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New North American sales chief for Pan Pacific Hotels

New North American sales chief for Pan Pacific Hotels

Pan Pacific Hotels has announced the appointment of Kumiko Shafer as director, global sales, North America.

Based in San Francisco and working closely with the global sales office in New York, Shafer will lead the global sales strategies for North America with the aim of growing the market and enhancing client engagement to drive revenue for the group’s properties within and outside the region. 

In North America, Pan Pacific Hotels Group currently owns and/or manages four hotels and resorts – namely the three-time Green Globe certified Pan Pacific Seattle in the US as well as the multiple award-winning Pan Pacific Vancouver, Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside and Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre in Canada.

Most recently, Shafer was director of business development with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in San Francisco where she was responsible for representing and promoting more than 80 hotels worldwide.

Prior to that, she garnered close to five years of sales experience with Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Marriott Northern California regional sales office.

“Shafer brings to our Global Sales team a sharp sense of sales acumen honed through successful tenures at both hotel and regional level, as well as a well-cultivated network of important client relationships in the US,” said Kevin Croley, senior vice president, marketing and sales, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

“We are excited to work with Kumiko in harnessing these strengths to raise the profile of our brands and hotels among North American travellers and forge new business opportunities, especially within the corporate and MICE sectors.”

Supported by a Global Sales network which now spans Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, New York, San Francisco and London, Pan Pacific Hotels Group is fast expanding its global footprint, with a growth focus on Asia Pacific.

In April, the Group opened ParkRoyal Nay Pyi Taw as the first international hotel in the capital of Myanmar, and is on track to open its fifth property in China – Pan Pacific Hotel and Serviced Suites Tianjin – later this year.