Miguel Ko is Chairman & President, Asia-Pacific for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., the largest upper-upscale hotel company in the region. In his role, Ko has strategic oversight of the operating and financial performance of 147 hotels and resorts with more than 45,000 rooms and 45,000 associates in 21 countries in Asia-Pacific. Additionally, there are over 100 new hotels under construction.  Prior to this appointment, Ko was Deputy Chairman and CEO of CDL Hotels International.

Mr. Ko's hotel career started at ITT Sheraton Corporation which spanned over the period of 1979 to 1992.  He started as an Internal Audit Supervisor and rose quickly to senior management positions, including Area Controller, Vice President Controller, Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, Asia and was eventually appointed President of ITT Sheraton Asia-Pacific Division.

From 1992 to 1999, Mr. Ko held the position of President Asia-Pacific at Pepsi-Cola International.  During his tenure, he oversaw the soft drink company’s brand building and major expansion efforts into key emerging markets of China, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand.

Mr. Ko is widely quoted and recognized for his knowledge and insight in Asia Pacific, particularly in the tourism industry. He was voted as the Regional Hotel Chief of the Year  2007 and again in 2008 by the readers of the Travel Weekly.  He was also the winner of the Visionary Leader of the Year (2007) and recipient of the 2007 Global Awards at the World Travel Mart in London.

A native of Hong Kong and a naturalized Singapore Citizen, Mr. Ko is fluent in Chinese and English, he received a B.A. in economics from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University.  He is also a CPA from New Hampshire, USA. 

Mr. Ko and his family reside in Hong Kong.