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Dr. RICHARD CHARLES
HELFER is the Chairman of RCH International Pte Ltd, a
strategic tourism/hospitality organization providing
all-inclusive services from strategic conceptualization, master
planning, restoration/redevelopment, through to operational
management of hotel/resort/tourism projects.
The core competencies of RCH International further include
leadership advising, financial /capital structuring, merger and
acquisition expertise. It considers direct and vested
investments in selected companies aligned with its growth
objectives. |
Through Creo Lifestyle
International, a sister company, it provides specialist content,
for it’s lifestyle hospitality/tourism projects, in the areas of
marketing, technical services, technology driven solutions,
management and operational expertise.
Dr Helfer has been in the hotel and hospitality industry for
over 30 years, with extensive experience in all aspects of the
business, from hands on management to the successful building of
a global luxury brand and international hotel/resort management
company.
As the founding Chairman/CEO of Raffles International (1989 –
2003) and President and CEO of Raffles Holdings (1995 – 2003),
Dr Helfer grew a five star international hotel company, over a
period of six years, from one 103-all suite hotel in Singapore
to thirty-six hotels/resorts, with over 12,000 rooms, in
thirty-one destinations across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle
East, and the Americas. Ten of the hotel/resort properties were
recognized as being among the top 100 hotels in the world.
During this period, Dr Helfer was also a member of the Senior
Management Committee of DBS Land Limited and later its successor
CapitaLand Limited in regards to property development in the
hospitality and tourism sectors.
Prior to the years at Raffles, Dr. Helfer was a senior executive
at Westin Hotels and Resorts. Over a period of 18 years he was
involved in the opening and operation of a number of
international luxury hotels/resorts in Canada, the United States
and Singapore, including the Renaissance Center, Detroit,
Michigan, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii and the Westin Stamford
and Westin Plaza Hotels, Singapore.
In addition to sitting on a number of public listed and private
boards of directors, Dr Helfer is advisor to a select group of
government/private organizations and companies.
Dr Helfer is the Senior Advisor, at cabinet level, to the five
ministries, which comprise the Tourism Authority of Cambodia,
including issues affecting the World Heritage Site at Angkor. He
in addition serves in a personal capacity, as Advisor to the
King and Prime Minister of Cambodia. Dr Helfer is also, Senior
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam, NE India and a member of
the Preservations of Monuments Board, Singapore.
Through the offices of RCH International, current advising to
business organizations include: Kingdom Hotel Investments,
Fairmont Raffles Hotels and Resorts, Credit Suisse, CCM
Holdings, National Arts Council, Singapore.
Dr Helfer has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Hotel and
Restaurant Management from Michigan State University, USA and
also a Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality
Management, from Johnson & Wales University, USA.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Citizen of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia – conferred by the
King of Cambodia, upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister
and consent of the National Assembly of Cambodia. This honor
related to past and current service to the King and Royal
Government of Cambodia (2004).
- Commander’s Medal of Sahametrei – conferred by His Excellency
Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, in recognition of
dedication and service to the Royal Government and people of
Cambodia. The highest such honor given to a non-Cambodian.
(2002).
- Travel Personality of the Year 2002 – TTG Travel Awards. Top
regional travel media
recognition for an individual professional, in the Hospitality
and Travel Industry (2002).
- Inducted into the International Food and Beverage Hall of
Fame, Johnson & Wales University, Rhode Island, U.S.A. In
recognition of career long support of and achievement in, the
International Food and Beverage profession/industry. (2002).
- Corporate Citizen of the Year – CNBC Asian Business Leader
Awards. the annual Asia wide recognition of the CEO who through
his/her measurable achievements, is the number one CEO/Corporate
Citizen of the year (2001) in Asia.
- Outstanding Contribution to Tourism – the highest recognition
for contribution to Tourism in Singapore. Given under the
auspices of the Singapore Tourism Board and presented by the
President of Singapore (2001).
- The Royal Order of Sahametrei, by order of His Majesty King
Norodom Sihanouk for rendering exceptional services to Cambodia,
the Cambodian people and the King of Cambodia (1999).
- Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award – is the
highest recognition given to an alumnus by Michigan State
University. It is conferred by the President of Michigan State
of University, under the auspices of the Board of Trustees
(1998).
- Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business
Alumni Association Wall of Fame ‘Class of Internationals’
Honoree - conferred by the Dean of the School of Hospitality
Business, Michigan State University under the auspices of the
Board of Trustees (1997).
- Michigan State University Joon S. Moon Distinguished Alumni
Award for outstanding contribution to International Activities -
conferred by the Dean of the School of Business, Michigan State
University under the auspices of the board of Trustees (1995).
- National (USA) Public Relations Award for Significant
Community Leadership, Hawaii (1984).
- Westin Thurston Dupar Award for extraordinary community
service and exemplary performance as an employee (1974). Back to top |
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