Scott Hodgetts Named GM of New Nha Trang Hotel

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. February 05, 2009

FEBRUARY 5, 2009 - Two years after leaving Vietnam for a stint as general manager of the Sheraton Bandung Hotel and Towers in Indonesia, Scott Hodgetts has returned to launch the 281-room Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel and Spa.

The veteran Sheraton executive expects to open the commanding, 30-storey tower on the Bay of Nha Trang in July as the first internationally renown 5-star hotel on the beach in Vietnam.

"So much of the spotlight in recent years has focused on what's happening in Danang, and what's been going on in Mui Ne," said Hodgetts. "Nha Trang, with its rightful claim as the most beautiful bay in Vietnam, its proximity to Saigon and its depth of cultural assets, is on the verge of a major comeback."

In his first Vietnam post, Hodgetts worked three-and-a-half years at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, initially as the hotel's operations manager and then as the executive assistant manager.

The Australian kicked off his hospitality career with Sheraton as an accountant at the company's Hobart hotel, and subsequently rose through the ranks with additional postings in Australia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and New Zealand. He only relinquished his focus on financial analysis when he made the jump to EAM in Saigon. But he reckons his background as a controller is ever more important these days.

"With the global economy in the midst of unprecedented turmoil, there's very little predictability to the coming year. But we've found reason to be sanguine in Nha Trang," said Hodgetts. "Within a country that still enjoys a reputation as a 'new' destination, Nha Trang is one of the next best discoveries for travelers."

With towers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Nha Trang hotel stands as the Sheraton's third property in Vietnam. Its eight categories of accommodation range from deluxe rooms to 70 square-meter executive suites and a single, stunning 182-square-meter presidential suite. Its food-and-beverage outlets include Feast, a 180-seat international buffet; Steam n' Spice, an upmarket, 102-seat dim sum and noodle restaurant (a first for Nha Trang); the Wine Bar and a deli.

For business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel's full-service spa offers nine treatment rooms, as well as separate locker rooms for men and women, each with steam, sauna and whirlpool. The 21-meter lap pool will be complemented by a children's pool. And a state-of-the-art health club is shaping up as Nha Trang's most ambitious fitness center by far.

Given the proximity to Ho Chi Minh City by air (45 minutes), the hotel anticipates robust business traffic. The Sheraton's nine meetings rooms - including a ballroom and an equally large function room - open up to 1,600 square meters. The Executive Club Lounge will offer spectacular ocean views.

Upon opening, Sheraton will be rolling out its Link@Sheraton environment, a lobby lounge space that provides comfortable work stations, free Wi-Fi access and Internet-enabled computer stations to guests. The new caf'e concept also provides ready access to plasma televisions, daily newspapers and a variety of food and beverages. The product debuted at Sheraton hotels worldwide in September.