Midweek Catch-up with La Vie Hotels & Resorts’ Shellia Chang

Midweek Catch-up with La Vie Hotels & Resorts’ Shellia Chang

We had a blast interviewing La Vie Hotels & Resorts’ group director of sales and distributions, and we’re not just saying that to try to blag a hotel stay.

What’s your main goal for this year?

At the beginning of 2022, I made the move from an international hotel chain to an agile, customer and owner-focused independent hotel management company.

As part of working alongside a team of results-driven and commercially savvy international hoteliers at La Vie Hotels & Resorts, the goal is to become the leading independent hotel management company in the Asia-Pacific region.

Personally, my goal is to explore more of the world and spend time with friends and family.

What’s your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?

The hospitality of the people you meet, the great stories you tell and are told, the everlasting connections you make, the unique experiences, and the endless possibilities at every destination.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Outside of spending time with friends and family, I love being outdoors and active. I also really love reading, which I can do a lot while travelling, and cooking when I am at home.

Have you managed to do any travelling since restrictions began to ease (domestic or international)?

Working for a fast-growing company such as La Vie has led to a lot of travelling for me this year, which has been really exciting off the back of the pandemic and lockdowns.

So far this year I have travelled to Melbourne, Hobart, and some regional domestic areas.

When it comes to international travel I have been lucky enough to visit Singapore, Sri Lanka (Kandy, Colombo and Galle), Bangladesh (Dhaka), and Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket), which are all some of the cities where we have opened new hotels this year.

What’s your favourite travel company, besides the one you work for?

I love to tour with local companies, and really source out any bespoke experiences. I think they are simply the best way to see different cities.

If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?

Someone to make the food – Gordon Ramsay, someone to tell the stories – The Obamas (I can’t pick one), and someone to entertain – Aretha Franklin.

What’s something positive you’ve witnessed or experienced since the global pandemic hit?

For me, (and I think for most people) the pandemic has given us the opportunity to pause, rethink, regroup and refocus personally and professionally.

The travel and hospitality industry experienced the greatest hit globally. The positive side here has been the shift of focus to digital, automation, workplace flexibility and finding new ways of doing business.

What’s your advice for others in the travel industry on coping with the global pandemic?

For business owners, innovation, investment in technology and being agile is a must. It has been imperative to invest in the tools and resources for recovery.

As a consumer, we must be patient, be more understanding and support businesses and hospitality workers where we can as we transition out of this global pandemic. The world will be back and no doubt stronger, but it is going to take time and growing pains all over again!

What book and/or TV show can you not get enough of lately?

Currently, I am reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. I read Open by Andre Agassi during my last work trip – I love autobiographies.

What are your current travel goals?

Even though we are almost on Q4, for leisure, I would love to explore New Zealand or Europe, somewhere with lots of green fields, open space, lakes and water, nature, and serenity.

Work-wise, I have frequent trips domestically and within South and Southeast Asia on my calendar, due to La Vie’s rapid growth and expansion. I am most excited to visit our new resort due to open in a very stunning and tropical location later this year!

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces two exciting new events

NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced ‘NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025’ and ‘Value Family Activities’ events lined up for this year. NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025 2-for-1 ticket sales for this event have begun with this season’s program featuring 29 Off-Broadway performances, including 18 new participants. The twice-yearly program runs from 17 February through 9 March with […]

  • Events
  • Tourism

Jeju wins bid to host 2028 Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has successfully secured the 14th Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC14) for Jeju in November 2028. This was achieved in partnership with the Korean Society of Microscopy, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Convention Bureau, and Jeju International Convention Center. Korea was selected as the final host after strong competition at the 13th […]

  • News

Patricia Piccinini’s skywhales return to tour Australia

The journey of Patricia Piccinini’s skywhales continues as the monumental sculptures take flight on a new tour across Australia. The National Gallery of Australia presents a second national tour of leading contemporary artist Patricia Piccinini’s beloved Skywhale and Skywhalepapa. The National Gallery has partnered with venues in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and, for the […]

  • Hotels

Four Seasons announces new luxury resort and private residences in UAE

Four Seasons, together with RAK Properties, has announced plans for a new beach Resort and Private Residences in Mina, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Ras Al Khaimah at Mina will establish a new benchmark for the region’s luxury hospitality and lifestyle offerings. Designed as a sanctuary of beachfront sophistication and natural […]

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]

  • Cruise

MSC Cruises announces MSC World Asia Webinar

MSC Cruises has announced a webinar series tailored for travel partners focusing on MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC World Asia, set to launch in 2026. The webinar is scheduled over two sessions on Wednesday 12 February 2025. Bronwyn Knight, MSC Cruises NSW/QLD/ACT BDM, will host an 8:30am (AEST) session while Aaron Eilers, MSC Cruises Queensland BDM, […]

  • Tour Operators

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge celebrates 25th anniversary with new adventures

Baillie Lodges has announced that it is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge with a range of new helicopter experiences for the 2025 season. Kicking off on 22 May, the 2025 season promises five months of generously inclusive luxury adventures for guests in nature’s own playground where black bears forage shoreside, whales, […]