Roy Graff

Current

Associate at TEAM Tourism Consulting
Partner at Great Eastern Studio
Director at China Business Services

Managing Director at ChinaContact
European Director at China Venture Capital and Private Equity London Forum
Director at ChinaContact Forum on China's Travel Industry
Editor at China Travel Industry News

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Past

Director at ChinaContact
Director at Local Eyes China
Country manager - China at Octopustravel.com

E-Commerce Director China at Gullivers Travel Associates
Business Development Manager & Independent Travel - Area Manager at Gullivers Travel Associates
FIT Sales Manager at Gullivers Travel Associates
Operations executive, Far East groups at Gullivers Travel Associates
Country Representative at Israeli Tourism Office

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5 more...

Education

School of Oriental and African Studies, U. of London
National Taiwan Normal University

Recommended

18 people have recommended Roy

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Leisure, Travel & Tourism

Websites

Roy Graff’s Summary

Roy is an accomplished Business Developer who has covered all aspects of strategy and marketing. Possesses expertise on China business and culture as well as speaking fluent Chinese. Has demonstrated a high degree of initiative, independence and innovation in growing the Chinese arm of a multinational company and launching his own China-related enterprise.

Particular strengths in e-commerce, travel technology, marketing, PR and distribution.

Roy Graff’s Specialties:

e-commerce, public relations, distribution, travel and tourism, sales and marketing, China market expertise, directing events and exhibitions, new business development, China market access, sustainable development, high growth ventures, China mediation, China localization, tourism and hospitality investment, market research, public speaking, cross-cultural training

Roy Graff’s Experience

Associate

TEAM Tourism Consulting

(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

December 2008 — Present (8 months)

TEAM Tourism Consulting is a specialist international tourism consultancy which focusses exclusively on working for tourism destinations, primarily in the fields of:

* Tourism strategy & destination management planning
* Destination marketing and brand development
* Business planning and operations management
* The application of information technology and e-business
* Restructuring and re-engineering of tourism organisations
* Design and management of market research
* Visitor services strategy and operations
* Business tourism strategy and operations.
Partner

Great Eastern Studio

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

January 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)

Great Eastern Studio:
Centre for China culture and business communication skills training
Located in the City of London, the centre offers workshops and seminars on Chinese cultural communication and business etiquette.

http://www.greateasternstudio.co.uk
Director

China Business Services

(International Trade and Development industry)

January 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)

Director of the company and Senior advisor to the board on China hospitality, tourism and travel related projects.

China Business Services provides comprehensive advisory and project management services for a wide range of client requirements.

As we build and manage our teams to meet the demands of each project, we are able to deliver integrated solutions across a wide range of issues. Our clients gain significant benefits from our innovative structure – which provides a flexible, extended team – and from our experience of managing complex projects.
Managing Director

ChinaContact

(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

July 2007 — Present (2 years 1 month)

ChinaContact develop modern travel distribution and management for the Chinese travel space. We work with tourism destinations, hotel chains, tour operators and technology companies and help with market access in both directions - China to the West and the West to China.

Examples of the services provided:

1. Complete China market representation for tourism boards, airlines, hotels and tour operators
2. GSA services including sales and operations.
3. Strategic consulting and planning for China market entry
4. Deal brokerage for travel and hospitality investments in China.
5. Marketing and sales representation for Chinese travel organizations and destinations in European market.
6. Training and education on China's tourism industry
7. Event production in China and the UK

Clients serviced include among others:

- Sportsworld Group, TUI (China business development)
- Visit London (China marketing and event production)
- UKinbound (Exhibition design and production)
- Xian City government
- Tourism Ireland
- English Heritage
- Peninsula Hotels and Resorts
- China Venture Capital and Private Equity Forum
- Viator
- World Travel Market (Organising forum on China tourism)
- China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (consulting and forum)
- Asia Luxury Travel Mart (keynote speaker)
- AC Tours (China market development for wholesale tours in UK)
European Director

China Venture Capital and Private Equity London Forum

(Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

April 2007 — Present (2 years 4 months)

European organiser of China Venture Capital and Private Equity Forum, the premier event for Venture Capital and Private Equity in China.
The forum is held in China, Japan, USA and UK
Director

ChinaContact Forum on China's Travel Industry

(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

November 2006 — Present (2 years 9 months)

'China - the Future of Travel' is the first pan-industry conference on bilateral tourism relations between China and Europe. It is run in by ChinaContact annually since 2006 in London.

With strong support from the tourism boards of UK and China as well as government and tourism bodies (such as CBBC, WTTC, UKinbound), this event focused attention on the importance in developing strong bilateral tourism relations with China.

