JLL bolsters hotel and corporate financing capabilities in China with two senior hires
Tao Zhou will assume a newly-created role as Managing Director and Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for JLL Greater China; Benny Chin will join JLL China’s Capital Markets team as Executive Director of Corporate Finance.
Shanghai, 15 July 2021 - JLL (NYSE: JLL) today announced two major appointments. Tao Zhou will assume a newly-created role as Managing Director and Head of Hotels & Hospitality Group for JLL Greater China. He will have oversight for the Hotels & Hospitality Group’s advisory, asset management and investment sales activities across Greater China, and partner with on JLL’s Asia Pacific business through management of key outbound capital relationships. Benny Chin will join JLL China’s Capital Markets team as Executive Director of Corporate Finance. He will focus on leading and executing relevant corporate finance transactions in China across both public and private equities sector and debt solutions and enhancing JLL’s capability in equity placement, debt financing and fund advisory through cooperation with JLL’s global corporate finance professionals.
“Following exceptional growth in the hotel market in China, the sector is maturing rapidly and investment strategies are evolving. In our interactions, owners are increasingly discerning and there is heighted focus on the performance and positioning of their hotel assets. With Tao’s appointment, our strong knowledge of the themes shaping global hospitality, combined with our deep understanding of real estate across Greater China, sets the right foundation to partner with owners,” says Xander Nijnens, Managing Director, Head of Advisory and Asset Management, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.
Prior to joining JLL, Tao held the role of General Manager at Huatian International Hotel Management Co., Ltd., President at Country Garden Hotel Group, and CEO of Luneng Group Hotel Management Co. He also worked for nearly six years at the hotel asset management division of Morgan Stanley Capital in Japan, and over 16 years in the areas of hotel operation and asset management in North America. During his 30 years career globally, Tao has been overseeing and asset-managing close to 200 hotels including many international branded hotels such as Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Westin, Marriott, Conrad, Hilton, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Mercure, Novotel, Ramada, Hyatt, and ANA Hotels. He is also the founder and President of the Hotel Asset Management Association in China.
Benny has over 20 years of experience in leading and structuring cross border transactions in real estate and global private equity funds for institutional and high networth capital. Before joining JLL, Benny headed up global real estate investments for CreditEase, providing investment solutions and fund-raising advice to Chinese high net-worth clients and family offices. In prior roles, he also covered global private equity funds investments for a Singapore sovereign wealth fund, led regional M&A transactions for GE Capital in South East Asia, and spent a decade with Mapletree Investments in China leading real estate investments in acquisitions, development and joint venture deals.
“China’s strong tourism and economic recovery has boosted investment in the hospitality sector, with more than USD 1.3 billion worth of hotels and serviced apartments transactions recorded so far in 2021 – the highest in the region,” says Eric Pang, Head of Capital Markets for JLL China, “While the fast growth of the real estate investment market creates demand for new types of financing solutions. Navigating the broadened range of financing instruments requires more in-depth expertise and more versatile financing options. We are thrilled to have both Tao and Benny onboard to strengthen our market position and expand our service offering.”
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 91,000 as of March 31, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.