Paul Hutton has commenced the role of Area Vice President and Head of Australasia at Hilton Asia Pacific, after four years heading up Hilton’s Southeast Asia business from Singapore.
Hutton led the Australasia business from 2015 to 2017 and is grateful to return to the top job with new learnings and experience under his belt.
“Australia is home for me, and I am thrilled to return to both my family in Sydney and to lead Hilton’s Australasia business,” Hutton said.
“My time in Southeast Asia was a period of substantial growth for Hilton, and the learnings and experience I bring from my time there will be of benefit to our significant plans for Australasia this year.”
Based in Sydney, Hutton will spearhead Hilton’s recovery, which includes plans to double the company’s footprint in Australasia in the next five years. He will oversee 28 operating hotels, along with 12 hotels and resorts in the pipeline, and serve as a key member of the company’s Asia Pacific senior leadership team.
“We at Hilton believe the desire to travel, experience new cultures and connect with others is core to the human experience and the reopening of Australia’s international border for tourists will be a key focus for Hilton in the coming months,” he said.
“I look forward to working closely with our incredible team members and owners as we continue our recovery journey to usher in an exciting new age of travel for our guests.”
Hilton Asia Pacific President, Alan Watts, said he has every confidence that Hutton will continue to drive the business to new heights.
“Paul is a Hilton veteran with significant cross brand and country knowledge who continues to prove himself a cornerstone of our leadership team,” he said.
“He was instrumental in overseeing our success in Southeast Asia over the last four years, which included milestones such as launching the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand in the region with the opening of exceptional properties in the Maldives and Bangkok.”