Millennium Seoul Hilton GM Named New President of Skal Int’l Seoul

The Millennium Seoul Hilton has announced that its General Manager, Eric M. Swanson, was named the new president of Skal International Seoul for 2011.
As the new club president, Swanson is faced with the responsibility of laying all the groundwork for the upcoming 2012 Skal World Congress to be hosted in Korea. He also plans to develop the new “Young Skal” program, which will help build a strong base for the future of Skal International. Though it is his first time as club president, Swanson is no stranger to the Skal organization. In 2009, Swanson headed up the Skal Asia Congress, a convention of hotel and tourism industry professionals, which took place in Korea.
Founded in 1932, Skal is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest. Today, Skal International has approximately 22,000 members in 500 Clubs throughout 90 nations.
Swanson took over the helm of the Millennium Seoul Hilton in 2006. Prior to that, he managed various hotels worldwide including the Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt; the Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida; the Leela Palace Kempinski Hotel in Bangalore, India; as well as the Marco Polo Parkside in Beijing, China. Swanson also served as a member of the United States Coast Guard for five years.
After moving to the Millennium Seoul Hilton, Swanson became heavily involved in social welfare, helping Hyesimwon Orphanage, Hansarang Village and other organizations. He led a fundraising effort to raise money for the restoration of Namdaemun after it was burned down. In 2007, he received a special commendation from the Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon for his ongoing contribution to the development of the local community, in particular, his contributions to the welfare of children in Korea. In 2009, Swanson was named an honorary citizen of Seoul by Mayor Oh.
Swanson’s mother is Cho Chang-soo, the late curator of the Korean wing at the Smithsonian Museum. In her lifetime, she contributed to the return of 93 national treasures from the United States back to South Korea. Ms. Cho passed away due to cancer in November 2009.
Swanson’s uncle was Cho Chang-ho, the first prisoner of war to escape North Korea. A first lieutenant in the South Korean army, Cho Chang-ho spent over 40 years as a hostage before escaping to freedom in 1994. He died of cancer on Nov. 29, 2006, and his ashes were laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery. The following are excerpts of a written interview with Swanson.
Q: Do you have any memorable moments from Skal?
A: My most memorable experience was when I received word that our country had won the 2012 World Congress bid. Unfortunately, I could not be in Sydney when it was announced, but all our Skal members who attended the event were extremely excited.
I joined the Skal Seoul Club in 1996 when I was posted at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I began to play a very active role in Skal from the time I returned to Seoul in 2006 for my second stint. I ensured that my hotel was adequately represented in Skal so that someone was always present on behalf of the hotel. This was my way of showing both my commitment as well as that of my hotel’s. I was elected vice president of the committee in 2010 and immediately began to push for the expansion of Skal memberships as well as the Young Skal program, both of which have gained strong momentum.
Q: What plans do you have for Skal International?
A: My objectives for the coming year are threefold and support the overall goals of Skal International. Firstly, I plan to continue to build on our club’s past successes and consolidate efforts to ensure that both South Korea and Skal are appropriately represented during the 2012 Skal World Congress. Secondly, I intend to further develop and nurture Young Skal so as to help establish the next generation of Skal members in line with the objectives and vision of Skal International. Thirdly, I seek to leverage and harness the resources and energy of Skal International Seoul and ensure that the club’s core values remain intact.
Q: What plans do you have for Skal Korea?
A: With respect to Skal Korea, I would say the most pressing matter is the upcoming 2012 Skal World Congress. I will need to lay the groundwork so that my successor will be able to host a successful World Congress where Skal Korea is well represented and our club earns the reputation of being one of the most dynamic clubs within the travel industry and the Skal community.
Q: What kind of preparations must you make in order to ensure a successful World Congress?
A: Firstly we have established a 2012 World Congress Committee of highly experienced professionals, chaired by former club President Robert Sohn. Other members of the committee include myself; Adam Simkins, Skal Incheon club president; Henry Oh, president of Global Tours; JK Lee, executive vice president of the Korea Tourism Organization; Maureen O’Crowley, vice president of the Seoul Tourism Organization; Kate Song of the Incheon Tourism Organization; Peter Jang, a professor at Dongduk Women’s University; JP Sho, chairman of Travel Press Magazine; and last but not least, Mark Shears, the Events and Promotions manager at the Millennium Seoul Hilton.
Secondly, the committee, with the support of KTO, ITO and STO, will set aggressive attendance goals and set up the infrastructure to achieve these goals. We would like to see attendance beat all other congresses held in the past.
Thirdly, since a Skal World Congress is attended by members of the travel and tourism industry from around the world, this event presents a unique opportunity to showcase Korea on a very strategic and dynamic scale to the travel fraternity. Therefore, with the generous support of our government and tourism officials, our goal is to make this event the finest in the history of Skal International and create a benchmark for the future promotion of Korea Tourism. No stone will be left unturned in our effort to ensure that the event is recognized around the globe.
We will be engaging a professional design and marketing company to brand the event and develop appropriate collateral. We will call on the support and services of professionals within the travel and tourism sector in Seoul and Incheon to ensure smooth functioning of all aspects of the congress from the arrival of the attendees to their departure.
Q: Skal members include professionals in the hotel, airline and other tourism-related industries. Do you feel that your position as general manager of the Millennium Seoul Hilton will have any benefits?
A: Being the president of Skal Seoul is a significant responsibility. I have been recognized by my fellow club members and peers as a leader in the industry. Therefore, my candidacy adds credibility not only to me personally but to my hotel, my owning company and the Hilton brand. There are direct benefits in terms of business in-flows and enormous networking opportunities that certainly drive business into my hotel.
Q: How will the Skal activities affect the Millennium Seoul Hilton?
A: I think any involvement with Skal is a positive and advantageous one. I expect the hotel will benefit directly and indirectly by association in terms of strengthening the Millennium Seoul Hilton brand and expanding our reach into the local and international markets. For example, during the World Congress our hotel will be the host hotel for the event, which of course translates into positive financial returns as well as exposure for the product and the brand.
Q: What kind of effect will the Millennium Seoul Hilton have on Skal Korea?
A: Broadly, Skal Korea will see its image enhanced as a leader in the tourism industry. By being a great host, Millennium Seoul Hilton can leave lasting positive impressions and memories in the minds of attendees. I am confident that my team will play the role of a consummate host. I would expect that as a result of a successful Congress, my team will be recognized as leaders within Korea both by the industry and by the Korean government. The hotel will continue to be a strong supporter of Skal Korea activities.
Q: How was the performance of the Millennium Seoul Hilton last year?
A: The year 2010 was a banner year for the Millennium Seoul Hilton. We exceeded our guidance for the year and achieved the highest revenue figures in the history of the hotel. We achieved a record gross operating profit since the hotel’s opening in 1983.
Q: What goals and projects do you have for the New Year?
A: We are undergoing a large-scale room renovation, which will affect 250 guestrooms. The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of May. In addition, the Grand Ballroom and some of the banquet rooms will be upgraded in July and August of this year. The hotel has experienced steady sales gains over the last five years, so we thought it would be wise to take some of those profits and reinvest in the hotel. nw

Millennium Seoul Hilton General Manager Eric M. Swanson
has become the new president of Skal International Seoul.

The facade of the Millennium Seoul Hilton in downtown Seoul