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LANGHAM GEARS UP FOR AGGRESSIVE ASIA EXPANSION WITH NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES – ASIA
(Hong Kong – 22 November 2006) --- Langham Hotels International (LHI) has its sights firmly set on aggressive expansion, identifying Asia as the key geographic region for significant growth. In preparation for such expansion, LHI has appointed Ms. Cheryl Yue to take up the strategic position of Director of Global Sales – Asia.
Ms. Cheryl Yue is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in the hotel industry. Before joining Langham, Ms. Yue was part of the pre-opening team for Le Meridien Cyberport as Director of Sales & Marketing. Prior to that, she had held senior sales positions with Shangri-la Hotels in Hong Kong.
Based in the group's corporate office in Hong Kong, Ms. Yue reports to Ms. Alison Styles, Director of Global Sales of LHI. In her new position, she will strengthen Langham's sales efforts in Asia and manage LHI's sales initiatives, dedicated to further growing LHI's market share and brand awareness in the region. Her major focus will be on managing LHI's preferred Travel Management Company (TMC) relationships and handling the corporate and MICE segments in Asia, predominantly Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, Ms. Yue will also support LHI's sales offices in Japan and Mainland China.
"I am very excited about joining Langham and be a part of the group's expansion strategy. As a fast developing home-grown luxury hotel brand in the international market, Langham represents endless challenging opportunities to me," said Cheryl Yue, Director of Global Sales – Asia of Langham Hotels International. "I look forward to working closely with our strong global sales team to establish a significant foothold for Langham in Asia, both in terms of revenue and market exposure."
The new appointment supports LHI's increasing emphasis on the Asian market. Being the world's fastest growing and most dynamic region, Asia represents a major feeder market for LHI, accounting for almost 25% of the group's total business. As a travel destination, Asia is also performing well. Focusing on the region's immense opportunities and powerful economic growth, LHI is unfolding an ambitious expansion plan by adding hotels and resorts in Asia, with the most aggressive growth planned for China.
"The re-branding of Langham's luxury hotel portfolio worldwide was successfully completed last year. The increasing acceptance of the Langham brands, as reflected by an 8% market share growth in 2006, gives us the confidence to pursue aggressive expansion in potential destinations," said Brett Butcher, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing of Langham Hotels International. "Asia is strong and booming, both as a destination and a market. Its tremendous growth prospect makes every business sense for us to establish the Langham brands here. With the right products in the right locations, business opportunities are tremendous."
To support its active Asian expansion strategy, LHI will also open a global sales office in Singapore in 2007, adding to its existing seven offices in New York, San Francisco, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In addition, the group is increasing the number of new strategic partnerships with Asian airlines with an aim to attract even more customers from the region.
Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when the Langham Hotel in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.
Langham Hotels International (LHI) features six properties with over 2,700 rooms in five gateway cities across the four continents, namely, London, Boston, Hong Kong (2), Melbourne and Auckland. In each city Langham Hotels is associated with the prestigious “The Leading Hotels of the World” group which represents some of the world’s finest luxury hotels.
LHI is wholly owned by Great Eagle Holdings Limited, a publicly listed company (HKSE: 41) which was founded in 1963 and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.
For information on Langham Hotels International, please visit www.langhamhotels.com.
To download images to accompany this release, please visit the links: http://enews.langhamhotels.com/LHI/pressrelease/20061121/download_pic.html
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