ACI HR Solutions has named Vinny Hermawan, CEO of JHL Solitaire Hotel Group in Indonesia recipient of its 2023 Mentor of the Year, an annual award that recognises individuals in the travel and tourism industry who lead the way in mentorship.
At the same time, the Highly Commended award was given to Chan Tze Yuan, regional manager of Hotelbeds.
Commenting on this year’s mentorship recognition programme, Andrew Chan, founder & CEO of ACI HR Solutions, told TTG Asia: “We once again had some great candidates who thoroughly deserved their nominations as our 2023 Mentors of the Year. It always gives me great inspiration reading the comments from mentees about those that have inspired them in their careers during the voting periods on our social feeds.”
He added that all nominees “attracted great support from their mentees during the campaign”.
With travel and tourism business rapidly getting back on track this year, ACI HR Solutions’ Chan underscored the need to maintain focus on talent development through mentorship.
“We have lost a lot of experience in the industry as a result of the pandemic, and many organisations have also had to adapt to new working environments and cultures as the industry continues to bounce back at a rapid pace. Mentorship across all levels, and not necessarily just at the top, is needed to enable staff, particularly next generation talents to excel and to trust the process as we continue to rebuild,” he detailed.
Hermawan shared with TTG Asia her thoughts on raising people up: “I strongly believe that people are the key asset of the company. The company will grow as its people grow. Individuals with a positive mental attitude (will) develop their skills, knowledge, and personal or professional growth.”
For this to happen, Hermawan said the leader must recognise that talents are assets, have foresight, know how to lead the team, and be able to “get their hands dirty”. As mentors, they must also lead by example, set goals and standards, and challenge their teams to excel.
In accepting his award, Hotelbeds’ Chan commented: “I am truly honoured and humbled. Seeing the comments from my current and ex-team members as well as bosses, I am grateful to be part of their life journey. I hope that I have added positively to their experience. I am blessed to have great mentors in my career and will look to provide the same guidance whenever the opportunity arises.”
