Hong Kong – August 24, 2021 – The Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong are pleased to announce that Mr Tane Picken has been appointed as General Manager of Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong and Area Vice President, Operations (Hong Kong).
A South African native, Mr Picken is a well-versed hotelier with over two decades of experience in hospitality management covering a variety of luxury hotel brands across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Mr Picken progressed through the ranks of hotel operations before taking his first General Manager position at Hotel Jen Penang in 2016.
Mr Picken has left an indelible mark on a number of Shangri-La properties. Prior to his arrival in Hong Kong, he took the helm at Shangri-La’s flagship hotel, Shangri-La Singapore, where he was General Manager from 2019. He was instrumental in launching newly curated family experiences and played a pivotal role in setting performance standards and navigating the team through the pandemic. Before that, he was the General Manager at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa, Singapore. During his tenure, he has successfully transformed two hotels into luxurious family destinations.
In his new capacity, Mr Picken will be responsible for strategic development, driving critical commercial growth and inspiring excellence in service culture in the region, along with supervising daily operations of Island Shangri-La, including an asset enhancement of the guest floors and spearhead the operations of four hotels in Hong Kong, including Island Shangri-La, Kowloon Shangri-La, Kerry Hong Kong and JEN Hong Kong.
With extensive experience in managing a number of luxury family hotels, Mr Picken has demonstrated effective leadership in driving transformation for the hotels’ family experiences and taking them to a whole new level. By adding myriad family components along the way, he is eager to steer the hotel to the forefront of the hospitality industry.
Concurrently, he will be working with the team on Island Shangri-La’s asset enhancement program, which includes the expansion of the hotel’s wellness floor and a reinterpretation of Oriental modernity in its guest rooms. The program anticipates completion by the end of 2022.
“Hong Kong is always so full of energy, full of life and a place surrounded by possibilities. At Shangri-La, we are passionate about delivering heartfelt hospitality. We are constantly looking for opportunities in pioneering new horizons and setting new benchmarks in the industry. I look forward to articulating this commitment and spirit through tailored guest experiences with the seasoned and passionate team here to bring a new level of hotel luxury and a different dimension of family experience to the Shangri-La hotels in Hong Kong,” said Mr Picken.
