Hospitality and the Future of Travel

Discussion Leaders Profiles:

Maria Ariizumi
Head of Development
Swire Hotels

Maria is Head of Development for Swire Hotels. Her experience in hospitality spans hotel development, operational finance and financial planning. Before joining Swire Hotels, she was Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis at Galaxy Entertainment Group, leading the creation of their non-gaming FP&A team. Prior to this, she was with Marriott International in both a development and finance capacity. As Director of Development Planning, she was responsible for hotel development primarily in Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Maria received her Masters in Management of Hospitality from Cornell University.

Suzee Brain
Director & Co-Owner
Brain & Poulter

Suzee is the Founding Director & one half of the power duo, B&P.

Suzee held her first senior management role before she turned 21 and worked in senior management roles in hotel and commercial catering for such prestigious organisations as Southern Pacific Hotels and Peter Rowland Catering until she started her own cafe chain called “Sydney Eats” and in 2008 her cafe called “92 Degrees” won Cafe of the Year.

A highly sought after speaker, her strengths are her powerful, yet personal presentations to senior execs and using logic to inform creativity whilst working with clients to create something extraordinary if the numbers stack up.

As a thought leader , Suzee loves being at the helm of a company that is creating the future for food and dining around the world and relishes the opportunity to help major Australian and international property owners create recognisable landmarks that can completely transform communities for the better.

After a hectic pace of life as Kerry Packer’s personal chef during the heady 1980’s, you can now find Suzee residing in the foodie hotspot of the Southern Highlands, NSW.

Kevin Colket
Founder & CEO
Global Hospitality Investment Group (GHIG)

Kevin Colket is the Founder and CEO of the Global Hospitality Investment Group (GHIG), a real estate private equity firm incorporated in January 2019. GHIG invests in distressed and under-valued hotels (single assets, portfolios, and operating companies) and other hospitality-led real estate asset classes (student housing, co-living, serviced apartments, and senior housing) in major gateway cities and select resort destinations in the United States and Asia Pacific, and soon to be followed by Europe.

GHIG’s mission is to leverage its senior management teams’ and its advisory team’s highly unique, specialized, and global combined experience in real estate and hotel investments, hotel operations, and hospitality in order to create more technology, service, and experience-driven real estate uses that better meet the changing needs and desires of corporate and leisure consumers in a post COVID-19 world, and ultimately generate superior risk adjusted investment returns for its investors.

Prior to founding GHIG in January 2019, Mr. Colket spent 11+ years working at Starwood Capital Group across the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions where he held various hospitality group leadership positions, including Co-Head of the Global Hotel Acquisitions Group, Head of the European Hotel Acquisitions Group, and Head of the Asia Pacific Hotel Group. Prior to his departure in late 2018, Mr. Colket led the firm’s Asia Pacific Real Estate Acquisitions Group from its Hong Kong office.

Prior to joining Starwood Capital, Mr. Colket worked as Director of Acquisitions and Development for Edinburgh Management, a U.S. based hotel joint venture with the Bank of Scotland.

Mr. Colket earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA in economics from Trinity College.

Jayson Goh
Managing Director, Airport Operations Management
Changi Airport

Jayson currently serves as Managing Director, Airport Operations Management, overseeing both the Passenger Experience and Development Operations divisions, as well as the Experience Creation, Horticulture and Facility Management departments. Jayson is also a member of CAG’s Innovation Committee, which drives mid to long term initiatives to future proof the airport.

A keen champion for service innovation, Jayson leads the effort in rethinking passenger processes at the airport, driving new initiatives that include automation, robotics and the development of intelligent solutions using data analytics.

Moderator:

Chris Fjelddahl
Founder & Partner 
Eight Partnership

Introduced by a well-known competitor as one of Asia’s ‘rock stars of design’, Chris founded Eight in 1993 from the corner of his living room. Having worked intimately with CEOs for over 25 years on brands ranging from Apple to Cathay Pacific, Chris has developed strong ties with renowned “captains of industry” globally. An MBA in Finance from Paris University, he is often called to provide guidance on big branding questions, such as articulating business purpose, launching and sunsetting brands, rejuvenating tired brands and reorganising brand portfolios. 

Respected for his strategic acumen, creativity and eye for aesthetics, Chris provides advisory to business leaders and families in Asia. Chris also serves as a board member for several companies, including property firm Odin in Japan.