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 Celebrate the Life and Career of Reggie Shiu; 
The Things in Life that Were Most
Important to Reggie

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Commemorative service announced
for Accor's Reggie Shiu

Friends and travel industry partners are invited to celebrate the life and career of Reggie Shiu, who went missing in the tsunami tragedy. The family requests no flowers - instead, donations should be made at the event to the 'Accor Zoe Shiu Trust Fund' for Mr Shiu's surviving daughter, Zoe.

Venue: Bangkok Convention Centre at Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok 1695 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok

Date:  Friday 21 January 2005

Time:  5:00pm - 7:00pm

R.S.V.P. to Ms Pop in the Accor Bangkok office on 66(0) 2 659-4652 or contact Tom Racette - [email protected] for more information about the event or the 'Accor Zoe Shiu Trust  Fund'.

Reggie Remembered

Reggie Shiu was one of the region's great hotel pioneers. The fact that Accor was among the most successful and fastest-growing international hotel groups in China speaks volumes for the drive and flair that he brought to the role.

From just a handful of hotels when he was appointed, he built the network to 25 hotels by the end of 2004, with another 13 hotels scheduled for opening in the next two years. 

Reggie not only grew the Accor hotel portfolio, he also built relationships with some of China's leading hotel and travel groups. He was a master at developing and building relationships, and he was widely respected throughout China and the whole Asia Pacific region."

Born in Shanghai and educated in Hong Kong and New York, Reggie graduated in 1976 from the State University of New York City. 

He joined Accor in 1980 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and, in 1983, became GM of the Doral Park Avenue Hotel in New York City. 

In 1986, he rejoined Accor and was appointed to be part of Accor Asia Pacific's (AAPC) management team, based in Singapore. 

In 1989, he was appointed as opening GM of AAPC's flagship hotel in Thailand, the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, before being promoted in 1991 as the property-based country manager in charge of Accor's then six hotel properties in Thailand. In 1993, he became one of five recipients from among 145,000 employees worldwide of Accor's most prestigious award, the Bernache D'or. 

He was subsequently promoted to CEO for Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos, a position he held for more than four years, before being promoted to director of operations, Asia, based in Bangkok. In this role, he supervised more than 60 properties throughout the region. He was named senior VP, Asia, in 2000, reporting directly to myself and AAPC MD Michael Issenberg, and later relocated to Shanghai.

Reggie's loss will be felt by the wider hospitality industry. A man of great natural charm and positive energy, he has inspired many working with him to progress their careers in the industry.

He will be missed by all of his colleagues, and our deepest felt condolences go to his surviving daughter, Zoe, who not only lost a wonderful father, but also her mother and two brothers in this terrible disaster. Reggie will be very sadly missed but fondly remembered by everybody who knew him.

The things in life that were most important to Reggie

In a recent interview with the Shanghai Star, Reggie, 47, looked back to his college days, when he washed dishes and set tables at a restaurant to earn extra money. 

"How I regret that I didn't enjoy life when I was a student. Study and work are important; life is also important. When you grow up, you do not have time."

He said he did not want his children to have to work as hard as he did. If they wanted to have part-time jobs, he would allow it when they were university students.

"It all depends on them," he said. "However, it is my responsibility to provide enough money for their university education."

On balancing work and family commitments, he said: "Every day is dashing around, but I try my best to find a balance between work and family." 

He tried to spend every weekend with his family, but family get-togethers sometimes had to be adjusted to his business schedule. 

Reggie said he did not think he was successful enough. "When you think you are successful, you are doomed. To me, success is the three responsibilities: be responsible to myself, to my employers, subordinates and partners, and to my family. 

"The three should have equal weight, but flexibility is also needed. Now business occupies 50%, family 40% and myself 10%. 

"I'm always working hard to meet others' expectations, but seldom for myself."

His greatest pleasure, he said, was to eat home-cooked meals with his family.

Copyright: HOTEL Asia Pacific magazine. 


 
Contact
HOTEL Asia Pacific magazine
Publisher/Editor Steve Shellum
[email protected]
Also See: One of Accor's Pioneering Hoteliers Dies in Tsunami Disaster / December 2004
Management Changes for Accor in Asia Following Death of Tony Young, Managing Director Asia / Mar 2000


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