xiamen and Suzhou.
This year, Pan Pacific Hotels Group added two properties to its portfolio with the opening of the Parkroyal on Pickering and the 180-unit Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road in Singapore.
The Group also announced the upcoming debut of the Parkroyal brand in Indonesia – in Bogor (2015) and Bali (2017). In addition, a conditional joint venture with Shwe Taung Group paves the way for the launch of Pan Pacific Yangon in 2016, the first Pan Pacific hotel in Myanmar.
In 2014, Pan Pacific Hotels Group is set to open in July its fifth Pan Pacific property in China – the 319-room Pan Pacific Tianjin. The year will also see the unveiling of its new brands and hotels’ websites to refresh the user experience and deepen online engagement with customers.