The Club – Marcel N.A. Holman, General Manager – The Sukhothai Shanghai
A Dutch national, Marcel started his international hospitality career in Asia Pacific 24 years ago as the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager in Queenstown, New Zealand followed by several assignments with InterContinental Hotels Group, Rotana Hotels and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in Australia, China, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan.
In July 2005, he joined the Shangri-La Fuzhou, China as Resident Manager and was responsible for the entire hotel’s operations during the soft opening period. After a year tenure with the Shangri-La, Fuzhou, China, Mr Holman was transferred to Shangri-La Chengdu, China in a similar capacity for the pre-opening of the hotel and one year after opening, he took up his first assignment as General Manager with the China World Summit Wing, Convention Centre (A Shangri-La Hotel) Beijing in 2008. In this capacity, Mr Holman was tasked to set-up the structure and streamline the process in preparation for the pre-opening of this flagship Shangri-La hotel.
He remained until his move to Wuhan to oversee the USD25 million renovation. After two years, he was assigned to the Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Taipei, Taiwan to execute the USD52 million renovation project and the hotel relaunch program. In 2015, he was instrumental in the conceptualization, preparations and execution of Shangri-La’s first external Food & Beverage complex consisting of 3 lifestyle venues and a ballroom located on the 48th, 49th and 50th floor which opened successfully in 2016. In mid-2016, Mr Holman took on the position as General Manager – Projects for the various Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta. One of his greatest achievements was being awarded the winner of “Food & Beverage Creativity Award” InterContinental Hotels North Asia.
Prior to joining The Sukhothai Shanghai, Marcel was formerly the General Manager of Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei and MEGA 50, an external Food & Beverage lifestyle Complex from 2012 till mid-2016, followed by General Manager Projects for Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts properties based in Singapore, Shanghai and Jakarta.
He now heads a team of 249 professionals in the operation of the 17-storey – The Sukhothai Shanghai with 201 uniquely designed guest rooms and suites, five lifestyle venues and event space accommodating up to 350 persons for reception, a state-of-the-art 198 square metre fitness centre and a Spa. In addition, Mr Holman will also oversee the leasing and catering management of the “Cha House”, a restored heritage 3-storey building annexed to the Hotel. The Sukhothai Shanghai, a contemporary design hotel managed by The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts, scheduled to debut in December 2017.
During his career, he has been involved in 6 hotel openings and 3 hotel renovation projects in senior roles and studied International Hotel Management in The Netherlands, complimented with several Cornell courses and has completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2014.
He holds a duel role as Vice President Mainland China for The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts responsible for the brand development and expansion of the Sukhothai brand within Mainland China.
