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Global Executive Team

Simon Wan

Simon Wan – President & Director

Simon Wan is the President and Director of StayWell Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Prince Hotels & Resorts, the largest Hotel owner and operator in Japan. Prince is owned by Seibu Holdings, a well-respected Japanese conglomerate listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a Gross Asset value of US$15 billion.

Prince Hotels & Resorts and StayWell’s combined brand offerings range from luxury to lifestyle though to midscale with each brand highlighted by quality guest experiences. Brands operated by Prince Hotels and Resorts include The Prince, Grand Prince Hotel, Prince Hotel and Prince Smart Inn, while brands operated by StayWell include The Prince Akatoki, Policy, Park Regis, Leisure Inn Plus and Leisure Inn.

Prince Hotels operate a combined network of 55 hotels, 31 golf courses and 10 ski resorts. StayWell has an existing network of 25 open and operating hotels and a further 16 hotels that are committed and opening over the next few years. In addition, StayWell has a number of strategic partners being Manhatton Hotel Group in China (19 hotels) and Cristal Group in the Middle East (15 hotels).

With over 35 years of experience working for leading international hospitality groups including Holiday Inn, Hyatt and Accor around the world, Simon is spearheading Prince and StayWell overseas hotel developments and operations.

Prior to StayWell, Simon was the CEO and Managing Director of THL – an ASX listed hotel company with 530 hotels worldwide. Prior roles include the Managing Director of the Park Plaza Hotel Group for Asia Pacific and Accor’s CEO for North Asia, based in Beijing, overseeing a hotel portfolio of 68 hotels in the region.

Tetsuhisa Tashiro

Tetsuhisa Tashiro – Senior Vice President & Director

Tetsuhisa Tashiro is Senior Vice President & Director. A member of the greater Prince Hotels team with more than 30 years of hotel experience across various brands and positions, Tetsuhisa has a vast understanding of hotel operations on all levels and across all departments.

Commencing his hotel career as a trainee at several properties at Prince Hotel, Tetsuhisa has had hospitality in his blood from a young age. After his initial training, he moved into the Prince Marketing Department at Corporate level, before being assigned to the Business Strategy Department of Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. From here, Tetsuhisa expanded his management experience at Corporate Planning Department at Seibu Golf Inc., where his focus was on improving the business management of the company, and budget management and analysis.

Furthermore, from 2011 to 2016, at the Kioicho Opening Preparation Division at Prince Hotels Inc. Corporate Office, Tetsuhisa was involved in the preparations for the opening of The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, which opened as the most luxurious Prince Hotel in 2016. Using his experience and competence, he successfully completed this major project with a total project cost of more than $700 million USD.

Continuing his professional journey, Tetsuhisa moved into the Business Strategy Department, Hotel and Leisure Corporate Planning at Seibu Holdings Inc. in 2016, taking on responsibility for managing and governing all of Seibu Group’s hotel and leisure businesses. It was here that he assumed the responsibility of managing both national and international businesses including StayWell Group.

As part of the transition, Tetsuhisa joined the Board of Directors for StayWell Holdings Pty Ltd as Senior Vice President in April 2022. He will continue to bring his expertise in marketing, finance, and governance to the greater Seibu Group portfolio in order to assist in achieving the company’s strategic goals.

Richard Doyle – Group General Counsel

Richard Doyle – Group General Counsel

Richard Doyle is the Group General Counsel of StayWell charged with ensuring that one of the largest hotel management groups in Asia Pacific runs smoother than a well-oiled machine.

Richard is tasked with overseeing all of StayWell’s legal requirements as well as managing the company’s asset management functions and overseeing the group’s Australian and New Zealand development activities.

Commencing his position in 2006, Richard has helped grow the company’s initial small Australian-based portfolio into a flourishing international network of over 35 hotels. Richard’s achievements have included acting as the leading legal advisor in securing successful developments and acquisitions of the group’s portfolio across the globe including Australia, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Since 1 July 2023, Richard has represented StayWell as the co-chair of the Accommodation Association NSW (the hotel industry’s peak industry body) after having served as chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW Division since December 2020.

Prior to his role as Group General Counsel at StayWell, Richard was a partner of Baker and McKenzie’s Sydney office for five years as well as holding senior roles with other leading law firms. Richard brings extensive hotel management and travel industry experience to the business.

