Hilton has named Qian Jin as the company's first area president for Greater China and Mongolia as the company prepares to celebrate its 100th hotel opening in Greater China. The company currently has more than 230 hotels in the pipeline for the region that Qian Jin will now lead.
He will report to Martin Rinck, area president of Asia Pacific Hilton.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome Qian Jin, one of the hospitality industry's great leaders in Asia Pacific," Rinck said in a statement. "The elevation of this position to area president recognizes the rapid growth we have achieved in recent years and our future intentions, as we embark on an exciting new chapter in our history in Greater China and Mongolia."
A Chinese native, Qian Jin studied in Australia and worked in Fiji, Malaysia and Singapore. After spending the majority of his career at Starwood, he became the president of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, one of Hilton's largest owners in Greater China, before taking on this new role.
Qian Jin's appointment comes after several additions to Hilton's Greater China leadership team in recent months, all of whom are native Chinese. He will replace outgoing SVP of Greater China and Mongolia, Bruce McKenzie, who is retiring.
"In the months and years ahead we will be creating thousands of new jobs in Greater China, while needing many more Chinese speaking team members to serve guests travelling internationally," Rinck added. "Our focus is on attracting the very best people and Qian Jin is the latest addition to, and now leader of, a world class group of talent in the expanding Hilton team."
Hilton currently operates six brands already trading in market. It will soon add several more as it builds out its portfolio . This is at a time when Chinese outbound travel is anticipated to exceed more than 100 million by 2021, from 68.7 million in 2016.