OUR
Management Team
James Kaplan
Chief Executive Officer
James earned a degree in South-East Asian Political Systems from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree with a focus on Real-Estate Law from Golden Gate University, San Francisco. He has held Senior Development Leadership positions in Asia and Europe at Marriott International, Kerzner International, IHG, Fairmont Raffles, and recently completed his role as Senior Vice President for development at Minor Hotels.
Supakit Eimsamank
Senior Vice President
Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Supakit earned a master’s degree in International Banking & Finance from Birmingham University, England. and has been a leader in the Thai real estate industry for over 20 years starting off his career with Jones Lang LaSalle.
Alaa Afifi
Senior Vice President
Hotel Operations
Hotel Operations
Alaa has 21 years of hotel operations experience primarily with Accor International
based in Egypt, India, and Thailand. He has held operational leadership roles with responsibility for multiple hotels as well as corporate positions supporting
finance and operational excellence. Alaa holds a bachelor of commerce and business
administration degree from Helwan University in Egypt.
Rajesh Aggarwal
Group Finance Head
Rajesh has over 30 years hotel finance experience with leading regional & International hotel brands based in India, Middle East and Thailand. He has held finance leadership roles with responsibility for multiple hotels as well as corporate positions. Rajesh holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Delhi University in India.
OUR
Senior Advisors
Gary Murray
Senior Advisor
The founder and CEO of Destination Resorts Co. LTD, with 30 years of hotel development, operations, and ownership experience. Gary has managed the company’s growth into one of Asia’s largest hospitality companies. Gary has an MBA from Dalhousie University and a BA from University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has developed 4 and 5 star resorts overseas and in Thailand under the Hilton, Starwood, Swissotel and Novotel brands; and now is expanding Hooters across Asia.
Ross McClellan
Senior Advisor
Ross has resided in Thailand since 2002 and has over 50 years of real estate investment and development experience in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Thailand. Ross is fluent in Thai and trained as a lawyer.
Gary Murray
Senior Advisor
The founder and CEO of Destination Resorts Co. LTD, with 30 years of hotel development, operations, and ownership experience. Gary has managed the company’s growth into one of Asia’s largest hospitality companies. Gary has an MBA from Dalhousie University and a BA from University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has developed 4 and 5 star resorts overseas and in Thailand under the Hilton, Starwood, Swissotel and Novotel brands; and now is expanding Hooters across Asia.
Ross McClellan
Senior Advisor
Ross has resided in Thailand since 2002 and has over 50 years of real estate investment and development experience in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Thailand. Ross is fluent in Thai and trained as a lawyer.
OUR
Regional Partners
Gary Murray
Founder & CEO | Singapore
The founder and CEO of Destination Resorts Co. LTD, with 30 years of hotel development, operations, and ownership experience. Gary has managed the company’s growth into one of Asia’s largest hospitality companies. Gary has an MBA from Dalhousie University and a BA from University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has developed 4 and 5 star resorts overseas and in Thailand under the Hilton, Starwood, Swissotel and Novotel brands; and now is expanding Hooters across Asia.
Christophe Forsinetti
Regional Partner | Cambodia
Christophe is the Managing Director of Strategic Hospitality REIT, a South East Asia Hospitality fund listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. He is also the Founder and Chairman of OBOR Management, an SECC (Cambodia) licensed Asset Management company focused on South East Asian Developing Markets.
Leonides Virata
Regional Partner | Philippines
Leonides Virata is the Managing Director of Exchange Properties Resources Corporation, which invests and develops hospitality properties in the Philippines, and also MTV Investment Corporation, which owns and develops mixed-use properties in the Philippines with a focus on Eco-tourism.
Agung Prianta
Regional Partner | Indonesia
Born and raised in Bali, Agung has over 20 years of extensive experience in real estate & property development in Indonesia. He is the co-founder and head of Green Building Council Indonesia-Bali Chapter. In his role as the CEO of PT Jimbaran Hijau, he works with international JV partners such as Kajima Intl. to develop hospitality and commercial projects, including the newly opened Raffles Bali.
Lawrence Lee
Regional Partner | Maldives
Lawrence Lee is the principal shareholder and managing director of Laureat Hotel Investments Ltd., a closely held hotel real estate investment and asset management company established 25 years ago. Laureat It takes a contrarian approach to investments preferably acquiring and/or developing upscale hotels in the Pacific Rim and the Indian Ocean region with a particularly successful track record investing in the Maldives.
Gary Murray
Founder & CEO | Singapore
The founder and CEO of Destination Resorts Co. LTD, with 30 years of hotel development, operations, and ownership experience. Gary has managed the company’s growth into one of Asia’s largest hospitality companies. Gary has an MBA from Dalhousie University and a BA from University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has developed 4 and 5 star resorts overseas and in Thailand under the Hilton, Starwood, Swissotel and Novotel brands; and now is expanding Hooters across Asia.
