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Douglas Louden

Principal

Douglas' professional experience has taken him from Europe to Australia and Asia. 

He started his hospitality career in London before joining Regent International in Australia and then moving to China with Shangri-La International. Following this, he became Resort Operations Manager for the Laguna Quays Resort in the Whitsundays, Queensland, which was the most extensive Integrated Resort development in Australasia. He returned to Asia in 1995, when he joined the Pan Pacific Hotel Bangkok, and as General Manager, led the hotel to be a market leader in the city. A progressive career with Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts relocated him to Singapore as Corporate Director of Operations, responsible for 23 properties across Asia and North America. 

Douglas has also worked as Vice President of Operations with Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL). His role included developing the Hard Rock Hotels brand. In 2006, he was appointed General Manager of Hospitality for Hong Kong Resorts International (HKRI), owner and operator of the acclaimed Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok, The Sentosa Resort in Singapore, and Discovery Bay, the largest private residential development in Hong Kong and Vietnam. 

As Principal at Perceptions Hospitality since 2009, he has provided services to Bed Management (Thailand); owners and operators of the Hotel de la Paix and Shinta Mani brands, and Apara Hotel Advisers; in this capacity, on behalf of owners, he has overseen hospitality assets throughout the Asia Pacific region, representing owner interests and overseeing a portfolio of properties managed by - Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, Intercontinental Rosewood and Accor.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waikato in New Zealand and is based in Hong Kong and Vietnam. He is currently a Board Member of the Hotel Asset Managers Association for Asia Pacific.

Key areas of Expertise:  Asset Management Operator Search Branded Residence Pre-Opening and Design Development Hotel Operations Project Management Cost Control Feasibility Studies Real Estate/Mixed-Use Development Recreation Club Operations Golf Operations Marina Operations Service/Quality Audits, Brand Review Operational Performance & Profit Improvement Risk Management Reviews Standard Operating Procedure Development Property/Hotel Interim Management Pre-Openings, Start-Ups Independent Expert

Atul Bhalla

A qualified hotel professional with post-graduation in Hospitality from IHMCTAN, New Delhi and a Master’s from London University, he has experience spanning over 30 years with Indian & International hotel chains like the Taj Group, Scotts Holding Singapore and Carlson Hotels USA, besides other reputed organizations.

He has also been an advisor for Dis-Investment in the Tourism sector for various State Governments. He has been involved in development, planning and management activities with prestigious international and domestic chains like Intercontinental, Radisson, Hyatt, Meridien, ITC Fortune Park, and Holiday Inn etc. as an Advisor/Consultant for their projects in the country.

Atul Bhalla started his career with the Taj Group of Hotels in India as a management intern in 1989 and has worked with various reputed luxury hospitality chains, at middle and senior management cadres in Hotel Development, Operations and Management, before joining Carlson Hotels worldwide as a part of its Core Team, to establish its brand presence in India, right from its inception.

After his last assignment as Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director on Board with a large Multinational Finance Conglomerate, he along with some of his professional friends & colleagues set up a Venture Capital Fund in 2018.

The fund was focused on providing precious resources like knowledge capital, financial capital etc. to promising and innovative NON-IT startup ventures in India. The fund was extremely successful in its investment in this category and recently decided to explore investments in the lucrative Indian retail sector through its latest venture called ‘Vara India Investments LLP’. As one of the co-founders of the group, he has been given the responsibility to Spearhead the luxury R.E Development start-up focusing on wellness & healing leading to an enhanced lifestyle.

He is also managing the amalgamation & assimilation of the various businesses and companies under one banner of Triphe’ Group.