GROUP RESTRUCTURE

Accor

In 2022, Accor announced a global restructure with the creation of a dedicated division for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands, and a separate division for Luxury & Lifestyle brands.

I supported in the transition to this model, assisting the senior leadership team with owner updates, internal town hall meetings and external updates for key stakeholders.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

ACCOR

From 2021 to 2013, I took the initiative to develop a comprehensive collection of training resources and templates tailored to support communications leaders across Accor's hotels in Asia. This training series covered a wide range of topics, including storytelling techniques and best practices for effective influencer collaborations. Additionally, I established a library of templates designed to assist in various training modules, such as PR strategy templates that hotels could utilize for their communications efforts.

COVID RECOVERY CAMPAIGN

ACCOR

In response to the gradual easing of travel restrictions from mid-2020, Accor launched a campaign entitled 'Reignite the Love of Travel'.

To maximize the campaign's impact, I undertook the task of pitching various stories to prominent media outlets, including CNN Travel and CNA (Channel News Asia). Through effective communication and relationship-building, I successfully secured media coverage for Accor and its hotels during this crucial period.

HOTEL HANDBOOKS

ACCOR

A key project that I led at Accor was the introduction of a communications handbook. This extensive document provided a series of guidelines to hotel teams in the region based on best communications practices. The handbook covered various topics such as handling sensitive media enquiries, dealing with crises at a hotel level, hosting successful media trips and pitching newsworthy stories to journalists. The document also outlined key procedures, ensuring greater compliance across the region and mitigating any communications errors.

AMAZING BIKE RIDE

ACCOR

In 2019, I played a pivotal role in co-organizing a charity bike ride across Vietnam, a remarkable event that brought together 58 of my colleagues.

This inspiring journey covered a distance of 300km along the scenic Mekong Delta. Through our collective efforts, we successfully raised over $120,000 USD for local charities. This initiative not only showcased the significance of diversity within Accor but also served as a powerful means to support community projects through our united fundraising endeavors.

TEAM ONBOARDING

ACCOR

I took on the responsibility of designing a series of presentations that could be delivered during the first month of an employee's onboarding, facilitating a more efficient and successful integration into the team. These presentations covered essential topics to equip new hires with the knowledge and skills necessary for their roles. Additionally, I provided communications trainings specifically tailored for new General Managers and Sales leaders as they were inducted into the company, ensuring they were equipped with effective communication strategies and techniques to excel in their positions.

HOTEL OPENINGS

ACCOR

During my time with Accor, I supported with over 50 hotel openings across the region. Notable openings included Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort, Mondrian Seoul Itaewon and Hôtel Perle d'Orient Cat Ba - MGallery. Additionally, I had the privilege of overseeing the Asia launch of the TRIBE brand with new hotels opened in Cambodia and Indonesia. I implemented a range of SOPs for pre-opening hotels and introduced various resources to support onsite communications teams.

LOYALTY RELAUNCH

ACCOR

In late 2019, I led various communications actions for Accor during the launch of their new loyalty program, ALL - Accor Live Limitless. These actions included hosting roundtables, supporting statements, organizing press trips, and coordinating media interviews with the group's Chief Operating Officer. Through these actions, I played a pivotal role in elevating awareness and understanding of ALL - Accor Live Limitless, effectively positioning it as a compelling loyalty program within the hospitality industry.

CSR PROJECTS

SOFITEL HOTELS & RESORTS CAMBODIA

I had the privilege of overseeing various CSR initiatives aimed at raising funds for local organizations in Cambodia. At Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, I successfully coordinated a charity dinner for 'Sala Bai,' a local hospitality school, resulting in over $10,000 USD raised. These funds were instrumental in providing scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue their studies in the field of hospitality.

In Phnom Penh, I actively supported the organization of multiple charity concerts dedicated to generating funds for local education projects. Additionally, I curated a series of exhibitions at both hotels, providing Cambodian artists with an international platform to showcase their work and fostering community engagement in the local art scene.

BRAND UPDATE

SOFITEL HOTELS & RESORTS CAMBODIA

During my time in Cambodia, I played a central role in implementing new brand guidelines and visual identity for Sofitel. This encompassed conducting comprehensive audits to ensure adherence to the brand's standards across the hotels.

I oversaw the development of immersive property-specific websites, offering guests a more captivating online experience that showcased the unique qualities of each Sofitel property. I also had the privilege of collaborating with international photographers on over 10 photoshoots, capturing visually stunning imagery that reflected the essence and allure of the Sofitel brand. Through these initiatives, I contributed to elevating the overall guest experience and reinforcing Sofitel's position as a distinguished luxury brand in Cambodia.

MEDIA RELATIONS

SOFITEL HOTELS & RESORTS CAMBODIA

As Area Marketing Manager, I was responsible for the communications of the hotels and developed a strong relationship with multiple media outlets in Cambodia. I worked with both local journalists and international writers to showcase the very best of the Kingdom and the extensive collection of events held each month at the hotels. I organized multiple press briefings, dinners and parties to strengthen media relations and inform local press of key events happening at the hotels. I was responsible for preparing official press releases for the hotel and gathering coverage.

DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS

SOFITEL HOTELS & RESORTS CAMBODIA

I assisted in the implementation of a much stronger digital marketing strategy under the leadership of our Area Digital Marketing Manager based in Bangkok. We recruited another team member in Cambodia to drive this area, and we developed best practices to ensure that we led the market with our campaigns on Facebook, Instagram and Google. I assisted in the development of stronger content to boost Search Engine Optimisation and ensured a strong click-through rate with a refreshed library of images with multiple photo and video shoots throughout the year.

HOTEL CONVERSION
PROJECT

IHTTI SCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

A major project during my bachelor programme at IHTTI was the design and branding of a hotel in Los Angeles. The project involved the conversion of a 14 story office building into a mid-scale hotel that would attract young professionals within the media and arts industry. With the support of another colleague, we developed a hotel concept entitled 'Artio' with a strong focus on social spaces and dining outlets for the unique needs of millennial travellers. 

For more information about the project, click here.

STUDY ADVISORY PROGRAMME

IHTTI SCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

A key project that I was involved in during my role as Academic Ambassador at IHTTI was the development of a streamlined study support programme. By developing a student website, I created a platform in which students could sign-up for support and get matched with a mentor. The platform also allowed for streamlined feedback submissions, enabling the university to view insights about the performance and effectiveness of the programme. I also created a campaign that educated students about the benefits of the programme.

Student ambassador forum

ihtti school of hotel management

Whilst studying at IHTTI in Switzerland, I was elected as the Design Ambassador and Academic Ambassador. These roles required me to represent the student voice within the college, communicating feedback and ideas to the senior management team. I worked on a number of projects to enhance the student experience such as public-speaking seminars, tutorial programmes and painting workshops. I also implemented a student website platform which enabled students to contribute innovative solutions to solve issues within the college.
 

employee ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN

CAPE KIDNAPPERS

Engaging employees is an important part of any successful company. During my time in New Zealand I worked closely with the Lodge Manager at Cape Kidnappers, developing a campaign to improve employee engagement and retention. The campaign was entitled 'Success Starts Here' and aimed to improve both the culture within the lodge, and employee knowledge about their role within the company. Key projects within this campaign included a restructured employee benefits program, online employee platform and volunteer projects at the wildlife sanctuary for employees to take part in together.