Christophe Megel, a well-known figure in international hotel dining, announced with sadness the passing of Robert Lagerwey, with whom he had worked at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, between 2003 and 2005. He recalled a period marked by creativity and energy, during which the two men co-chaired the New World Food & Wine Festival, one of the highlights of Singapore’s culinary calendar at the time, and launched the Asian Tapas concept, symbolic of the spirit of innovation that then characterised the city-state’s dining scene.
Robert Lagerwey had built an international hospitality career spanning more than three decades, marked by numerous awards, including GM of the Year Asia and Most Dynamic GM Indonesia.
A graduate in International Hotel Management from HotelSchool The Hague, he began his career as Director of Food and Beverage at the Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco, before joining the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago and then the Four Seasons Philadelphia in similar roles.
His career then took him to Asia, first at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Seoul as Executive Assistant Manager, Food and Beverage, then at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, where he served as Hotel Manager from 2001 to 2005. He joined Bulgari Hotels & Resorts in 2005 as Hotel General Manager, before taking over as General Manager of Capella Singapore from 2010 to 2013, and then being promoted to Regional Vice President, Operations for Capella Hotel Group Asia.
He subsequently led the commercial, residential and medical real estate portfolio of Marina Properties Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Pontiac Land group, before joining the EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur in 2018 as General Manager for its pre-opening and opening. He turned the former Equatorial Hotel into the city’s number one property on TripAdvisor, a position it held for more than a year and a half, a success driven notably by its dining, spa and accommodation offerings. From 2021, he served as Executive Vice President at Binder Hospitality Ltd., before continuing, from 2025, as a senior independent advisor, based in Singapore.
===AT_A_GLANCE===
At a Glance
Robert Lagerwey — Tribute – Career: 30+ years in international luxury hospitality, primarily across Asia – Honors: GM of the Year Asia; Most Dynamic GM Indonesia – Key roles: GM, Capella Singapore (2010–2013); RVP Operations, Capella Hotel Group Asia; GM, EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur (pre-opening & opening, 2018–2022); EVP/Director, Binder Hospitality Ltd. (2021–2025) – Earlier career: Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, Ritz-Carlton Seoul, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Chicago, Four Seasons Philadelphia – Education: BHA International Hotel Management, HotelSchool The Hague
