Darren Gearing appointed General and Area Manager of Island Shangri-La Hong Kong

Mr. Gearing, previously Senior Director of Development for two years, based at the Shangri-La corporate offices in Hong Kong, has been appointed General Manager of the 565-guestroom Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong. Mr Gearing is also responsible for all Shangri-La properties in Hong Kong with specific responsibility for the development of the group’s owned projects in China.

The previous General Manager of the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Franz Donhauser, transferred to Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney as general manager from 21 August 2008.

Prior to joining Shangri-La’s the corporate offices, Mr. Gearing was general manager of Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing from 2002 to 2006. Under his direction, Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing achieved outstanding sales and service results, and the hotel was recognised in 2005 as Shangri-La’s Hotel of the Year. Mr. Gearing was previously general manager of Shangri-La’s privately managed Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong. He has also worked in hospitality positions in London, Boston and Singapore.

Laurent Bourgeois has also joined the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong as Director of Food and Beverage. Having lived in Hong Kong between 2000 and 2002, Mr. Bourgeois is responsible for the operational and financial performance of the hotel’s eight restaurants, as well as maintaining a high standard of cuisine, and ensuring that the training and development needs are met for his team of over 200 people are met.

Belgian national Mr. Bourgeois, who has more than 15 years experience in the food and beverage division of the hospitality industry, has held managerial portfolios with renowned hotels and restaurants in Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai, India and Macau.

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