Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com | 27 Cachet and Kimy Chen rise to the challenge CHG is expanding quickly through partnerships and development, with new properties in New York and in Cabo San Lucas, and planned growth in Greater China, South-east Asia and the United States. Can you tell us something about your background in hospitality? My family has been involved in real estate development. While growing up, I kept my eyes and ears open, acquiring beneficial business capabilities. I also learned the value of making personal connections. I began my career in sales and marketing, working first in theatrical and television media and then transitioning into hospitality industry. Kimy Chen is president South-east Asia, of Cachet Hospitality Group (CHG), a lifestyle hospitality branding and management company with offices in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Bangkok. She studied hospitality in Australia, gained practical experience in Taipei and Dubai, and is now ready to make her mark in Asia. And how did that lead to the formation of the Cachet Hospitality Group? I find that my international hospitality background and understanding of the real estate market has helped me make more informed and precise decisions. What will you and your executive team bring to table that's different and what plans to you have for expansion? The CHG brand is a "one-stop shop" total solution with strong food and beverage, entertainment, interior design and technology platform all in one. You spent time at universities in Australia - what did that teach you, on both a personal level and in terms of hotel management expertise? My education and experience at Bond University and Griffith University in Australia was extraordinary. On a personal level, I learned the axiom "work hard, play harder". On a professional level, I learned that books and schoolroom classes only get you so far. Practical knowledge can often lead to a deeper understanding of a concept through the act of doing and personal experience. What is your approach to getting the best out of the people you work with? It is imperative to listen, trust and care for what your employees hold dear (family, children, hobbies and interests, etc.). I also champion personal career development and have made it a point to help employees pursue their goals. You worked in Taipei with Sheraton and Dubai with the Jumeirah Group. What did those experiences mean to you? Working among a multi-cultural workforce brought more understanding and a deep respect and appreciation of our world's diverse cultures. I worked with people from 162 different countries and was able to establish an invaluable network of professionals around the world. What gets you up in the morning with a smile on your face? Every morning I look through the Forbes list of the richest people in the world. If I'm there, I smile. If I'm not there, I get to work! Who were your personal mentors in building a career in hospitality? My CEO Alex Mirza has been a tremendous role model. I admire all of the great things he's done for Cachet, and respect the mistakes made so I can avoid them. They say no great success was achieved without going through obstacles and challenges. "On a professional level, I learned that books and schoolroom classes only get you so far." – Kimy Chen, president South- east Asia, of Cachet Hospitality Group (CHG) We are excited about our expansion, with upcoming projects this year in Thailand and in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam slated for 2018. We also plan to launch our proprietary technology, CachetWorld Songdez, during the first quarter of 2018. Songdez is the world's most personalised lifestyle travel platform that provides users with a dynamic online community to discover and share experiences in travel, food and drink, design and art, culture and music. It includes functionality for booking travel and is an opportunity for property owners and travel planners to increase revenues, generate personalised customer profiles and enhance performance. HOSPITALITY By Ian Jarrett

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