Victoria Hotels & Resorts, a boutique group of six luxury Indochina retreats, has promoted Frenchman Eric Simard as its new Managing Director. He was formerly Assistant Managing Director, having joined the group as Director of Operations.

Mr. Simard will be overseeing expansion of the group, which plans new resort projects in Hue, in central Vietnam, and Phu Quoc Island, off the Mekong Delta. It is also looking at hotel developments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, the 42 year-old hotelier began his career with prestigious French restaurants.

In 1988 he joined the Meridien group, working at hotels in the United States, United Arab Emirates and finally Malaysia, where he was appointed Food & Beverage Director in 1991. Prior to joining Victoria Hotels & Resorts, he worked for ACCOR Asia in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.