Merril F. Yu is an international hotelier who has learned and honed his craft with the world’s leading hotel brands such as Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, The Peninsula Group and MGM Mirage to name a few. Merril has spent over 21 years in leadership roles including VP of hotels, Executive Director, General Manager and Resident Manager in San Francisco, Auckland, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kota Kinabalu, Las Vegas, Xiamen and Manila.

From 2004 to 2007 Merril developed, opened and managed China’s biggest hotel, Xianglu GRAND Xiamen with 1,525 guestrooms.

In 2007, Merril led the SM Groups entry into hotels as Senior Vice President, SM Investment Corporation’s Hotel Investment Group; followed as President, SM Hotels and in 2009, Executive Vice President of SM Hotels & Entertainment as it joined its siblings to become the 5th core business of the country’s largest conglomerate joining SM Malls, SM Land, SM Retail and Banking.

A graduate of Choate, Duke University and AIM’s Executive Program in Advanced Marketing Management, Merril is a member of Mckinsey Quarterly’s Executive Panel, advisor to Bloomberg Businessweek Market Advisory Board, is a popular keynote speaker for companies such as Globe Telecom and Business World and WOW Customer Excellence facilitator for Francis Kong’s Inspire Leadership Consultancy.

L&S: As Managing Director of GHM Hotels Philippines, what is a typical work day like?
MY: As GHM offers a product and partnership that targets a very defined niche market, our days execute a plan that allows us to thoughtfully match our offering with like-minded potential partners. There is a lot of homework to be done in ever keeping abreast of the pulse of business and tourism trends thus uncovering those potential gems best suited for GHM. We carefully manage our touch points with potential partners ensuring that each interaction best represents GHM while leaving them with an understanding and appreciation of what makes us a compelling consideration.

L&S: GHM is home to some of the finest hotels in the world. What is the group's ethos with regards to setting the standard for luxury accommodation?
MY: Each GHM resort and hotel is one of a kind, possessing distinctive concepts and design elements. This special relationship with the land and its culture enables GHM to provide guests with a genuine, close-up experience of the best each destination has to offer in varied aspects such as cultural, geography and history.
The signature GHM style is best defined through Asian-inspired designs with delicate details.

L&S: Is there a particular GHM property which stands out for you?
MY: Each GHM property is in harmony with the pervading spirit of its land and culture. One feels
the ambience of that setting and a very GHM touch in each whether in Bali or Miami. Our properties are much like children of one family where each are special to their parent, GHM.

L&S: Any plans for GHM development in the Philippines?
MY: The Philippines is blessed with a richness of natural resources throughout our 7,107 islands offering a dynamic range of beach to mountain offerings. Our strategic location at the crossroads of Asia make it the ideal setting for our next GHM property and we look to announcing our first partnership there very soon.

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