Swire Hotels names new general manager for The Upper House

Swire Hotels has bolstered its leadership with three senior management appointments, including naming Simon McHendry (pictured) as general manager, The Upper House. 

In his new role, McHendry is poised to further build The Upper House’s global stature and shape the future of its signature dining destinations. In addition, he will oversee Swire Hotels’ sales and revenue team, aligning group performance with long-term strategic growth.

A seasoned hotelier with over 28 years of experience in hospitality and commerce, McHendry joined the group as general manager of EAST Beijing in 2016, before moving to The Temple House in Chengdu in 2019, where under his leadership Mi Xun Teahouse earned its first MICHELIN Star. Most recently, as head of development and projects, McHendry led design innovation and refining operations for new hotel openings across the group.

Meanwhile, Mark Passmore is promoted to head of operations for Swire Hotels, including The House Collective, EAST and Headland Hotel. In his new role, Passmore will oversee operations and design across all the Asia properties.

With a career that’s taken him across continents and through pivotal leadership roles in hospitality, Passmore has been a driving force behind Swire Hotels’ milestone moments – from launching The Temple House in 2015 to leading operations at The Middle House in 2020. Most recently, he served as director of operations for Chinese Mainland.

As the general manager for the upcoming House in Shenzhen, Kristina Snaith-Lense will lead the property towards its highly anticipated launch in 2027. The Shenzhen House marks Swire Hotels’ first new opening in nine years and its entry into one of the fastest-growing cities in the Greater Bay Area. Snaith-Lense will also oversee wellness projects for Swire Hotels, drawing on her deep expertise and personal passion for bringing wellbeing into every aspect of the guest experience.

During her 13-year journey with Swire Hotels, Snaith-Lense has risen from assistant director of guest experience to general manager for The Upper House in 2021. 

All three of them report to Dean Winter, managing director at Swire Hotels, who said, "As we expand our portfolio of luxury properties and look ahead to what’s next, it is a natural step to expand the roles of senior leaders who truly understand our brand."

"McHendry, Passmore and Snaith-Lense have each played a key role in the success of The House Collective. They’ve built strong, long-standing teams who drive the growth of our hotels, challenge us to think differently about hospitality, and embody our commitment to nurturing talent from within. We’re excited to see how each of them will bring their own strengths and perspective to these new roles," he added.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Swire Hotels for more information.

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