RAPHAEL Saw has filled the COO position at Singapore’s Far East Organization (FEO)’s hospitality division, a newly-created position that comes as the group made local headlines recently in snapping up Paramount Hotel and Shopping Centre, along East Coast Road, and a hotel site at Tanjong Pagar near the CBD.
TTG Asia e-Daily understands that Paramount will eventually be rebranded a Village hotel, an FEO brand that emphasises culture and heritage of local precincts. A new brand, Oasia, will also debut soon, the first hotel of which will be a 428-room Oasia Hotel in the Novena area, soft opening in mid-April and officially launched in July.
While the other FEO brand, Quincy, is boutique and personalised, Oasia hotels are larger, with meeting facilities. There are three Village hotels and one Quincy. The division also operates two independent hotels, Elizabeth and Orchard Parade, and service apartments. It is soft-launching The Clift Residences in Singapore, a loft concept, in May.
Saw said of the new COO position: “As we grow, the group has to build up its capability further.” He does not rule out regional expansion, but said: “First, we must run Singapore well, then look at opportunities to grow the brand.”
Saw joined the division two years ago as director of operations, a position he still holds. He previously held positions with Singapore Airlines, Millennium & Copthorne International and Jetstar Asia.
