Cetin Sekercioglu is a hospitality and travel industry visionary.

The enterprising leader is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Upgrading.cc, the world’s first online platform that increases Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) gains through disruptive upselling technology.

His professional hospitality expertise of over 30 years has seen him excelling in the roles of Executive Vice-President of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts for Southeast Asia and Oceania as well as Greater China on three separate terms, and President of Asia, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, the Asian arm of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. For his roles, Sekercioglu was responsible for operations, business development and asset management for all the brands and hotels within the groups.

The achievements in his exceptional track record, leading companies in 12 countries across 4 continents, also include:

• Growing business through new hotel management contracts, franchising and acquisitions
• Creating value by maximizing operating assets, innovation of new concepts and processes
• Turning around underperforming business units
• Developing, launching and managing diverse hotel brands
• Attaining market leadership in Revenue Generated Index (RGI) and profit while delivering supreme quality standards
• Digitizing businesses and processes
• Achieving unprecedented guest and staff satisfaction
• Generating USD 1 billion via commercialized ideas

His wealth of experience also extends beyond the hotel arena, to include spending more than 3 years in the cruising industry with Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line and a stint marine training in the navy.

The leader in strategic direction is also an innovation and technology advocate. Never one satisfied with the status quo, Sekercioglu has applied his forward thinking to harnessing technology to revolutionize traditional areas in the hospitality industry. In 2017, he led the way to introduce relay robot servicing at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway and Hotel Jen Tanglin in Singapore, a first for an international hotel brand in Asia in adopting this technology. The service robots are programmed to deliver amenities and in-room dining around the clock. Other innovations at five-star properties include digitizing food and beverage loyalty programs and the Bookers’ Club, an online booking membership program.

Sekercioglu also served on the Board of Directors for the Shangri-La and Millennium groups, CEIBS Corporate Advisory Board and China Real Estate Association.

An effective cross-cultural communicator, Sekercioglu speaks English, Turkish, French, German, Italian, Spanish and some Mandarin. He has lived and worked in various parts of the world, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, Italy, France, England, Switzerland, and North America.

His continuous quest for knowledge and training has led him to attend numerous leadership and management courses at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (Business Marketing Strategy), Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Mergers and Acquisitions), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Entrepreneurship) and Harvard Business School (Corporate Leader Program and Leading Change and Organizational Renewal), among many others. He is a graduate of the University of Brighton in England with a major in Hotel Management.

Sekercioglu is a licensed sea captain, a mathematics champion, and enjoys sharing his experience and knowledge through lectures and forums.