Meishi Liu
Susanna Lau, commonly known as the "First Lady of the Travel Industry", is the former Senior Deputy General Manager of Hong Kong's Hong Thai Travel Services Ltd.[1] In this role, she frequently served as the company spokesperson, commenting to the media on matters related to outbound travel for Hong Kong residents.[2]
Education
Susanna Lau graduated from secondary school in 1978 and completed a Master of Science degree in Marketing at the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) in 2005.[3]
Career
Lau joined Hong Thai Travel Services right after graduating from secondary school. Starting out as a junior clerk, she initially handled visa applications at various consulates on behalf of clients. Six months later, she became a tour leader for trips to Thailand. Over the next 10 years, she rose through the ranks and was promoted to Operations Manager in 1985. In 1987, at the age of 27, she became General Manager, a position she held for 23 years. She led the company through various regional and global travel crises including the 9/11 attacks, SARS, the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Thai political unrest by the Red Shirts, swine flu, and the Manila hostage crisis.[4]
Following the Manila hostage crisis in 2010, she stepped down from the role of General Manager at the end of August, ending a 30-year career at Hong Thai. She then became a part-time lecturer at the School of Continuing and Professional Education of City University of Hong Kong, where she taught four marketing lectures to associate degree students. Her position was succeeded by Jason Wong Chun-tat, son of Hong Thai chairman Wong Si-sum.[5]
In 2012, she joined PTC (Professional Travel Consultants), taking up the role of General Manager of Marketing and Business Development, focusing on expanding the FIT (free independent traveler) segment.[6]
By 2016, she was working as General Manager at a family-run domestic helper agency.[7]
In October 2016, she returned to Hong Thai Travel Services as Senior Deputy General Manager.[8]
On November 30, 2017, she left Hong Thai Travel Services once again.
External References
- ↑ Hong Thai’s Susanna Lau: New Strategies Amid Adversity Apple Daily, August 10, 2006
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%89%E7%BE%8E%E8%A9%A9#cite_ref-2
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%89%E7%BE%8E%E8%A9%A9#cite_ref-3
- ↑ Preparing for Departure, Susanna Lau's Last Crisis Response Oriental Daily, August 24, 2010
- ↑ Jason Wong Succeeds Father as GM, Father Becomes Advisor Oriental Daily, August 13, 2010
- ↑ Susanna Lau Returns to Travel Market to Develop FIT Sing Tao Daily, January 30, 2012
- ↑ Susanna Lau Plans Ahead for Retirement Hong Kong Economic Times, April 16, 2016
- ↑ First Lady of Tourism Susanna Lau Returns to Hong Thai After 6 Years, Launches Singles Tour hk01, December 19, 2016