Five appointments across three countries
Hilton is strengthening the leadership teams of its luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Asia Pacific with five appointments:
Fabien Gastinel – General Manager, Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Japan.
Mark Foxwell – General Manager, Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi, Japan.
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Markus Kosch – General Manager, Conrad Nagoya, Japan.
Lucky Ou – General Manager, Canopy by Hilton Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand.
Winnie Chu – General Manager, Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton, China.
The appointments cover four properties associated with new brand entries and one already operating hotel, Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which opened in April 2025.
Hilton reports that its luxury and lifestyle portfolio now comprises more than 180 operating hotels across Asia Pacific, with a further 90 properties in development.
The group also estimates that its planned openings in 2026 will create more than 200 senior leadership positions and 400 management roles.
Japan: Three appointments across Waldorf Astoria and Conrad
Fabien Gastinel – Waldorf Astoria Osaka
With more than twenty years of luxury hospitality experience across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, Fabien Gastinel takes the helm of Waldorf Astoria Osaka.
His career includes positions at Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Waldorf Astoria Cairo, The Ritz-Carlton Singapore and Armani Hotel Dubai.
He subsequently held general manager positions in Marrakech, Tangier and, most recently, at Waldorf Astoria Chengdu.
In Chengdu, he notably developed experiences inspired by local culture and Sichuan cuisine.
In Osaka, he assumes responsibility for the first Waldorf Astoria property to open in Japan, with a mandate to consolidate its positioning in the luxury market.
Mark Foxwell – Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi
Mark Foxwell has been appointed General Manager of the forthcoming Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi, scheduled to open in 2027.
With approximately thirty years of experience in upscale hospitality, he has held leadership positions in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and the United States.
His career includes roles at Hyatt Regency Osaka and Park Hyatt Tokyo, as well as responsibilities involving hotel openings and Hyatt’s regional operations in Japan.
He will oversee Waldorf Astoria’s entry into the Japanese capital, in the historic Nihonbashi district.
Markus Kosch – Conrad Nagoya
After 28 years with Hilton, Markus Kosch takes charge of the forthcoming Conrad Nagoya, the brand’s first property in the city.
He previously led Hilton Hefei and supported the openings of Hilton Shenzhen Futian and Conrad Guangzhou, before taking on leadership responsibilities across several luxury properties in Sanya and Dalian.
Conrad Nagoya will feature 170 rooms and form part of The Landmark Nagoya Sakae real estate development.
The hotel aims to establish an identity inspired by the artistic and cultural heritage of Aichi Prefecture.
Thailand: Lucky Ou to lead Southeast Asia’s first Canopy by Hilton
Lucky Ou has been appointed General Manager of Canopy by Hilton Bangkok Sukhumvit, described by Hilton as the brand’s first property in Southeast Asia.
Having joined Hilton in 2014, he secured his first general manager position at Hilton Da Nang in 2021.
He subsequently led the pre-opening phase of La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton, which opened in Vietnam in December 2023.
In Bangkok, his remit will be to develop Canopy’s lifestyle positioning, particularly through its food and beverage venues, social spaces and destination-led experiences.
China: Winnie Chu to lead Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection
Winnie Chu takes charge of Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton, a 105-room property in Wuxi’s Liangxi district.
The hotel combines a contemporary seven-storey tower with a protected heritage building dating from 1933.
Winnie Chu has twenty years of luxury hospitality experience across mainland China and Hong Kong.
She previously served as Director of Operations at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
In 2024, she received the Hotel Manager of the Year award at the Stelliers Greater China Awards.
Her appointment accompanies the introduction of Curio Collection to Wuxi, with a positioning that combines architectural heritage and a contemporary hotel experience.
Hilton focuses on leadership development
These five appointments also form part of Hilton’s talent development strategy.
The group draws in particular on its General Manager Academy and Luxury Leaders Program, designed to support hotel leaders in leadership, guest experience and brand positioning.
According to Candice D’Cruz, Vice President, Hilton Luxury Brands, Asia Pacific, general managers must be capable of building teams and developing an experience consistent with the identity of each destination.
Alex Shockley, Senior Director, Hilton Lifestyle & Collection Brands, Asia Pacific, meanwhile emphasises the importance of each property’s individuality and its integration into the local environment, particularly for lifestyle and collection brands.
LTH Analysis | The general manager as a driver of hotel asset positioning
These appointments illustrate the importance Hilton places on general managers’ experience when introducing a brand into a new market. Selecting executives who have already overseen hotel openings or managed luxury properties addresses challenges extending well beyond day-to-day operations: building teams, establishing service standards, developing local brand recognition and achieving commercial objectives. In luxury and lifestyle hotels, a general manager’s ability to translate the brand promise into a differentiated guest experience can contribute to operational performance and, indirectly, to the value of the hotel asset.
At a Glance
Group: Hilton.
Region: Asia Pacific – Japan, Thailand and China.
Appointments: Five general managers across Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Canopy by Hilton and Curio Collection.
Japan: Fabien Gastinel (Osaka), Mark Foxwell (Tokyo Nihonbashi) and Markus Kosch (Nagoya).
Thailand and China: Lucky Ou (Bangkok Sukhumvit) and Winnie Chu (Xi Zhe Wuxi).
Portfolio: More than 180 operating luxury and lifestyle hotels in Asia Pacific, with a further 90 in the pipeline, according to Hilton.
