Hilton is excited to introduce Maria Ariizumi as the newly appointed Vice President of Development for Southeast Asia. Maria comes to Hilton from Swire Hotels, where she played a pivotal role in establishing Swire's third-party hotel development platform. Her expertise encompasses hotel development, planning, and projects across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America.
Throughout her time at Swire Hotels, Maria witnessed a significant expansion, with the group's hotel portfolio doubling in size. Starting her journey with Hilton on March 4, 2024, Maria is stationed at the Hilton corporate office in Singapore. Maria's distinguished career in the hospitality industry includes positions at Galaxy Entertainment Group, Marriott International, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, where she specializes in hotel development, feasibility studies, and corporate finance.
Hailing from Japan, Maria will collaborate extensively with Hilton's current and prospective owners to advance the company's development agenda in Southeast Asia. This recently established position underscores the increasing significance of this vibrant region, and Maria's proven expertise will bolster Hilton's goal of doubling its portfolio in the area over the next three years.
"South East Asia holds great potential for the travel and tourism sector, and we are incredibly upbeat about the healthy momentum in both travel demand and hotel development. I am thrilled to welcome Maria to the Hilton family at this critical inflection point and am confident that she will lead the team to new heights as we write our next growth chapter together", said Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President for Development in Asia Pacific of Hilton.
"It is an amazing opportunity to steer the expansion of an iconic brand like Hilton in the vibrant South East Asia region. Hilton has established a stellar foundation here and is well respected by owners and industry watchers alike for its market-leading performance. With the support of a best-in-class team, I look forward to leading and delivering on our growth ambitions in this market", said Maria Ariizumi.
Currently, Hilton operates 57 properties spanning seven unique brands, with an additional 44 properties in the development pipeline. In recent times, Hilton has marked the openings of eagerly awaited hotels like Umana Bali, LXR Hotels and Resorts, La Festa Phu Quoc, and Hilton Saigon, each representing the inaugural introduction of their respective brands to their respective markets.