Continuing our ‘Follow the Sun’ journey we travel from China to Hong Kong to meet Odette Chan, our Regional Managing Director for North Asia.

Could you tell us a little bit about your background?
“I have been with interTouch for over 16 years, having joined the business in July 2005. I thoroughly enjoy working in this dynamic and exciting industry where no two days are ever the same and I get the chance to connect with fellow hoteliers every day.”

What have been some of your most memorable moments over the years with interTouch?
“I started working with interTouch in sales looking after global accounts and became Regional Managing Director for North Asia in 2016. There are so many memorable moments over the years, but something that always brings great joy is winning important business and celebrating success with the team.”

What makes interTouch a great place to work?
“The best part of working at interTouch is our team and I’m blessed to be surrounded by great colleagues. As a service provider in hospitality, we are wholly customer oriented in everything we do, and as a team we take great pride in looking after the requirements of our hotel partners and to tailor our solutions to their needs, which is at the core of what makes interTouch a great place to work.”

What is the most exciting part of your role?
“What makes my role really exciting, is the incredibly dynamic business environment in which we operate, which requires me to stay up to the date with the latest trends and developments in hospitality and technology at all times. The most challenging part of my job is not just to maintain our position as a global business leader in the region but to grow our footprint and diversify our product line and market segments as well.”

What do you see as the key USPs of interTouch in North Asia?
“I think what sets us apart in the region here is our team’s passion for the business and the industry. Although we are navigating unprecedented and challenging times in hospitality and travel during this global pandemic, we are as driven as ever to offer our hotel partners the best technology solutions to enrich their guest experience.”

What is your favourite business quote or mantra?
“Believe in yourself, the challenge will make you succeed.” 

What advice could you give to young professionals looking to start a career in hospitality technology?
“What’s really important is to have passion for what you do and to not be afraid to ask questions and explore everything the industry has to offer.”

What’s your outlook for the hospitality industry in 2021 and beyond?
“Although we are seeing encouraging signs of recovery, I expect that full recovery of the travel and hospitality industry post pandemic will take another 2-3 years.”

What makes interTouch a great company to do business with?
“I believe people don’t just choose interTouch for our leading guest-facing technology, but also because of our people and the service and support they receive from our team.” 

How does the company differentiate itself?
“I think the fact that we are a truly global company with 30+ local offices and our own in-house support on the ground 24/7/365 is an important differentiator for us at interTouch.”

What are the key characteristics of a strong salesperson in (hotel) technology?
“To be a good salesperson it’s vitally important to be a good listener, and to be able to gain a thorough understanding of what the needs and requirements of hotels and their guests needs are so you can offer a tailored solution to each and every customer that achieve their respective goals and objectives.”

If you would like to know more about our North Asia region and how we can help you please contact us