HONG KONG – After former head honcho, Brian Williams takes a backseat as senior advisor, Swire Hotels will be managed by new deputy chairman Toby Smith, supported by managing director Dean Winter.
All three have worked with the company for more than a decade, pushing the growth of The House Collective and EAST Hotels brands.
After 14 years with the brand, Mr Williams will now take up his part-time, senior advisory/brand ambassador role from his new base in the UK.
Mr Smith started as a management trainee back in 1991, working his way up holding positions within the group’s shopping and aviation sectors, touching base around the globe across Asia to Australia, France and Papua New Guinea.
In his new deputy chairman role, Mr Smith will lead the hotels’ growth strategy for both Swire Properties-owned developments and hotel management agreements with third party owners.
Mr Smith’s former managing director role has gone to Dean Winter, with more than 25 years of experience as a hotelier and restauranteur under his belt. With stints in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, Mr Winter was involved in The Opposite House in Beijing, EAST and The Upper House in Hong Kong, where he was general manager in 2009 for the lattermost brand.