Wharf Hotels Further Strengthens Operations and Sales & Marketing Divisions

Hong Kong SAR, China, 13 July, 2021 – Wharf Hotels today announced that it has appointed Simon Chan as Group Director Technical Service, Antony Wong as Group Director Rooms, and on the Sales and Marketing side – Ilona Yim as Group Director Branding and Communications.  
The three directors, complement a robust and diverse team of hospitality professionals at the Hong Kong headquartered Wharf Hotels, and, will notably provide strategic guidance to their respective teams to support the group’s 17 Marco Polo Hotels and Niccolo Hotels across Hong Kong, Mainland China and the Philippines.

Simon Chan, Group Director Technical Service
Simon Chan’s experience as an engineering specialist spans over 20 years.  He will be responsible for implementing and executing maintenance strategies and policies to comply with international safety, quality and environmental aspects at each of the Marco Polo Hotels and Niccolo Hotels.  Reporting to Thomas Salg, Vice President Operations, Simon will manage a hands-on team to oversee high level technical issues.
Prior to joining Wharf Hotels, Simon served at Synergis Management Services Limited.  He also previously held a number of leadership roles at property developers, property management companies and hotels, directing new project installation works and operation service contracts for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, ITC Properties Group Limited, as well as other commercial developments in Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

Antony Wong, Group Director Rooms
In Antony Wong’s new role which also reports to Thomas Salg, Vice President Operations, he will lead Wharf Hotel’s rooms division, focusing on operations, brand standards and initiating strategies and programmes to enhance service quality and operations excellence.
Antony has over two decades of operations experience earned from holding critical roles at The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited – owner and operator of The Peninsula Hotels, where he developed customer-centric concepts and continually improved service standards, quality and profitability.  Antony also rendered his in-depth experience at the openings of The Peninsula Hotels in Istanbul, London, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo and Yangon, as well as with their multiple retail merchandising outlets in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Seoul.

Looking ahead, Simon and Antony will closely collaborate on new Wharf Hotel projects to drive innovation and the development of enhanced offerings. 

Ilona Yim, Group Director Branding and Communications
Ilona Yim joins Wharf Hotels with more than 15 years’ of experience in the luxury hospitality industry.  She will continue to concentrate her practice in building the group’s corporate reputation and enhancing brand awareness of the hotel portfolio at a global level.  Additionally, her other key focus encompasses fostering story telling through the hotels, brand initiatives and other programmes using today’s most relevant platforms. 
Formerly at Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, Ilona was Director of Public Relations and later Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications.  She played an active part in overseeing the communication efforts of more than 100 hotels across four continents, guiding over 25 hotel openings and launching regional and global experiential campaigns.

About Wharf Hotels
The Spirit of Discovery
Emanating the spirit of discovery, Wharf Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd, is based in Hong Kong SAR of China, and currently operates 17 owned or managed hotels under Niccolo or Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the Philippines.  Niccolo Hotels was added to the group’s portfolio in 2015 as the luxury collection, positioning the brand as contemporary chic.  The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel, the brand's flagship hotel, was ranked as the top hotel in the city within a year of its opening.  The recent opening of Niccolo Suzhou brings the brand’s collection to five hotels following the successes of Niccolo Chengdu, Chongqing and Changsha.

Marco Polo’s international deluxe hotels in established locations within Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the Philippines maintain their ethos to explore, discover and experience a destination, drawing on the philosophies of their namesake, Marco Polo: an adventurer, a traveller, an entrepreneur and a connoisseur of culture – just as Marco Polo’s modern travellers are today.  Wharf Hotels is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.  Further details are available at wharfhotels.com.

About DISCOVERY Loyalty
A memorable trip demands more than a comfortable stay.  DISCOVERY, an award-winning global loyalty programme, provides 17 million members recognition and perks across over 570 hotels, resorts and palaces in 85 countries.  Elite members have the opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture through Local Experiences and distinctive activities that capture an authentic taste of each destination.  For more information, visit discoveryloyalty.com