Xavier Pougnard returns to Shangri-La Singapore as hotel manager

He brings strong innovation and leadership to the flagship property.

Shangri-La Singapore’s Xavier Pougnard: back on familiar ground.
Shangri-La Singapore’s Xavier Pougnard: back on familiar ground. Photo Credit: Shangri-La Singapore

Shangri-La Singapore has welcomed the return of Xavier Pougnard as hotel manager. During his tenure with the flagship property from 2014 to 2019, Pougnard provided strategic leadership and led in the successful renovation of the property's iconic Tower Wing and the launch of a hotel-wide Family Experience and Wellness positioning. This initiative repositioned the hotel as a leading family-friendly destination, and introduced new tailored experiences and amenities for multi-generational guests.

In his current role, he will oversee the daily operations of the hotel including its eight restaurants and bars, the Shangri-La Apartments, and Shangri-La Residences. He will head commercial growth, service excellence, guest engagement, community partnerships and elevate the hotel’s luxury family positioning. The 792-room hotel has three distinctive wings set amidst 15 acres of tropical gardens, with 5,500 sqm of meeting space.

He said, “I am incredibly excited to return to this illustrious hotel in Singapore. Around the globe, Shangri-La is known for our heartfelt hospitality, our strong sense of care for our family, our guests, and our promise to do good for the community. I am looking forward to being a driving force behind the hotel’s legacy and our commitment in continuing to innovate, raise the bar and redefine service excellence.”

“Xavier’s return signifies a homecoming and an exciting new chapter for Shangri-La Singapore. He brings a fresh perspective shaped by his diverse experiences and accomplishments. With his deep understanding of the hotel’s values, culture and unique offerings, he is poised to build upon past successes and steer the hotel to new and greater heights,” said John Rice, GM, Shangri-La Singapore.

Pougnard’s last position at Apple Singapore as store leader saw him leading the successful operations of flagship stores, managing a team of 500 employees across both locations, consistently achieving and surpassing fiscal and customer satisfaction goals across various channels. His career, spanning 23 years, has seen him working in international five-star luxury hotels in cities across Asia, Egypt, and the United States since 1996.