Michael Simon
General Manager Distribution EMEA & APAC
Marriott International
Michael is the newly elected Chair of the HSMAI Region Europe Sales Executive Advisory Board. He is very active within HSMAI Region Europe both in the Advisory Board as well as a speaker and advisor on many HSMAI Region Europe events including activities in Germany.
Q:æWhat does a day at work consist of for you?
A:æCustomers Conference Calls E-Mails Meetings’_ When in the office and due to time zones my day usually starts with calls with Asia – lately mostly China – in the morning moves on to the Middle East and then to US when they are up from 2pm onwards. Being a single parent I try to get out of the office relatively on time to spend time with my teenage son.
Q:æWhat’s the best part of your job?
A:æDistribution is a dynamic segment that impacts all parts of the hotel business.
Q:æDo you have anyone you’ve looked up to?
A:æMy parents.
Q:æDo you have any nice traditions at your office?
A:æI’m afraid with the travelling to Asia Middle East and the US I am hardly there’_æ
Q:æHow long have you been a member of HSMAI?
A:æI have been a member of HSMAI Region Europe since 2014 and a member of the HSMAI Region Europe Sales Executive Advisory Board since the start of its operation in 2015.
Q:æWhat do you think is the best thing about HSMAI?
A:æI think HSMAI Region Europe is a great platform for Education and Networking within the Hospitality Industry. Being a pan-European association it brings together industry experts with diverse backgrounds on all disciplines in Hospitality.
Q:æAre there any activities or projects you think HSMAI should start up?
A:æHSMAI Region Europe has grown rapidly in the past couple of years and has successfully started activities in many new markets in Europe. Now I look forward to the many educational programmes and initiatives under development.
Q:æDescribe your perfect weekend.
A:æQuality time with my children.
Q:æIf you were trapped on a desert island what would you take with you if you could choose one thing?
A:æSatellite telephone or more realistically a knife or axe.
Q:æWhat is the title of the book about your life?
A:æLife is a journey not a destination.æ
Q:æWhat is your next travel-destination?
A:æBesides the usual business travel with Marriott actually a couple of my latest trips have been to attend HSMAI meetings and events with the Distribution & Marketing Strategy Conference in Stockholm and the HSMAI Region Europe Sales Executive Advisory Board meeting and Connect with HSMAI event in Frankfurt.æNext I will travel to Paris.
Q:æDo you have any special hobbies?
A:æI used to play European handball and still like watching the game but my favouriteæactivity has become downhill skiing.
Q: Thank you for your time. Do you have any personal comments?
A:æI would like to thank the HSMAI Region Europe team and the HSMAI Region Europe Sales Executive Advisory Board for their trust and support. The Hospitality Industry is constantly changingæand the Sales discipline in a dramatic transition at the moment. Thereforeæthis is an exciting time to chair the Sales Executive Advisory Board. I believe that the combination of Juliet Howie and myself of Sales and Distribution fits perfectly to the dynamic environment of the industry. I look forward to working together with this group ofærenowned experts in the industry in order to find topics and solutions to induce the Sales talent of the future. With an international reach HSMAI Region Europe is the perfect platform to bringæthat knowledge and support to the Sales forceæin the field.
Photo:æMichael Simon General Manager Distribution EMEA & APAC Marriott International
