Hospitality Veterans Team Up to Open The Westin Singapore

The Westin Singapore has unveiled its senior leadership team.

The team is led by Lance J. Ourednik, General Manager of The Westin Singapore.

Charged with bringing The Westin back to Singapore after more than a decade, Lance will spearhead the operations, management of the hotel opening and work with his team to drive the post-launch initiatives as the hotel reestablishes itself in the market.

With over 39 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Lance has held several key appointments with Starwood hotels in key cities such as Beijing, Guilin and Xiamen, and recently opened The Westin Mumbai Garden City recently.

Sushil Sharma, Hotel Manager, will assist Lance in the overall hotel operations. Previously from The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Sushil has also served various leadership roles within the hospitality industry across Europe, Asia and North America, including Director of Food & Beverage at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel, United States.

Kelly Ho, Director of Human Resources (HR), will lead the overall HR function, ensuring the recruitment and development of talent. Kelly has a wealth of knowledge and experience of more than 15 years in human resources within the hospitality industry. Kelly is new to Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and had previously led the HR team at Capella Singapore.

Zulkiflee Januar, Director of Food and Beverages (F&B), will play a vital role across The Westin Singapore's multiple F&B venues – including signature restaurant 'Seasonal Tastes' and gastro bar 'Cook & Brew'. The seasoned F&B professional will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards in the hotel banquet and catering services. Zulkiflee's strong experience in managing F&B operations for large-scale hotel chains – including The Westin Hefei, The Westin Shanghai and St Regis Singapore – ensures that brand quality assurance and cultural expectations are met.

Louanne Zheng, Director of Sales and Marketing, will drive the conception and implementation of strategic campaigns. Besides exploring new business opportunities and enhancing relationships with business partners, Louanne will also play a crucial role in leading the sales teams of corporate, catering, MICE and leisure. As a hospitality sales veteran with over 17 years of experience, Louanne had held the post of Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Southern China, as well as key appointments at high-end hotel brands across Asia, including the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel.

Ernawati Setijo, Director of Marketing Communications, will lead the Marketing Communications team to strategize, execute and ensure the success of The Westin Singapore's marketing, communications and public relations initiatives. Ernawati was previously from Sheraton Towers Singapore, part of the Starwood group of hotels and most recently, she was the Director of Marketing Communications at Marina Mandarin Singapore.

Sven Capon, Executive Chef, will be responsible for leading the conceptualization and development of all menu selections, including Westin's signature SuperFoodsRX program. With an extensive experience working with varied cuisines, Sven's diverse experience will ensure that guests at The Westin Singapore enjoy a memorable journey of culinary delights. He joined Starwood in 2008 as Sous Chef at W Retreat & Spa in Maldives and then worked as the Executive Chef for Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.

"I am honoured and very excited to be working alongside this talented group of individuals to bring The Westin back to Singapore," said Lance J Ourednik, General Manager of The Westin Singapore. "Each of our members is experienced, dedicated and committed to the success of The Westin Singapore. We look forward to bringing the signature Westin experience to our guests and business partners."

The Westin Singapore is scheduled to open in November 2013. It is located from levels 32 to 46 in Asia Square Tower 2 on the vibrant Marina Bay, in the heart of Singapore's financial district.