Hilton Names New Leaders Across its Luxury and Lifestyle Portfolio in Asia Pacific
Hilton continues to grow its luxury and lifestyle presence across Asia Pacific, bringing renowned brands to new cities and markets. New appointments reflect the continued growth of Hilton’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across Asia Pacific, as general managers take the lead as architects of cultural identity for key brand debuts in Japan, Thailand, and China.
Hilton has appointed five new general managers to lead key luxury and lifestyle brand debuts across China, Japan, and Thailand.
The appointments come as Hilton’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Asia Pacific grows to more than 170 trading hotels, with over 80 more in the pipeline.
Recognized as the No. 1 Best Workplace in Asia and the World by Great Place to Work, Hilton is investing in the next generation of hotel leaders through its General Manager Academy and Luxury Leaders Program.
These leaders bring together Hilton’s landmark hospitality and locally, culturally inspired experiences that reflect the unique spirit of each destination.
Hilton is strengthening its leadership across Asia Pacific with five new general managers to support the continued growth of its luxury and lifestyle portfolio. They are Fabien Gastinel for Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Mark Foxwell for Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi, Markus Kosch for Conrad Nagoya, Lucky Ou for Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit and Winnie Chu for Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton.
They join a luxury and lifestyle portfolio that now spans more than 180 trading hotels across Asia Pacific, with another 90 in the pipeline as Hilton continues to bring its brands to new cities and markets. This growth momentum is creating new opportunities for hospitality talent, with more than 200 senior leadership positions and 400 supervisory roles expected from 2026 openings alone.
Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit marks the lifestyle brand’s entry into Southeast Asia, while the other three openings mark city debuts for their respective brands: Waldorf Astoria's first hotel in Tokyo, set to open in 2027 in the historic Nihonbashi district; Conrad's first hotel in Nagoya, within The Landmark Nagoya Sakae; and Curio Collection's introduction to Wuxi, housed in a converted 1933 heritage building at Center 66. Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which opened in April 2025 in the trendy Umekita district as the brand’s first hotel in Japan, welcomes a new general manager as it builds on a strong debut.
As architects of cultural identity, each general manager will play a pivotal role in defining the character of their hotels. From the personalized service and elegant hospitality synonymous with Hilton’s luxury brands to the destination-inspired experiences of its lifestyle brands, their vision will shape how these properties reflect the unique spirit of their destination.
The appointment of this latest cohort of general managers reflects Hilton’s commitment to cultivating talent and developing leaders from within to lead world-class hotels. Recognized as the No. 1 Best Workplace in Asia and the World by Great Place to Work, Hilton provides talent development opportunities through initiatives such as its General Manager Academy and Luxury Leaders Program (LLP). The LLP connects leaders with a global network of luxury experts to broaden their understanding of service and evolving customer expectations, while building a connected community that learns from, supports, and inspires one another. By combining immersive learning with exposure to leading luxury experiences and brands, the program deepens leaders’ connection to Hilton’s luxury vision while building a strong talent pipeline.
"Every hotel reflects the character of its destination and the passion of the team behind it. As we continue to grow our luxury portfolio across Asia Pacific, the opportunity is to bring together leaders who understand that great hospitality goes beyond operating a hotel. It is about building teams who care deeply about what they create, bringing the destination to life through the guest experience, and creating stays that remain with guests long after they leave. Each of these leaders brings a distinct perspective and depth of experience, and I’m confident they will help shape the next chapter of our portfolio across the region,” said Candice D’Cruz, vice president, Hilton Luxury Brands, Asia Pacific.
"Great hotel leaders do more than run exceptional hotels. They bring a clear sense of place to the guest experience, build teams that are proud of what they create, and find new ways to make a brand feel relevant to the market around it. This is particularly important for our lifestyle and collection brands, where individuality and a strong connection to the destination are at the heart of the experience. As we continue to expand across Asia Pacific, I’m excited to see these leaders bring their expertise, local perspectives, and passion to some of the region’s most anticipated openings and help shape the next chapter of our portfolio,” said Alex Shockley, senior director, Hilton Lifestyle & Collection Brands, Asia Pacific..... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Fabien Gastinel – Waldorf Astoria Osaka
For more than two decades, Fabien Gastinel has built his career across luxury hotels in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, with a leadership philosophy rooted in creating experiences that connect guests more deeply with a destination. His career has spanned Waldorf Astoria Beijing and Cairo, The Ritz-Carlton Singapore and Armani Hotel Dubai, before taking on general manager roles in Marrakech, Tangier, and most recently at Waldorf Astoria Chengdu.
During his time in Chengdu, Fabien brought that destination-led approach to life by immersing himself in Sichuan’s culture and history, developing experiences that introduced guests to the region through its food, people, and stories. This included a cultural program inspired by celebrated Sichuan poet Su Dongpo, alongside a continued focus on the hotel’s culinary offering, with signature restaurant Infinite Luck earning recognition in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Chengdu.
