MR. BERT VAN WALBEEK
Managing Director of The Winning Edge

Bert " Bow-Thai " van Walbeek's expertise with Asia's Hospitality and Tourism Industry started with his arrival in Thailand in 1985, where he spearheaded the successful marketing efforts to reposition the Royal Orchid Sheraton.

He became a member of the Marketing Committee of TICA (Thailand Incentive & Convention Association), and was the Founder and first President of the Thailand Chapter of SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives)

By the end of 1988 he was appointed as Sheraton's Vice President Marketing for the Middle East. During this tenure he had to face the marketing opportunities of the Gulf Crisis and developed the "Back To Normal" concepts for both the Sheraton Hotels in the area and for the Egyptian General Authority for the Promotion of Tourism. These recovery programs were launched 2 weeks after the Gulf Crisis was resolved.

In 1991 he returned to Thailand and, once again, had to face the opportunities of a crisis, in May 1992. As Chairman of the TAT Marketing Working Group for the 1992 Recovery Committee he initiated the "The World, Our Guest"- campaign.

Mr. Van Walbeek is since 1993 M.D. of The Winning Edge; his company is providing Marketing and Sales audits, training and mystery shopping and consultancy services, since then his Marketing and Motivation expertise is well known in the Asian and Pacific regions.

In addition to those activities he is lecturing the "next generation" at various universities in Thailand and Germany.