New Faces, New Roles at the Singapore Marriott Hotel

Marriott has announced the following new appointments for the Singapore Marriott Hotel:

Robert Stark - General Manager

With the departure of Ms Alison J. Hood, the Singapore Marriott Hotel has welcomed Mr Robert Stark as he begins his term as General Manager. No stranger to the Hotel, Robert was part of the pre-opening team for the Singapore Marriott back in 1994 when he joined the Hotel as the Director of Rooms Operations. His last appointment was the Resident Manager of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort where he was involved in the renovation and re-branding of the property as a Marriott.

Robert's career with Marriott started in 1985 as an ID Trainee at the Marriott Park Central in Dallas, Texas. He was appointed Front Desk Manager of the Marina Del Rey Marriott, California a year later. Since then, Robert's assignments included several managerial positions at properties in the United States, Indonesia and Thailand. He was awarded the Rising Star' Management award by the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in 1990.

Robert is married to his Hungarian wife, Ibi. They have a two-year-old son, James.

Sho Hwee - Director of Marketing

Sho Hwee was promoted to the position of Director of Marketing from her previous role as the Director of Sales (July 2000 - July 2003). She has claimed several star awards in her three years including the 'Marriott Asia Pacific Special Sales Achievement Award 2002' and the 'Marriott Asia Pacific Best Hotel Sales team Award 2003'. In addition, for the first time since the hotel's opening in 1995, Singapore Marriott Hotel attained the number one position  island wide for the Revenue per Available Room (RevPar) Measure 2002. Sho Hwee's sterling leadership also led to an overall improvement in the revenue, skills development and performance of her department.

Sho Hwee has more than 10 years' experience behind her, with in-depth knowledge on various segments of hotel sales. In her three years with Marriott, she has displayed exemplary tenacity along with an ever-cheerful disposition known by many in the same trade.

With her promotion, Sho Hwee now oversees the Sales & Marketing, Reservations, Catering Sales and Event Management departments.

Julie Yeong - Assistant Director of Sales

Prior to her appointment as Assistant Director of Sales, Julie Yeong was assuming the position of Revenue Manager over the last year.

Her career in hospitality began with Marriott when she joined the Singapore Marriott Hotel as part of the pre-opening team in 1994. She served as the Secretary to the then Director of Sales, and later the Director of Marketing. Julie made a switch to the position of an Executive Meeting Planner, putting  her in touch with the Hotel's corporate guests. From 2000, Julie handled various key Corporate Accounts as an Account Manager before filling the  shoes of Revenue Manager in 2002.

Given her experience and training, Julie has been instrumental in sharing her knowledge in sales and revenue management with other Marriott properties  through on-location training.

Julie is also an active member of the Hotel's Quality Improvement Team (QIT) - a team established to ensure quality service for guests.

In her nine years with the Singapore Marriott Hotel, Julie has been recognised through various awards like 'Associate of the Month' and nomination for 'Manager of the Quarter'.

June Choong - Assistant Director of Event Booking Centre

June Choong's experience in banquet and catering is a vital asset to the Event Booking team. Promoted from the Sales Centre Manager position, June now  takes care of a department of nine, comprising the Sales Centre and Event Management team. She reports directly to the Director of Catering.

Prior to this appointment, June was the Sales Centre Manager and her team boasts the highest Shop Call results (a programme that measures  professionalism and level of product knowledge) in Asia Pacific for 2001 and 2002.

June has been with the Singapore Marriott Hotel since 1995 and has risen from Catering Sales Manager to Catering Manager to Sales Centre Manager.

Elsie Lee - Assistant Director of Reservation Sales

With her recent promotion to Assistant Director of Reservations Sales, Elsie Lee takes on the additional responsibilities of revenue management for the Hotel.

In her three years with the Singapore Marriott Hotel, Elsie Lee has garnered many achievements and awards including two prestigious awards by Marriott  - the Asia-Pacific 'Sales Leader of the Year for Reservations' and 'The Chairman's Circle'.

The Reservations department, under her astute leadership, has also achieved the top Shop Call Results for Asia Pacific 2002 (a programme that measures professionalism and level of product knowledge), Best Improved AOS Score 2002 (measures staff satisfaction) and her team has managed to clinch a number one position for achieving the best performance in a comparative study of hotels in the same league.

Elsie's career in the hospitality industry started in 1986 from waitress to reservation sales agent to group coordinator and eventually Reservations Manager in two other five-star hotels before joining the Marriott family.

Elsie and her husband, David, have two sons.

Kathrynn Koh - Assistant Director of Marketing Communications

Kathrynn Koh is relatively new to the hotel industry, having joined the Singapore Marriott Hotel from the media field two years ago in September 2001  as the Hotel's Marketing Communications Manager.

In her two-year service, Kathrynn has effectively managed the challenges faced by all in this industry during this time. Her efforts are visible in the new areas of advertising adopted by the previously media-reticent property - underpass advertising, electronic direct mailers and also the development of website geared specifically towards the various promotions within the Singapore Marriott.

Promotional activities have also stepped up involving the food & beverage outlets and rooms.

Kathrynn was presented with the 'Manager of the Quarter - April to June 2002' and 'Manager of the Year 2002' awards.