Fabien now brings this combination of international luxury experience, operational leadership, and passion for local culture to Waldorf Astoria Osaka. As general manager, he will lead the hotel’s next chapter, building on its position as the brand’s first property in Japan, to create experiences that celebrate the distinctive character, culture, and hospitality of Osaka..... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Mark Foxwell — Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi
For three decades, Mark Foxwell has built his career around some of Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotels, developing a leadership style shaped by both operational excellence and a deep understanding of guest experience. His journey has taken him across Japan, Greater China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the United States. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Hyatt Regency Osaka and Park Hyatt Tokyo, while also supporting multiple hotel openings and regional initiatives from Hyatt's corporate office in Japan.
Mark now returns to Japan to lead the opening of Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi. Set within one of Tokyo's most historic districts, the hotel will introduce Waldorf Astoria's signature blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury to Nihonbashi — a neighborhood that’s defined as a trend-setting area steeped in history and tradition. Drawing on his extensive experience in luxury operations, pre-openings, and leadership development, Mark will shape a hotel that reflects both the legacy of the Waldorf Astoria brand and the distinctive character of Tokyo..... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Markus Kosch — Conrad Nagoya
Few leaders understand Hilton's luxury journey as intimately as Markus Kosch. Over a 28-year career with the company, he has helped shape some of Hilton's most significant hotel openings across Asia, building a reputation for leading pre-openings while developing high-performing teams. His first general manager role was at Hilton Hefei, where the hotel was later recognized as Hilton Worldwide's "Hotel of the Year." He went on to lead the openings of Hilton Shenzhen Futian and Conrad Guangzhou, before overseeing luxury cluster operations in Sanya and Dalian.
Markus now brings that experience to Conrad Nagoya, the brand's first hotel in the city. Opening within The Landmark Nagoya Sakae development, the 170-room hotel will introduce Conrad's contemporary luxury to Nagoya, drawing inspiration from Aichi Prefecture's rich artistic heritage through locally inspired design, dining, and guest experiences. Guests can further explore the city with Conrad 1/3/5, the brand’s signature program of curated one-, three-, and five-hour itineraries that showcase the city’s culture, craftsmanship, and stories, including the renowned art of Arimatsu Shibori.
With decades of experience opening and positioning luxury hotels across Asia, Markus now leads the hotel's debut while creating a destination that reflects both Conrad's purposeful approach to luxury and Nagoya's distinctive cultural identity..... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Lucky Ou — Canopy by Hilton Bangkok Sukhumvit
Lucky Ou brings more than a decade of Hilton experience and a deep understanding of hospitality in Southeast Asia. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for bringing new hotels and brands to life, combining operational expertise with a creative approach to guest experience. Lucky joined Hilton in 2014 and took on his first general manager role at Hilton Da Nang in 2021 before moving to Vietnam to lead the pre-opening of La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the hotel's distinctive identity ahead of its opening in December 2023, establishing the first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Vietnam.
He now leads Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit, the first Canopy by Hilton in Southeast Asia. With a natural appreciation for lifestyle hospitality and an understanding of how today’s travelers want to experience a destination, Lucky brings a thoughtful and intentional approach to the hotel. From its expressive design and locally rooted details to its dining outlets, social spaces, and guest experiences, every element is designed to connect guests with the energy and character of Bangkok while offering a sense of comfort and belonging..... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Winnie Chu — Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton
Blending heritage with contemporary design, Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton brings a new boutique experience to the heart of Wuxi. Located in the culturally rich Liangxi district of Wuxi, the 105-room hotel spans a contemporary seven-story tower, a protected heritage building dating back to 1933. The property draws on Wuxi's rich cultural legacy through its architecture, design, and guest experiences while placing visitors within walking distance of the city's historic landmarks and vibrant commercial district.
Leading the hotel's debut is Winnie Chu, who brings 20 years of luxury hospitality experience across mainland China and Hong Kong. She joins after serving as director of operations at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, where she oversaw operations within one of Shanghai's most iconic heritage buildings along the historic Bund. Recognized as Hotel Manager of the Year at the 2024 Stelliers Greater China Awards, Winnie has built a reputation for leading high-performing teams while balancing the character of landmark properties with the expectations of today's modern traveler.... Continue reading (Members Only) - Unlock Advantages with a LHN Membership - Read more here
Small Tip To Landing Good Senior-Level Hotel Management Positions in 2026 & 2027
Many of our members have remained with us since the inception of our job lead service nine years ago. They continue to renew their memberships, staying on board even after securing new positions, and for good reason.
Daily, our editors dispatch bulletins detailing new job vacancies, projects, and industry shifts, including hotel launches, expansions, strategies, and market trends.
We recognize that numerous long-standing, senior-level members utilize these bulletins as conversation starters, reaching out to hotel chains and potential employers, sometimes with unsolicited applications and messages. LHN endorses such proactive engagement. It's an excellent, informal method to gain early interest from prominent hotel groups and upcoming projects, indicating your interest and broadening your opportunities for intriguing interviews or discussions about potential roles, particularly at the upper echelons of management.
Our editors also keep these proactive efforts in mind, shaping many bulletins to cover "new openings, new projects, and new market developments."
While membership spots for 2026 are limited, it's not too late to renew.- Read more here
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