Key senior leadership transitions announced by Swire Hotels

Swire Hotels creates and manages distinctive hotels in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the United States under two brands, The House Collective and EAST – it recent made the following leadership appointments: Mark Passmore has been promoted to Head of Operations for Swire Hotels; Kristina Snaith-Lense is now General Manager of upcoming property, the House in Shenzhen; and Simon McHendry has been appointed General Manager of The Upper House

Image caption: Mark Passmore_Head of Operations | Image credit: Swire Hotels

As Head of Operations for Swire Hotels – incorporating The House Collective, EAST and Headland Hotel, Mark 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, he 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.

Simon 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 & Projects, he led design innovation and refining operations for new hotel openings across the group.

Following an almost five year tenure as GM at The Upper House, Kristina Snaith-Lense will take the helm at the new House in Shenzen ahead of 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, she has risen from Assistant Director of Guest Experience to General Manager for The Upper House in 2021. With her at the helm, the House has soared to global recognition, landing a spot in the top five of The World’s 50 Best Hotels for two consecutive years and earning accolades for its innovative Wellness Residencies.

“As we expand our portfolio of luxury properties and look ahead, it is a natural step to expand the roles of senior leaders who truly understand our brand,” said Dean Winter, Managing Director at Swire Hotels. “Mark, Kristina, and Simon 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.”

Main image credit:  Swire Hotels