Hong Kong (29 October 2018): The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), presented Kieran Bestall with the Rising Star Award Asia. Bestall was presented the award during plenary session at HICAP on 19 October 2018 at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong.
Bestall is the Senior Director of Development in Asia for Hilton Worldwide and is responsible for expanding Hilton’s portfolio of brands across the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. Bestall was nominated by Benjamin Hirasawa, ISHC, Partner and Head of Hospitality for Asia of law firm Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore Pte Ltd. Hirasawa had this to say about Bestall, “Kieran has helped spearhead Hilton’s growth in the region, closing numerous high profile transactions in difficult emerging markets. Kieran’s EQ enables him to deftly handle difficult negotiations with owners from different cultural backgrounds and balance the sometimes competing interests of getting deals across the line while ensuring that Hilton is not exposed to excessive risk often inherent in emerging markets. This particular skill has enabled him to close several high profile and multi property transactions.”
ISHC Executive Director Andrea Belfanti commented, “We are honored to be a part of the Rising Star Award Asia in partnership with HICAP. The nominations we received represent the very best and brightest in our industry. It was humbling and inspiring to see what the nominees are achieving, especially at such a young age. Kieran has had a particularly impressive career and has worked for companies like Alila, Marriott, and HVS. But more than his career accomplishments, he is known for having excellent interpersonal skills, being cool under pressure, being universally well liked by his peers, and having an upbeat attitude. I know we will continue to see great things from him and it is obvious that he is a deserving recipient.”
ISHC launched the Rising Star Award Asia Pacific in 2014 in partnership with HICAP to recognize young, emerging leaders in the Asia Pacific hospitality community. Nomination criteria requires an individual be 35 years or younger, currently working and living in Asia and working in the hospitality development and/or investment field. Past Rising Star Award Asia Pacific recipients include Peter Harper (2017), Kiichi Mashita (2016), Nihat Ercan (2015) and Christopher Hur (2014).
–ENDS–
About ISHC
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Source for Global Hospitality Expertise, represented by over two hundred of the industry’s most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over fifty functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com.
For more information contact:
Lauren Marshall, Director of Membership & Marketing
Email: lmarshall@ishc.com
Phone: +1 678.735.9453
About HICAP
HICAP (Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific) is Asia Pacific’s largest, most established and recognized conference for the hotel investment and development community and is held each October in Hong Kong. Since 1989, HICAP is where the region’s preeminent players and executives gather to meet and network, make deals, explore opportunities, and exchange ideas.
HICAP has expanded over the past decade to include a group of events each focusing on specific geographic or product markets. HICAP UPDATE is held in Singapore in March and focusses on hotel investment and development opportunities in southeast Asia. The Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific (AOCAP) is also held in Singapore each March and focusses on unique hospitality real estate such as timeshare, fractional, clubs and branded residential products. The newly launched HICAP Australia New Zealand (HICAP ANZ) will be held in July in Sydney and will focus on hotel development and investment opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, and the broader Pacific region.
About Northstar Travel Group (www.northstartravelgroup.com)
Northstar Travel Group is the global leader of business intelligence, information, data, research, digital marketing services and events for senior-level professionals in the travel, meetings and hospitality industries. The Northstar portfolio includes; Travel Weekly, Travel Weekly China, Travel Weekly Asia, TravelAge West, Business Travel News, The Beat, Travel Procurement, Web in Travel, Phocuswright, Burba Hotel Network, Successful Meetings, Meetings & Conventions, Meetings & Conventions China, Incentive, Association News, Sports Travel and 75 annual events in thirteen countries including leading events such as ALIS, HICAP, Phocuswright, TEAMS, Web in Travel, and Mountain Travel Symposium. Northstar is also the majority shareholder in Inntopia. Northstar Travel Group is owned by EagleTree Capital and is based in Secaucus, NJ, with offices in New York, NY; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Winston-Salem, NC; Stowe, VT; Edwards, CO; Glen Ellyn, IL; Costa Mesa, CA; and global offices in Singapore, Beijing, and Shanghai.
About Burba Hotel Network (BHN)
BHN is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. With over three decades of experience, more than 150 events completed to-date, and in excess of 100,000 international delegates, BHN conferences have become “must attend” events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business, and to learn about the latest trends. BHN events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles; ALIS Law in Los Angeles; ALIS Summer Update; Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific (AOCAP) in Singapore; Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Miami; Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong; HICAP UPDATE in Singapore; Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) in Mumbai; Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) conference in Miami; Hotel Investment Conference Europe (Hot.E) in London; and HICAP ANZ in Sydney. The BHN website at www.Burba.com is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world. BHN is a division of Northstar Travel Group.
About Horwath HTL
Horwath HTL is the world’s largest hotel industry specialized consulting organization, currently with 45 offices in 38 countries. Since the set-up of Asia Pacific operations in 1987, Horwath HTL – Asia Pacific has been involved with thousands of projects throughout the region in all phases of the property lifecycle for clients ranging from individually owned businesses to the world’s most prominent hotel companies, developers, lenders, investors, and industrial corporations. Horwath HTL currently operates out of regional offices in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Sydney, and Auckland.
About Stiles Capital Events LLC (SCE)
Stiles Capital Events LLC (SCE) has been involved in event management, communications and marketing in the publishing, entertainment and hospitality industries since 1989. SCE has been associated with the development and organization of the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) since its inception and the subsequent launches of HICAP UPDATE in 2009 and AOCAP (Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific) in 2014 together with partners BHN (Burba Hotel Network) and Horwath HTL. SCE is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.