THE INTERVIEW : CLAIRE CHIANG
THE
CLAIRE CHIANG FILE
PERSONAL Married to Banyan Tree Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping with three children .
THE JOB Co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and senior vice president of Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd . She currently focuses on developing hotels in China and guides key strategic issues in organizational and human capital capabilities . She also pioneered the group ’ s retail business in 1996 , which has since grown to 80 retail galleries worldwide . Chiang also is chairperson of the CSR-focused Banyan Tree Global Foundation .
OTHER BACKGROUND From 1982 to 1990 , Chiang lectured in the sociology department of the National University of Singapore . In 1994 , she coauthored the book “ Stepping Out : The Making of Chinese Entrepreneurs ,” which spawned a 30-chapter Chinese-language television drama in Singapore . Chiang was also one of the first two women in 89 years to be elected to the board of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry .
THE BANYAN TREE STORY From a single boutique resort in Phuket that launched in 1994 , Banyan Tree has grown to 33 hotels and resorts ( 10 Angsanabranded hotels ), 68 spas , 80 galleries and three golf courses in 28 countries . The company has ownership interests in 15 hotels . Currently , 29 projects are in the pipeline through 2016 with 10 hotels ( two Angsanas ) expected to open in China this year .
30 HOTELS April 2013 www . hotelsmag . com