Ascott Limited (Ascott), the lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), announced six critical business development, strategy, and operations appointments to support its global expansion in management and franchise contracts and catalyze strategic growth. This comes as Ascott charts a new growth trajectory towards achieving its target of more than S$500 million in fee revenue by 2028.

The new appointments to Ascott’s business development team are Ms Venessa Koo, Vice President of Business Development for Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam; Mr Teo Junrong, Vice President of Business Development for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia; and Mr Thomas Lamson, Vice President, Business Development and Product & Technical Services for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In addition, Mr Joseph Wong, Managing Director for China, has been entrusted with driving business development and overseeing all aspects of Ascott’s operations in this crucial market.

To identify strategic growth opportunities and drive operational excellence, Ascott welcomes Mr Steven Chan as Vice President of Global Franchise Services and Regional General Manager for Indochina and Ms Sophie Mougel as Vice President, Strategy and Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Malaysia. Both helm dual portfolios that tap into their deep local knowledge to harness new opportunities in these markets.

Ms Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer, Ascott, said: “The appointment of these industry veterans to our business development team signals our commitment to invest in top talent to build Ascott’s growth ecosystem and establish Ascott as the operator of choice for lodging property owners around the world. With each of them focusing on a key region, Ascott is now better positioned to penetrate deeper into existing markets and make headway in new markets through targeted growth strategies. Leveraging Ascott’s diverse portfolio of brands, wide range of accommodation options and extensive global network, we are confident of offering customised solutions that deliver sustained value to owners.”

Ms Wong Kar Ling, Chief Strategy Officer, Ascott, said: “Ascott has embarked on a transformative journey to become a global leader in hospitality, and we are actively looking for new opportunities to stay ahead and elevate our position in the ever-evolving industry. The appointment of new strategy and operational leads will help us to drive Ascott’s commercial performance in key markets while pursuing strategic growth initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, transformation and partnerships. We are committed to strengthening Ascott’s competitive edge to continue delivering on exceptional stay experiences for our guests, strong value and returns for our owners, as well as attractive career opportunities for our associates.”

Profiles of new appointees

Venessa Koo – Vice President, Business Development 

Ms Koo is pivotal in shaping Ascott’s business development strategies to expand its portfolio across several key markets. She drives market-specific growth targets in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

With over two decades of industry experience in hospitality operations and consultancy, Ms Koo brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. Most recently, she was Chief Operating Officer at Silks Hotel Group (formerly Regent Hotels & Resorts), where she led strategic initiatives that fostered quality growth and delivered exceptional value for hotel owners, operators, and shareholders. Before that, Ms Koo was responsible for Accor Group’s development in 11 Asian markets.

Teo Junrong – Vice President, Business Development 

With a focus on pursuing end-to-end business development opportunities, Mr Teo oversees the markets across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, where he will further grow and broaden Ascott’s brand presence.

In his most recent role at Colliers Hotels & Leisure Asia as Director of Capital Markets and Advisory Asia, Mr Teo was the lead broker for cross-border hospitality transactions, covering developed markets including Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and numerous emerging markets.

Mr Teo was also formerly the Vice President of Investment & Asset Management at CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS), where he managed investments and assets for the trust. CLAS has a global portfolio of 102  properties in 16 countries. With solid expertise in international capital markets and cross-border transactions, Mr Teo also held senior positions across Singapore and London at CBRE APAC Hotels and CBRE EMEA Hotels.

Mr Thomas Lamson – Vice President, Business Development and Product & Technical Services, EMEA

 Mr Lamson is responsible for structuring the development strategy for Ascott in EMEA and leading the technical development of projects, including asset enhancement initiatives for the portfolio in the region.

Before joining Ascott, Mr Lamson was the Chief Development, Design, and Real Estate Officer at Adagio (Accor and Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs Group), where he also led the asset management function. He was previously with JLL Hotels & Hospitality as Director of Capital Markets covering France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Joseph Wong – Managing Director, China

As Managing Director of China and a member of the Ascott Leadership Council, Mr Wong leads Ascott’s portfolio in China, focusing on strengthening the business market while driving growth. China has Ascott’s most significant footprint in a single market, an integral growth market, with over 48,000 units spanning more than 200 properties.

In his role, Mr Wong oversees the commercial performance of Ascott’s portfolio in China, managing cross-functional teams while driving efficiency and bottom-line results. With growth as a priority, Mr Wong also leads business strategies to tap into new development opportunities for continued expansion within the country.

Mr Wong brings more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Before joining Ascott, he was with IHG Hotels & Resorts as Vice President of Franchise Performance at Holiday Inn Express, Greater China. During his tenure there, he led two major growth engines for IHG in Greater China, including its franchise business and the Holiday Inn Express brand, covering more than 300 properties.

Steven Chan – Vice President, Global Franchise Services and Regional General Manager, Indochina

Mr Chan is responsible for Ascott’s global franchise strategy and the development of its franchise operating platform to lead Ascott and its franchisees on a path of accelerated growth. Holding a dual role, Mr Chan also oversees the overall performance of properties in Indochina, spanning Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, supporting the in-country leadership teams to drive growth and operational excellence.

As a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Mr Chan has broad expertise in finance, revenue management, sales and marketing, human resources, and risk management, on top of solid capabilities in operations management. Before joining Ascott, Mr Chan was Chief Operating Officer of Travelodge Asia, where he led and set up the operating platform to support portfolio growth across Asian countries. He further helmed various leadership roles across the Operations and Commercial functions, working with hospitality brands including IHG Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La and Pan Pacific.

Sophie Mougel – Vice President, Strategy and Regional General Manager, the Philippines and Malaysia

Ms Mougel spearheads the implementation of Ascott’s global strategic plans. She oversees the overall performance of properties in the Philippines and Malaysia, supporting in-country leadership teams to drive growth and operational excellence in her dual role. Leading the development of long-range planning projections to support the overarching global strategy, Ms Mougel also directs alignment between operational initiatives and strategic goals. She manages the Financial Planning and Analysis function, including asset management for Southeast Asia.

With a strong background in the hospitality industry, Ms Mougel was most recently Director of Operations for Southeast Asia & Korea with IHG Hotels & Resorts, managing a portfolio of 27 properties across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, including full-service hotels and resorts across different chain scales. Before IHG, Ms Mougel led the Asia Pacific (excluding China) team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where she was responsible for feasibility, strategic planning and development marketing. She was also formerly a hotel consultant at Cushman & Wakefield and HVS in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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