PHOTO: His new stint as GM is something of a homecoming for LaFourcade. (courtesy Sofitel)

LaFourcade Returns to Hanoi and the Sofitel Legend Metropole

Hanoi’s Sofitel Legend Metropole, part of Accor Hotels, is bringing back Franck LaFourcade as its new General Manager. LaFourcade previously served as General Manager of the hotel from 2000 to 2005. From 2005 until now, he has been in China, managing Sofitel properties in Shanghai as a General Manager and as an area General Manager. Opened in 1901, the Sofitel Legend Metropole is one of Vietnam’s legacy hotels. The 364-room hotel was completely renovated in 2009.

Hellyer Promoted to Global Marketing Director

Rocky Mountaineer named Nikki Hellyer to the position of Director, Global Marketing. Hellyer will play a role in the development and execution of a strategic marketing plan that supports the company’s objectives within North America and internationally. Hellyer has more than 15 years of experience in the manufacturing, retail, and advertising industries. Her extensive experience includes the development of integrated programs that drive results across a variety of business sectors. Prior to joining Rocky Mountaineer, Hellyer was the Director of Marketing for Future Shop, Canada’s largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. She has also held senior positions with Andrew Peller Limited and Cossette advertising agency.

McAuley to Oversee Ops in Europe for FRHI

Aiden McAuley was named Senior Vice President Operations Europe of FRHI Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of such hotel brands as Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.

In this new role, he has relocated from Singapore to Zurich and is now responsible for overseeing all existing hotel operations and future developments across all three brands - Fairmont, Swissôtel & Raffles within the Europe.

McAuley served as Managing Director, Swissôtel The Stamford & Fairmont Singapore and Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific for Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts overseeing all Swissôtel properties in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Australia and India. He first joined Swissôtel in 1999 as the General Manager of Swissôtel The Howard, London before moving to Singapore. Prior to joining Swissôtel, Aiden held positions at other international brands including Hilton.

Fiji’s Laucala Island Makes Thompson GM

Andrew Thomson is the new General Manager of Fiji’s Laucala Island, a private island resort. A Fiji-native and veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Thomson has more than 45 years of experience as an international hotelier, most recently serving the last 15 years as Amanresort’s Director of Operations and Managing Director.

Thomson has held senior hotel management positions in the South Pacific, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and South East Asia. Most recently, he was based in Singapore as Amanresort’s Director of Operations and Managing Director. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the luxury resort company’s operations and expansion in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the Philippines, Bhutan, Morocco, Turkey, Greece and more.

Prior to Amanresorts, Thomson was General Manager with Regent International Hotels Group, and was responsible for project management and openings of the Four Seasons Regent of Sydney in Australia, The Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu, the Regent of Auckland in New Zealand, the Regent of Fiji, and the development of the Denarau Island Resort in Fiji. Before his time with Regent International, Thomson served as General Manager of the Shangri-la Fijian Resort and held senior management positions in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hawaii with Laurence Rockefeller’s New York-based RockResort Hotels.