The conference serves as a unique platform to discuss improvements to travel and tourism cooperation, presents tourism related investment opportunities and provides a useful networking event for European and Chinese tourism officials, industry professionals and the media.
Editor

China Travel Industry News

(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

July 2005 — Present (4 years 1 month)

China Travel Industry News is a comprehensive archive of China related travel and hospitality news, updates, analysis and opinion from around the world. First hand reviews of China related travel trade events are posted on a regular basis.
Director

ChinaContact

(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

July 2005 — July 2007 (2 years 1 month)

Boutique consulting and marketing company with offices in London, New York, and China.

- China wide marketing and sales network for international destinations, hotel groups and airlines to reach their target customers throughout China. Provides representation, press liaison and direct marketing services through 8 offices across China.
- China market entry for corporate, luxury and independent travel products and services, exhibitions and events.
- Organize forums and workshops for international tourism professionals on how to work with Chinese and how to provide hospitality to Chinese visitors.
- Pioneered the first ever industry forum on tourism relations with China.
- Consulting to investment houses, brokerage firms and PLCs on the Chinese tourism industry and travel technology in China.
- Production of exhibitions, road shows, product launches and press conferences in China as well as producer of events in Europe on behalf of Chinese clients.
Director

Local Eyes China

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Translation and Localization industry)

June 2005 — December 2006 (1 year 7 months)

Director of Lingo24 (Lingo24.com) Chinese translation specialist Local Eyes China (www.localeyeschina.com).

- Drove new business for Chinese translation and interpretation.
- Worked with China-based project managers and translators.
- Mediated personnel and intercultural issues
Country manager - China

Octopustravel.com

(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

September 2004 — January 2005 (5 months)

B2C online travel site providing travel products worldwide with offices on every continent.

• Set up a new on-line travel business model in China.
• Developed a local payment solution for a reservation system to suit the domestic market.
• Negotiated favourable rates for bulk translation projects to win board approval.
• Consulted with lawyers on the legal framework for operating in China and presented the case clearly to the board of directors.
• Established a dedicated team to execute a soft launch within 4 months.
E-Commerce Director China

Gullivers Travel Associates

(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

February 2002 — September 2004 (2 years 8 months)

International tourism service provider for the travel industry with 31 offices worldwide and over GBP 1billion turnover annually.

• Conceived and directed the first joint industry forum between a western travel company and a Chinese government tourism administration, which provided the company with priceless PR and credibility in the market.
• Eliminated duplication of problem reporting to the help-desk through centralising the IT support for all 11 Asia offices, giving head office more time to fix problems and a clear picture of system implementation in my area.
• Coordinated the roll out of a new reservation system in Asia which was distributed successfully through local offices to company's clients.
• Facilitated a training program for local staff from 3 offices using head-office trainers which led to an improvement in performance and staff retainment.
Business Development Manager & Independent Travel - Area Manager

Gullivers Travel Associates

(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

February 2002 — May 2004 (2 years 4 months)

• Increased turnover by 600% in 3 years to over USD 3 million.
• Cultivated a new contact network upon arriving in China to understand the way business is done and communicated the lessons for the company's expansion plans to the board.
• Won the respect and loyalty of the local staff in the first 6 months of work in China leading to increased motivation and productivity.
• Devised clear financial targets and reporting structures to provide the board and managers a clear perspective of the business from the 3 local offices in China.
• Initiated a brainstorming weekend for senior managers with an external facilitator to prepare a plan for a major event that established the company's reputation in China.
• Introduced a set of corporate identity documents to bring uniformity of message to all local offices in China.
FIT Sales Manager

Gullivers Travel Associates

(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

April 1999 — January 2002 (2 years 10 months)

• Sole responsibility for sales and distribution in following markets: India, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Turkey, Israel
• Mediated financial disputes between a major client and my company's accounts department for mutual satisfaction and final settlement.
Operations executive, Far East groups

Gullivers Travel Associates

(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

September 1997 — March 1999 (1 year 7 months)

• Coordinated Far East group itineraries to Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Russia.
Country Representative

Israeli Tourism Office

(Government Agency; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

August 1995 — June 1996 (11 months)

National Tourism Office representative in Taiwan, responsible for promoting tourism to Israel, working with industry and media.
• Increased tourist arrivals from Taiwan to Israel by 1000%.

Roy Graff’s Education

School of Oriental and African Studies, U. of London

BA , Chinese and Economics , 1994 — 1998
National Taiwan Normal University

Scholarship program , Mandarin Chinese: modern and classical , 1995 — 1996