Christophe Forsinetti
Regional Partner | Cambodia
Christophe is the Managing Director of Strategic Hospitality REIT, a South East Asia Hospitality fund listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. He is also the Founder and Chairman of OBOR Management, an SECC (Cambodia) licensed Asset Management company focused on South East Asian Developing Markets.
Leonides Virata
Regional Partner | Philippines
Leonides Virata is the Managing Director of Exchange Properties Resources Corporation, which invests and develops hospitality properties in the Philippines, and also MTV Investment Corporation, which owns and develops mixed-use properties in the Philippines with a focus on Eco-tourism.
Agung Prianta
Regional Partner | Indonesia
Born and raised in Bali, Agung has over 20 years of extensive experience in real estate & property development in Indonesia. He is the co-founder and head of Green Building Council Indonesia-Bali Chapter. In his role as the CEO of PT Jimbaran Hijau, he works with international JV partners such as Kajima Intl. to develop hospitality and commercial projects, including the newly opened Raffles Bali.
Lawrence Lee
Regional Partner | Maldives
Lawrence Lee is the principal shareholder and managing director of Laureat Hotel Investments Ltd., a closely held hotel real estate investment and asset management company established 25 years ago. Laureat It takes a contrarian approach to investments preferably acquiring and/or developing upscale hotels in the Pacific Rim and the Indian Ocean region with a particularly successful track record investing in the Maldives.
OUR
Support Team
Senee Doungsuwan
Executive Vice President, Construction
Senee has 20 years’ experience in construction primarily with the Destination Group. He is a special instructor at Ratchaburi Technical College for construction and MRT projects and has extensive experience leading hotel construction and renovation projects.
Nathan Wood
Vice President Legal
Nathan has spent over 20 years in senior management roles in operations, sales, business development, and law. He helped build a small Western Canadian business into an 8-figure exit to a publicly traded company. He was previously VP at one of Thailand’s leading intellectual property law firms, Satyapon & Partners, and holds an international business law degree from Thailand’s Thammasat University.
Itipat Charoenkan
Site Acquisition Manager
Itipat holds a degree in International Business from Sussex University, England. He has worked in the real estate services industry in Thailand for the past six years starting off with Harrison Public Company Limited, one of the largest real estate agents in Thailand. He specializes in commercial and hospitality property acquisition and disposal and is skilled in land registration matters.
Thanatorn Tangsomboon
Senior Site Acquisition Manager
Thanatorn received his degree in hospitality & tourism from Dhurakij Pundit University and has eight years of real estate experience focusing on land acquisition and disposal during his service with Shell and CBRE. His experience of working with developers, government agencies and financial institutions, and deep market knowledge across Thailand, puts Thanatorn at the font end of most acquisition negotiations.
Waewwan Chavanothai
Director of People
Khun Waewwan has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, covering hotels, spas & wellness, restaurants and fintech industries. She possesses well-rounded skills in the field including human resources management, recruitment, compensation & benefits, people development and training. Khun Waewwan received her master’s degree in Public Administration from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
Senee Doungsuwan
Executive Vice President, Construction
Senee has 20 years’ experience in construction primarily with the Destination Group. He is a special instructor at Ratchaburi Technical College for construction and MRT projects and has extensive experience leading hotel construction and renovation projects.
Nathan Wood
Vice President Legal
Nathan has spent over 20 years in senior management roles in operations, sales, business development, and law. He helped build a small Western Canadian business into an 8-figure exit to a publicly traded company. He was previously VP at one of Thailand’s leading intellectual property law firms, Satyapon & Partners, and holds an international business law degree from Thailand’s Thammasat University.
Itipat Charoenkan
Site Acquisition Manager
Itipat holds a degree in International Business from Sussex University, England. He has worked in the real estate services industry in Thailand for the past six years starting off with Harrison Public Company Limited, one of the largest real estate agents in Thailand. He specializes in commercial and hospitality property acquisition and disposal and is skilled in land registration matters.
Thanatorn Tangsomboon
Senior Site Acquisition Manager
Thanatorn received his degree in hospitality & tourism from Dhurakij Pundit University and has eight years of real estate experience focusing on land acquisition and disposal during his service with Shell and CBRE. His experience of working with developers, government agencies and financial institutions, and deep market knowledge across Thailand, puts Thanatorn at the font end of most acquisition negotiations.
Waewwan Chavanothai
Director of People
Khun Waewwan has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, covering hotels, spas & wellness, restaurants and fintech industries. She possesses well-rounded skills in the field including human resources management, recruitment, compensation & benefits, people development and training. Khun Waewwan received her master’s degree in Public Administration from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