Steve Zhu – Global Director of Finance

Steve Zhu – Global Director of Finance

A qualified CPA with 20 years of rich and cross cultural experience in the areas of strategic financial control, financial analysis, working capital management, accounting and budgeting, Steve Zhu has been leading and managing StayWell finance operations since joining the company in 2007.

Set out to support and enhance strategic business growth, Steve complements the Senior Directors with his hands on, inspirational and proactive approach. A dedicated team player with an eye for detail, Steve’s strengths include; professional integrity, confidentiality, change management and managing multiple properties in his role of Head of Finance.

Steve has worked for numerous hotel groups including Marriott International, Raffles International, Swiss Garden International, Pacific International, Tourism, Hotels and Leisure Ltd., Marriott and Swissotel in where he held senior roles and successfully led and coached his team for optimum performance within the highly functional finance department. 

Fiona Godfrey

Fiona Godfrey – Global Director of Revenue Generation

Fiona Godfrey is a hugely experienced sales and marketing executive who has helped build the success of some of the world’s largest and most renowned hotel companies for more than 25 years.

Fiona directs the revenue generation function across a network of over 75 properties with locations across Australia, India, Indonesia, and United Arab Emirates. In addition to the already robust property portfolio, hotels currently under development in the United Kingdom, Africa and China will form part of Godfrey’s scope. Fiona oversees the execution of sales, marketing, revenue optimisation and distribution strategies in all markets.

Fiona has broad-ranging experience in the Asia Pacific market, spearheading the strategic direction for countless hotels across the globe. The vast industry knowledge and insights gained over the years have seen Fiona take on the role of Global Director of Revenue Generation for StayWell Holdings. 

Fiona’s stellar experience includes roles as the former Vice President of Global Sales Asia Pacific for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Area Director of Sales & Marketing for InterContinental Hotel Group and Group General Manager of Sales and Marketing Asia Pacific at Tourism, Hotels and Leisure Ltd.

Frances Smith

Frances Smith- Global Director of Human Resources, Training & Compliance

Frances has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, originally starting her career in Food & Beverage before moving into Human Resources. 

Frances currently holds the position of Global Director of Human Resources, Training & Compliance in which she oversees all the hotel staff training, pre-opening projects, leadership advancement, employee recruitment and development programs to keep staff motivated and inspired.

Frances has spent more than half of her career working in Dubai managing the HR function for various Hotel groups.  She headed the Middle East, Africa & Asia teams for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.   Previously Frances held key Human Resources posts at Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the UAE, and the Marriott and Intercontinental hotels in Sydney, and Hunter Valley.

This wealth of international experience is instrumental in providing the StayWell Group with a global outlook on People and Culture.

Frances has a keen interest in human behavior and holds certificates in psychometric testing with the British Psychological Society, SHL and PAPI.

Frances is focused on employee retention and engagement.  In today’s market, it is paramount that we reward and recognise our teams.  Our employee value proposition is the key to success to attract and retain our high-performing teams.

Christina Low

Christina Low – Associate Director Global Technical Services

Christina joined StayWell in 2015. Christina’s key role as an Associate Director of Global Technical Services is to oversee the Technical Services activities for StayWell Australia and Global properties. 

Charged with the development of StayWell global design standards and specifications, management of the sequence of new hotel design and construction process and ensuring StayWell properties are constructed to the brand standard is the fundamental focus for Christina’s role.  Collaboration with hotel owners, consultants, architects, contractors and suppliers to manage the hotels design and construction from inception to completion in Australia and support from the regional teams on the Global projects such as new build, rebranding and refurbishment of existing properties. Also covering the Supply of FF&E, OE, OS and introducing cost effective procurement solution for hotel owners.  

She joined StayWell after spending 2 years designing kitchen and bathroom for home owners and architects.  Prior to this, she was with Toyota Australia Motor Corporation for 5 years working in the Strategic Planning Department managing the annual vehicle procurement approval process between Head Office in Japan and Australia. At this time Christina also acquired the Toyota Way principles and “Kaizen” continuous improvement approach. 

