Hilton taps Alan Watts to lead Asia Pacific region

InterContinental Hotels Group isn't the only company shuffling its APAC leadership around. Over at Hilton, Alan Watts has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President & President, Asia Pacific. In his new role, effective January 1, 2018, Watts will oversee the company's pipeline of more than 375 hotels, as well as the operations of more than 200 Hilton properties across the region. Watts will report to Hilton's President & CEO Christopher Nassetta, and serve as a member of the executive committee.

Alan Watts
Alan Watts

Watts takes over the role from Martin Rinck, who over the last nine years led the company through what it calls “historical” growth in the APAC region and helped position the Hilton portfolio of brands as best in class in the region. During his tenure at Hilton, the organization launched several of its brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton, and pursued a growth strategy that has led to more than 100 hotels open and operating in China alone. Rinck will reportedly “pursue other potential opportunities” at Hilton.

Watts joins Hilton after a two-decade career at IHG, where he most recently acted as COO for the company’s Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. He was responsible for the company's operations in 280 hotels across six brands and 40 countries and territories.