New GM at InterContinental Singapore

InterContinental Singapore has appointed Shantha de Silva as General Manager.

Shantha will continue with his senior leadership role within InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) as Director of Operations for IHG Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines.

Shantha has been with IHG for over 30 years, starting his career in 1982 at the InterContinental Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka and has since worked with IHG in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bali – Indonesia and Singapore.

He assumed the role of General Manager at the Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre in 2005, and led the hotel through a 25-million dollar refurbishment as well as achieved two major milestones: being the first hotel in Singapore to be certified with ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management Systems, and the second hotel in Singapore to be certified with ISO 14000 for Environmental Management Systems by LRQA.

His success led him to be subsequently appointed Regional General Manager for IHG Singapore, Malaysia and Batam.

A driven individual, Shantha has been recognised for his numerous contributions to IHG, with prestigious awards including General Manager of the Year in 2008 and Outstanding Multi-Unit Leadership in 2011, a testament to his ability to lead and motivate winning teams.

In 2009, Shantha was appointed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), previously known as Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), to chair Singapore’s Enabling Employers Network tasked with creating awareness and acceptance of persons with disabilities (PWD’s) and providing them with employment opportunities, a role in which he is still actively championing.

Shantha is a Chartered Marketer, holds a Diploma in Marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), MBA and is a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA).

“I am very happy to be back at this award-winning property as General Manager. InterContinental Singapore has long been an iconic hotel within the InterContinental portfolio, given its strategic location in the region, and I am looking forward to bringing it to even greater heights,” Shantha said. “The InterContinental brand is trusted around the world for its superior, understated service and the quiet luxury its guests have come to know and appreciate. It is my pleasure to continue that fine tradition at InterContinental Singapore.”