Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel has announced three new team members this month as the hotel looks to build on its reputation in Shanghai.

Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel has announced three new team members this month as the hotel looks to build on its reputation in Shanghai. Kent Liu has been appointed Director of Sales for Catering, Events and Weddings to drive those key business areas for the hotel in 2015. Jason Seville joins the team as Fitness Wellness Specialist with the goal of driving the hotel’s fitness membership base and developing a diverse option of group fitness classes including yoga, kickboxing, core training, circuit/interval training, and eventually even CrossFit). Gary Zhao joins as Feast Restaurant Manager just ahead of a busy festive month of events at the hotel’s all day dining restaurant.

Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel’s Fabien Martinez says, “We’re very excited about Jason, Gary and Kent joining the Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou family. Our hotel is paying a lot of attention to ensuring our guests get great service in the hotel that goes beyond just regular business hotel offerings, and Kent, Gary and Jason’s appointment will only strengthen that.”

Kent Liu, as Director of Sales for Catering, Events and Weddings, has been working in hotels and hospitality for over 11 years, a career that has taken him all over China to Wuxi, Qingdao, Yantai and Shanghai in China, plus experience overseas working in the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

A seasoned hospitality sales professional, Kent has worked in hotels from the food and beverage side and all the way through to Director of Sales and Marketing. From Shanghai, Kent’s new role at Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel takes Kent back to his roots where he can put all that experience into action in delivering sales across three of the hotel’s most popular sales channels.

Jason Seville has a long history in athletics, strength and conditioning training, and fitness coaching, which all began when he started wrestling and playing American football at five years old. After achieving All-American status as a high school wrestler, he had a number of collegiate scholarship offers for both football and wrestling. He joined the NCAA Division 1 wrestling team at West Virginia University in 2000.

Since then, Jason has been employed as a fitness coach in several contexts with a wide range of age and skill levels: from 12-year olds to 85-year olds, from fitness center newcomers to lifelong athletes competing at the college level. His official certifications are in Personal Training and Core & Functional Training.

Jason lived in Shanghai from 2003-2005 where he studied Chinese at Shanghai Teacher's University (and still maintains a conversational Mandarin level). After a 9-year absence, he has moved back to Shanghai with his wife and three daughters to help Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou develop its fitness programs and build its membership.

New Feast Restaurant Manager Gary Zhao joins Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou Hotel following 13 years in the hotel food and beverage industry across and Shanghai and Tianjin. Having previously worked for some of the world’s leading hotel brands including The Westin Bund Center Shanghai in the Starwood family, Gary’s roles have included leading Executive Club dining services and Service Manager for all in-room and dining outlets.

Having spent a large amount of his career dealing with on-on-one client requests and food and beverage services, Gary brings has strong communication skills and goes that extra yard for his guests and patrons.