Event Details

This C-suite lunch will focus on the future of shopping and travel in Asia. Both sectors have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly changes in consumer demand driven by government policies and economic uncertainties. Shopping is everywhere being transformed by e-commerce. Travel has been disrupted by Covid-19 and environmental concerns, both of which could change the means and frequency of trotting the globe, even after vaccines are developed and borders reopen. The session explores what the future holds.

Please note that this event is limited to senior-level executives and per invitation only. If you are not an existing member of The Economist Corporate Network, but would like to learn how you can attend our events, please contact us.

Agenda

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Presentation and Discussion

Speakers

  • Aaron Lau (Chairman & CEO of Gusto Collective)

    Aaron Lau

    Chairman & CEO of Gusto Collective

    Aaron Lau is Chairman & CEO of Gusto Collective, a firm he founded as Asia’s first brand tech group, in 2020.

    The Collective delivers the best of storytelling, powered by the latest AR/VR technologies and informed by data analytics to create ‘better, faster and cheaper’ customer experiences and marketing programs for clients in four locations in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

    Prior to founding the Collective, Aaron was President, International and CEO, North America at Cheil Worldwide, a global marketing firm listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, and part of the Samsung Group in South Korea.

    In addition to leading the Collective, Aaron also serves on the board of Parsons School of Design in New York, USA, The Nature Conservancy’s Asia Pacific Council as well as The Design Trust in Hong Kong.

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  • Bart Buiring (Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific at Marriott International Inc)

    Bart Buiring

    Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific at Marriott International Inc

    Bart Buiring is Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Asia Pacific for Marriott International. In his role, Bart leads the Sales, Marketing, Revenue Strategy, Brand Management, Digital, Communications, Loyalty - Marriott Bonvoy, Partnerships, IT, New Ventures and Consumer Insights teams; for Marriott International’s fast growing Asia Pacific portfolio of 800 hotels and resorts, in 23 countries, across 24 leading brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, W Hotels, EDITION, Sheraton, Westin, Moxy etc.

    Bart has been a part of the Marriott International family for 20 years, starting his career as a Food and Beverage Director of the JW Marriott Mumbai, India hotel. He was promoted to Director of Operations at the same hotel soon after.

    In 2004, Bart was promoted to Director of Operations for South East Asia, India and Australia and later assumed additional Food and Beverage responsibilities for the region.

    He moved to the United States in 2008 to serve as the Corporate Vice President of Food and Beverage for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel company and returned to Asia in 2010 to establish the region’s Continent Lodging Service structure, which included Rooms, Food and Beverage, Culinary, Engineering and Procurement.

    In 2013, Bart was then promoted to Senior Vice President of continent Operations with a duel role as a market leader with P&L responsibilities for the South Korea market. In 2016, he was appointed to Chief Operations Service Officer for Asia Pacific.

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  • Janet Pau (Director, Hong Kong of The Economist Corporate Network)

    Janet Pau

    Director, Hong Kong of The Economist Corporate Network

    Janet Pau is the Director of The Economist Corporate Network in Hong Kong. She brings her experience working with top executives throughout Asia, coupled with economic knowledge and industry insight to help organisational leaders and their teams gain a holistic, practical appreciation of the opportunities and challenges in Greater China and across Asia.

    Before joining The Economist Corporate Network, Janet was Program Director for the Asia Business Council, developing and delivering content for private forums for an all-CEO membership in Asia for more than a decade. Prior to that, she was Manager at the Global Business Policy Council at consulting firm A.T. Kearney in Washington D.C., where she led consulting projects and intellectual capital publications for senior executive clients in both business and government.

    Janet’s publications include Through the Eyes of Tiger Cubs: Views of Asia’s Next Generation (Wiley, 2012) and Building Energy Efficiency (Encyclopaedia of China Publishing House, Chinese edition, 2008). She was an op-ed contributor and columnist for the South China Morning Post from 2011 to 2019. She has also contributed opinion pieces and book chapters, and spoken at various local and regional business conferences.

    She serves on the leadership team of Hong Kong-based charity Beyond Foundation, which advocates for children with special needs and their families. She was a member on the Hong Kong Government’s Antiquities Advisory Board, Museum Advisory Board, and Central Policy Unit.

    Janet received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies and psychology with honours from Yale University and a Master in Public Policy specializing in economic policy and competitiveness from Harvard University.

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