Mr. Chen Kunde has nearly 30 years of experience in hotel operations and investment. He graduated from Beijing Tourism College and obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He has worked for international hotel groups such as Kempinski and Hilton, and also founded Firstel Hotels & Resorts INC. The company operates over forty hotels in China, the United States, and other locations.
From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Chen was responsible for the operation and management of hotels in Hawaii, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. During his time in the United States, he facilitated the visit of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and local travel agencies to Beijing, leading to the signing of the first batch of charter tourism cooperation agreements.
In 2005, he collaborated with the Singapore Tourism Board, becoming the first foreign enterprise to invest in and transform a government-preserved building into a boutique hotel. In subsequent operations, the company received multiple awards from Singapore and the international hotel industry.
In 2014, he successfully led the company to be listed in Hong Kong.
In June 2014, the acquisition of a resort and tourism real estate development project in Bintan Island was completed.
In 2016, he facilitated bilateral tourism cooperation projects between the Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Department of Malaysia and the Hebei Provincial Tourism Development Committee.
In October 2019, the Kaga Hanatsubaki Onsen Hotel in Japan grandly opened.
In the early days of establishing Firstel Hotels & Resorts INC., Mr. Chen was involved in the management of over forty domestic star-rated hotels and the design and planning of multiple hotel projects. He personally participated in the establishment and initial operation of the Casa Real Hotel and Casino Macau, the Jinjiang Grand Link Hotel China, the Gui Lin Grand Link Hotel China, and the Xin Jiang Henghe Hotel ,China. He also participated in the early planning of the Chongqing Citrus Project for Ten Thousand Farmers, the Zhangpu Taiwan Farmers Entrepreneurship Park's elderly real estate cooperation model, the Yangshuo Leisure Resort project, the Chengde Hot Spring Town, the Anji Cultural Music Town, and the planning of the Singapore Science and Technology Park in the Yunnan Dianzhong New Area.
Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards
Promising SME 100 Award
World Luxury Hotel Awards for Best General Manager
Top 3 HAPA General Manager of the Year in Singapore's hotel industry
World Outstanding Young Chinese Entrepreneur Award
11th Asia-Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Haute Grandeur Global Awards
Singapore Prestige Brand Award (SPBA) 2020/2021 Distinction Brand Award.
Mr. Chen has participated in advanced tourism courses at Nanyang Technological University and Cornell University in the United States. He frequently travels between China, the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries, participating in tourism research and seminar activities in Singapore and neighboring countries, accumulating rich practical experience and theoretical knowledge.