Yiran (Violet) Chen

10 Years experience in Luxury Hotel Portfolio Management | Active Asset Management | Hotel Development, Asset Enhancement & Openings

Huangpu District, Shanghai, China

About

Experience

  • Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (7 yrs 2 mos)
    • Manager - Hotel Division
      Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

      SHKP Hotel Division manages hotel portfolio of the group that includes 13 existing hotels (5,877 rooms, 50 restaurants - AUM HKD 25 billion) and 4 developing hotels in Greater China. Key assets in portfolio: Four Seasons Hong Kong, Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, W Hong Kong, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, Four Seasons Suzhou, Andaz Nanjing, Park Hyatt Hangzhou, Conrad Guangzhou, Andaz Shanghai ITC (opening soon) Development and Asset Enhancement Projects: o Opening & Post-Opening Management of Four Seasons Suzhou and Andaz Nanjing (2023), opening of Andaz Shanghai ITC (Target Dec 2025) o Pre-opening work (since 2021) included: Market Research, P&L Pro-forma, Brand Selection, Pre-opening Budgeting, Area Programming and Design Critique, Executive members hiring, OS&E procurement management, Management Company Set-up and Licenses Obtainment, Handover and Pre-opening operations monitoring o Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong Area Re-programming in 2025, two restaurants rebranding and renovation in 2021 o Four Seasons HK renovation planning and financial modeling (2020-2021) o Hyatt Centric rebranding in 2019 and ADD renovation (2025) Asset Management Scope: o Monitored the Commercial and financial KPIs of portfolio hotels, set goals and directions based on analytics and market intelligence o Conducted regular market research trips and industry interviews to apply best practice to portfolio hotels and ensure operations stay agile to new trends o Reported to chairman and executive directors on hotel performance, recent focuses and targets set. o Reviewed the business plans of portfolio hotels annually, with re-forecast required twice a month o Constructed financial models for evaluation of operating efficiency and payback of capital expenses o Led the Report Automation project to transform daily manual reporting to automated dashboards Hotel

    • Deputy Manager - Hotel Division
      Apr 2022 - May 2025 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    • Senior Analyst - Hotel Division
      May 2019 - Mar 2022 · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (Hong Kong SAR)
    • Investment Management Analyst
      May 2017 - May 2019 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      • Investment management for development projects in pipeline (3 hotels and 1 office) of HKD 3.2 bn investment: - on-site due diligence, market research and development model for financial feasibility analysis - Draft development concept brief for project & design teams - Write investment paper for senior management and investment partners’ review and approval • Asset management for properties (Hotel, Apartment, Office & Retail) totaling investment of over HKD 14.5 bn: - Initiate asset enhancement strategies for low-yield assets - Review hotel budget planning and handle final approval of Capital Expense Requests - Assess options of new business initiatives’ (i.e. Commercial fitness center, Co-working lounge, lease out of currently hotel operating areas, etc. ) operation and investment return - Lead a team of 15 for group-level Asset Management System development • Business Development for Shangri-La brands - Assess potential hotel management projects - Communicate with external owners and coordinate through contract negotiation and signing process

    • Management Trainee
      May 2016 - May 2017 · 1 yr 1 mo

      1 Month - Hotel Operation Familiarization Program at Island Shangri-La Hotel 5-Months – Project Transition Management for Kerry Hotel Hong Kong pre-opening 6-Months – Development & Innovation Team at Shangri-La Group for hotel development projects in pipeline

  • Teaching Assistant at Cornell University
    Aug 2014 - 2016 · 1 yr 6 mos

    HADM 2250 Hospitality Development and Planning HADM 2210 Managerial Accounting HADM 2010 Hospitality Quantitative Analysis

  • Real Estate Development Associate at Avalon Development Holding
    Jun 2015 - Dec 2015 · 7 mos

    •Financial modeling •Property valuation •Development Proposal •Refinancing and leasing plans •Pricing Strategies

  • Summer Intern at Virgin Hotels
    Jun 2014 - Aug 2014 · 3 mos

    Pre-opening Team for Virgin Group's first hotel in Chicago