Hong Kong: Golf and leisure management and consulting company Azalea Hospitality has appointed Scott Riddick as its Vietnam Business Representative.
Azalea Hospitality is a boutique full-service firm specialising in providing management and consulting services to golf course owners and developers throughout the Asia Pacific region. With extensive knowledge and heritage, Azalea Hospitality focuses on golf and resort related projects, but will also provide comprehensive services across all hospitality and property assets, to create the most impactful roadmap for its clientele.
An Australian PGA member, Riddick has more than a decade of experience working in the Vietnam golf industry, where he has witnessed the growth of the game and the development of world-class golf and hospitality facilities.
Based in Hanoi, where he operates his own golf academy and fitting studio, Riddick said Azalea Hospitality has the experience and expertise to offer Vietnamese developers and facility owners the support to grow their business in the years ahead.
“Scott is a fabulous addition to the Azalea Hospitality team, and we are looking forward to our expansion into the Vietnam market under his efforts,” said David Townend, Founder and Managing Director of Azalea Hospitality, an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“His knowledge of the golf industry and extensive business connections enables us the opportunity to introduce our extensive range of services to discerning developers and owners who are seeking to work with a passionate group of professionals who have a prime focus on the culture and performance of the property that satisfy the needs of key stakeholders.”
Riddick said: “I am thrilled to join David and the team at Azalea Hospitality and to help them with their expansion into the Vietnamese market. There is both the need and demand from Vietnamese developers to work with experienced groups to ensure that they navigate the path of development, pre-opening, marketing and operations in the most effective manner, to ensure long-term sustainability and brand reputation.
“After researching the market for a company that I believe can offer unique services to golf course owners, I determined that working with a fellow Australian PGA professional who has an incredible track record of developing and operating some of Asia’s finest golf and leisure facilities was the right choice.
“The work that David and his team at Azalea Hospitality have done these past three years in turning around the financial performance, course conditioning, and membership service at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand, and prior to that developing and launching The Els Club Malaysia’s three golf courses, with the Langkawi facility earning the first-ever World’s Best New Golf Course at the World Golf Awards, speaks volumes, and I am looking forward to actively promoting Azalea Hospitality and their services in the Vietnam market.”
Townend added: “Vietnam has recently become a force in Asia for the development of golf and leisure facilities, and we see this continuing for many years to come. The country offers one of the most diversified cultures and landscapes, which you couple with the warm hospitality of the people and the amazing culinary offerings and you have the recipe for becoming Asia’s most popular tourist and leisure destination.”
Azalea Hospitality works with a host of recognised industry professionals, tailoring its service offering in line with the type of project and owner objectives.