NEW YORK – November 5, 2012 -- Wanda S. Chan, CHA, has been named general manager of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, the West Coast flagship property of Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
Since April 2010, Chan has served as general manager of ONE UN New York, Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ North American iconic property formerly known as the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel. In that capacity she spearheaded the repositioning and rebranding of the hotel, overseeing the $30 million transformation of a new luxury West Tower. The Millennium property’s re-branding as ONE UN New York marked a new era for both the hotel and the United Nation’s neighborhood.
“We are delighted that Wanda has taken on this position to lead the Millennium Biltmore team. Her many areas of strong expertise and a proven record of success will be invaluable assets at this spectacular downtown Los Angeles property,” said Dave Cockburn, senior vice president of operations for the Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Regional City Hotels, North America. “With a history that mirrors its city – home of the Academy Awards, setting for many movies, hotel of choice for celebrities and politicians as well as the preferred site for weddings and top social events, it is only fitting that Wanda was appointed to continue to improve our acclaimed reputation.”
Chan began her career in hospitality as a member of the opening team of the Halekulani Hotel & Resort in Honolulu. She then spent ten years with Hilton Hotels in California holding a succession of food and beverage management positions at properties in Irvine, Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Long Beach. In 1993, she was asked to join the historic Raffles Hotel in Singapore as food and beverage manager with responsibilities for seven restaurants and five bars.
In 1995, Chan was named executive assistant manager at the New York Palace where she participated in the hotel’s management reorganization, helping to establish new restaurant concepts and budgets and after the property’s renovation, was responsible for maintaining
service standards in keeping with the property’s newly acquired AAA Five-Diamond status. In 1998, she became director of hotel operations at the 2,548-suite Rio Resort & Casino in Las
Vegas, and in 2001 returned to New York to join Raffles Hotels and Resorts as acting general
manager for Swissotel New York, The Drake. Prior to her recent term at ONE UN New York,
Chan was general manager at the Warwick New York Hotel for six years.
Chan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii, and attended the Executive M.B.A. Program at the University of California at Irvine.
For more information about the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, visit http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumbiltmorelosangeles/

About Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Known for its Spanish-Italian Renaissance-style architecture and spectacular ballrooms, The Millennium Biltmore Hotel has long been the “host of the coast” for high society, celebrities and conventioneers from around the globe. Some of the famous films shot in the hotel include: Wedding Crashers, Dreamgirls, Spiderman, Ghostbusters, Chinatown, Bugsy, The Bodyguard, Beverly Hills Cop and Independence Day.
The stately 683-room property includes 27 one-bedroom suites and 28 Executive Suites. There is a Club Level on two floors and a Club Lounge featuring concierge service, breakfast and afternoon hors d’oeuvres and beverages. The hotel also features an Art Deco-inspired fitness center and beautiful indoor swimming pool, two lounges and in room dining.
Dining and entertaining at the Biltmore is always an event -from fresh Italian and Continental fare at Smeraldi’s and traditional afternoon tea in the famed Rendezvous Court, to creative Pan-Asian cuisine at Sai Sai Noodle Bar. Considered one of downtown's best nighttime spots, the Gallery Bar is known for its signature martinis, vintage cognacs and select wine list, and enormously popular for weekly jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles is a Historical Cultural Landmark designated by the City of Los Angeles. The hotel showcases numerous fine works of art, including a ceiling masterpiece in the Crystal Ballroom painted by Giovanni Smeraldi of Vatican fame. In 2012, the hotel was nominated the “Winner: Best Hotel,” the “Winner: Most Romantic Hotel,” the “Winner: Best Private Event Venue,” the “Reader-Recommended: Best Wedding Spot,” and the Biltmore’s stylish Gallery Bar was named the “Reader-Recommended: Best Hotel Bar” in downtown Los Angeles by LA Downtown News.
Located just 20 minutes from LAX and Burbank airports, the property is conveniently located in the heart of Los Angeles amid the city’s business, financial and cultural centers, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall. For more information on the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, visit http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumbiltmorelosangeles/ or call 213-624-1011.
About Millennium Hotels and Resorts
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C), listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1996, is a dynamic, global hotel company, which owns, asset manages and/or operates a worldwide portfolio of over 100 hotels across seven distinct global brands–Grand Millennium, Millennium, Grand Copthorne, Copthorne, M Hotel, Studio M and Kingsgate –throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and North America.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) was established as a global brand by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc to provide a common marketing and operating platform across its entire portfolio. Founded on the philosophy of genuine hospitality, this dynamic hospitality group has an outstanding reputation for excellence, taking pride in exceeding the needs of its business and leisure travelers. The strategic locality of its properties in gateway cities such as London, Paris, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok makes MHR the perfect address to conduct your business or indulge yourself while on holiday.
Established in the United States in 2000, the North American arm of MHR includes a portfolio 14 hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Anchorage, Boulder, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Durham, Minneapolis, Nashville, Scottsdale, and St Louis. www.millenniumhotels.com
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