China: ONYX Hospitality Group has appointed Mariefe Barce as general manager of Shama Changfeng Shanghai and Shama Hongqiao Shanghai.
In her new role Barce will be responsible for the successful opening and continued management and operations of the two new Shama properties in Shanghai. The 362-unit Shama Changfeng and the 132-unit Shama Hongqiao, both scheduled to open in the second half of 2018, are the first two Shama properties developed as part of the strategic partnership between ONYX Hospitality Group and Sincere Holdings Group.
A travel and hospitality industry veteran with over 18 years of working experience, Barce joined Shama in 2006 as a trainee assistant operations manager in Hong Kong. During her first eight years with Shama in Hong Kong, she supported the pre-opening of Shama Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong in 2008, and oversaw the operations of six Shama properties in Hong Kong between 2012 and 2014 as the associate director, operations, following a series of role expansions in the intervening years. In 2014, she relocated to Bangkok and was appointed GM of Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok and Ekamai Gardens Bangkok.
Barce said: “This is a challenging role and a very exciting opportunity for me to lead our two latest Shama projects in Shanghai. Shanghai is the most dynamic city in China. With Shanghai slated to become the core city of the Yangtze River Delta city cluster while playing a greater role in the Belt and Road Initiative, it is expected that more national and expatriate professionals will be relocating to this land of opportunity, and will bring an increasing demand for accommodation choice like Shama. I look forward to applying my knowledge and expertise together with the combined talent of my team to bring guests a truly home-away-from-home experience at Shama Changfeng and Shama Hongqiao.”