Christina also worked for the NSW Department of Public Works for 8 years as a Business Development Executive obtaining feedback from Project Directors at each project milestone on the delivery of capital work projects for the NSW government and councils.  Whist in Malaysia, Christina managed and trained F&B staff prior to the opening of a resort in Langkawi and also a restaurant operations manager in Kuala Lumpur.

Christina holds a Masters of Business Administration, diploma in Marketing Management and also certificate in Project and Stakeholder management.

Leon Gu

Leon Gu – Global Director of Information Technology

Leon Gu, who holds the position of Global Director of Information Technology, is tasked with the challenging and ever changing industry that is information technology. Ensuring StayWell has the latest software and advancements in the digital tech space, Leon heads up all aspects of the IT function for the group’s network of hotels and is responsible for ensuring the sophistication, health and efficiency of the Group’s IT infrastructure and systems.

Leon joined the group in 2008 to lead and drive the IT function, bringing with him over 12 years’ experience within the IT industry. Completing a Master’s Degree of Information Systems from the University of New South Wales, Leon is fully equipped to lead the company’s IT department.

His major achievements within the group include IT projects consisting of significant mergers and acquisitions of 8 Australian hotels, as well as the pre-opening and global IT delivery for Park Regis Singapore and Park Regis Kris Kin, Dubai.

Leon’s strengths can be seen in his IT strategy and execution of StayWell IT standards, his organisational design and restructuring of IT teams internationally, as well as managing new product and technology launch such as Cloud, Mobile, VOIP and IPTV.

Rohit Vig

Rohit Vig Vice President Development, South East Asia, Middle East and India

Rohit has been instrumental in building StayWell Group business in India, Middle East and South Asia since inception. Before being appointed as Vice President Development, StayWell Holdings and Managing Director, India, he served as its Managing Director, India and was responsible for its overall strategy, hotel development, management and operational support in key source markets.

Rohit has very strong relationships with owners and other stakeholders in South Asia, and always work tirelessly to drive profitability through operational and development excellence and seek strategic partnerships to further extend company brand portfolio and hotel network.

He brings more than 20 years of international hospitality experience and has held leadership positions in the USA and Asia. He has worked for large number of hotel groups including Starwood, Hilton, Accor, Taj, ITC and Choice Hotels providing services for operator searches, feasibility studies, debt planning and restructuring.

An alumnus of The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor & Rochester Institute of Technology, NY, he completed his Undergrad in Finance & Management.

In his early stint, he has also worked for Eastman Kodak at their Head Office in the United States and solely responsible for Sarbanes Oxley implementation, then moved to India in 2006 and started Terra Firma India as one of the managing and founding partners. In 2007, He built his first internationally branded operational hotel in India and venture and started a real estate development company that specializes in development of luxury housing in the Delhi/NCR.

During his tenure, Rohit received many accolades and recognitions; the most recent was “Emerging Hospitality Leadership Award’ at 5th edition of ‘Hospitality leader’s industry choice awards’

Rohit also has vested interests in a specialized lifestyle management company, recruitment agency and e-commerce portals. His expertise covers business development, real estate, finance, hospitality and private equity. He is an avid runner. He maintains equilibrium fostering strong relationships with his family and friends and spending quality time with them.

Troy Newton

Troy Newton – Group Asset Manager Australia

An accomplished Asset Management Executive with more than 15 years’ experience, Troy Newton and has successfully managed a portfolio of up to 350 buildings at a time and joined StayWell in 2008 as Group Asset Manager.

Troy has broad-ranging experience in the Australian property market, particularly in the strata managed sector (being formerly a QLD based strata manager for 8 years) and spearheads the management of StayWell’s Australian hotel property portfolio as well as consulting on StayWell’s International property matters on an adhoc basis.

Prior to joining StayWell, Troy was held several mid-management roles such as Assistant Manager, Administration Services Supervisor, and Insurance Services Supervisor at Barard Management, a specialist body corporate management services provider in Australia. Prior to that, Troy was a Finance Administrator and Proper Authority Holder at Account Holdings Pty Ltd and Protax Pty Ltd, a leading specialist administrator of Managed Accounts and a securities dealer.

Troy has developed extensive policies, procedures and systems to manage the StayWell property portfolio, substantially increased its number of rooms in strata hotels and has refurbished many of the properties to assist in the repositioning of them – in addition to overseeing the execution of the asset management functions.