[September 02, 2021] – Meet the Expert: Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam is delighted to welcome Ms Le Minh Thao (Kristin Le) to join us as a member of the Board of Experts. Ms Kristin Le is currently the Chief Happiness Officer at Pharmacity.
Professional Experiences
Prior to her newest appointment at Pharmacity as Chief Happiness Officer, Kristin had spent over 13 years serving in luxury hotel services in various areas from Food and Beverage, Conference & Events, Reservations, Revenue and Rooms Division.
Previous key positions:
- Director of Room at Sofitel Saigon Plaza
- Group Director of Operations at EightFour Collective Hospitality
- Director of Rooms / Acting Executive Assistant Manager at Ibis Saigon Airport
- Director of Club InterContinental at Continental Danang Sun Peninsula
- Executive Lounge Manager at JW Marriott Hanoi
- Duty Manager at JW Marriott Hanoi
- Assistant Guest Relations Manager at Intercontinental Melbourne Rialto
“I have an unconditional passion for hospitality and it pains me to see too many people dropping out too soon before even being able to see their own potential and possibilities. I want to influence people to love what I love and how rewarding it is to be a part of this entire journey of creating moments. It’s not about me, it’s about what we can do together to awaken this network so they can see and experience the things we have, fortunately”.
Kristin Le
Social Activities
Apart from being a hospitality professional, Kristin is also known as a philanthropist. Kristin has been a sponsor and teacher to support Save the Children Australia since 2011. She also joined Toastmasters International, a US headquartered nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of promoting communication, public speaking and leadership as a Guest Speaker from 2009-2011.
Education Background
Kristin is known as an outstanding Australian hospitality alumnus with Bachelor’s Degree in Hotels & Resorts Management from Swinburne University of Technology. She also completed an on-the-job training in Room Management at Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Australia.
What was your favorite memory while studying in Australia?
“The moment when I could get into the car and drove around for hours without having a set destination in mind, singing to myself to get over homesickness”, shared by Kristin.
What do you think are your ‘secret ingredients’ to a successful career in hospitality in Vietnam?
“My dedicated staff. Those who fully respect and trust me and my leadership. Respect and trust are well earned over time, just cannot be simply forced. But once you’ve earned them, you’re no longer alone”. According to Kristin, in order to become a successful hotelier, you need a team, a strong one behind you at every decision you make.
Joining Australian Hospitality Alumni Network
Joining Australian Hospitality Alumni Network as a member of The Board of Experts, Kristin would like to picture her role as an influencer to assist her younger generations in hospitality to achieve their goals. Kristin strongly believes that fresh graduates in particular will need to be supported by their senior leaders of the industry, who would be able to give them a broader view of their career paths and allow them to experience multiple fields before landing and growing their individual areas of expertise.
For more information of Ms Kristin Le, please check out her profile on LinkedIn or contact AHA Vietnam at info@ahavietnam.org should you wish to schedule an appointment.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 
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