Speakers ⇽ Podcast: The impact of COVID19 on the Hospitality sector

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Marcel Damen

General Manager at Ritz Carlton in Chengdu

Marcel Damen is the General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Chengdu. He is a Global experienced Hospitality Executive with an impressive career in the Industry, specializing in Luxury Hotels & Resorts, Hotel (Pre)-Openings, Residences, Interim Management, Branding and Conversions.

Before moving to Chengdu Marcel was working at the Ritz Carlton in Guangzhou, where also fulfilled the role as Chairman of the Dutch Association in Guangzhou (NVG).

Harmen Dubbelaar

General Manager at Okura Garden Hotel

Mr. Harmen Dubbelaar, - President and GM of the Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai / and Regional GM – China

Mr. Dubbelaar has been with the Okura Hotel Group since 1989, starting his career in China. Through Director Rooms Division, Mr. Dubbelaar moved to the role of Deputy GM of Okura Amsterdam.
Before returning to Mainland China 4 years ago as President and GM, he was General Manager - Hotel Okura Macau and Corporate Executive Officer - Hotel Okura Co.,Ltd..

His key specialties are with service management, project management, purchasing and FF&E procurement.
Mr. Dubbelaar is a winner of Shanghai's Magnolia Award, an honor for expatriates who make outstanding contributions to the city, has led management and staff at the hotel in carrying out prevention measures since mid-January.

Mr. Dubbelaar is a winner of Shanghai's Magnolia Award, an honor for expatriates who make outstanding contributions to the city, has led management and staff at the hotel in carrying out prevention measures since mid-January.

Michiel Illy

Chief Executive Officer at Beau Village Tourism

Mr. Michiel ILLY studied economics at the University of Amsterdam and has worked for the PVCP Group (Pierre et Vacances Center Parcs) from 1995 till 2010 in both operations and development. During that period, he contributed significantly in the development of PVCP Group product with highly innovative concepts and also in the development of new parks.
From 2010 till 2017 he worked and lived in China, where he developed new concepts and short break family resorts for the New Century hotel group. He was leader for the development of Senbo within Kaiyuan Senbo Xianghu (Hangzhou) which opened at the beginning of this year, and Kaiyuan Senbo Deqing which is partly opened and will be fully operational at the end of this year. From 2017 till the end of March 2019 he served as a CEO of Tropical Islands in Germany (the biggest indoor waterpark in the world).

From 1st of April 2019, Mr. Michiel Illy is the CEO of Beau Village Tourism Co., Ltd. This is joint venture between Pierre et Vacances Center Parcs, China Development Bank and CCCC construction company. Our objective is expanding the different PVCP brands in China. These resorts all over China will be developed and operated by our team in China.

Ignace Lecleir

Founder/Owner of TRB Group

Ignace Lecleir comes from Brugge, Belgium and has been working in the field of hospitality for as long as he can recalls; before moving to Beijing in 2007 and calling it home, he has worked in some of the most highly regarded hospitality establishments in different metropolitans in the world. From London to Paris to later at Gary Danko in San Francisco to Daniel in New York, Ignace has been travelling the world and perfecting his craft simultaneously. When the opportunity of moving to Beijing to open Maison Boulud for Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud came up in 2008, his side took hold once again and jumped at this chance.

After establishing Maison Boulud as one of the top dining destination in the city, Ignace decided to embrace yet on another challenge and opened his own TRB restaurant in 2011 in the compound of the historical Zizhushi, and now runs a hospitality groups that consists of 6 restaurants (TRB Hutong, TRB Forbidden City and since February 2018, the casual concept Hulu by TRB in Sanlitun), one catering company (TRB Catering) , one French Bistro (Merci by TRB Joy City) and a new Hulu by TRB （Next to WAB）just opened in May this year.

Whatever the reason is behind the popularity of these restaurants he has managed, it is to apparent to anyone that Ignace is committed to the art of hospitality through and through, and such dedication is what distinguishes and define him and his businesses.

Cécilia Vermeulen

General Manager at BenCham Shanghai

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bencham-shanghai-benelux-chamber-of-commerce/

Cécilia Vermeulen is the General Manager of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the BenCham. For 7 years in Shanghai and with a mix background in public and private sector, she is now serving her community with BenCham. She has launched an experts panel program to help BenCham companies to thrive through the coronavirus crisis.