Little article on Jude Allen and not much at all on Mazen.

[kuznetsov 0]

Signforce takes crises in its stride

By LEONG HUNG YEE

 

IT was a labour of love. That was how Jude Allen described his hotel management and technical consultancy company, Signforce Sdn Bhd.

 

Allen recalled setting up the business during the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1997/98.

 

â??We went through a very tough time when we first set up our business. We were going through a financial crisis and some companies had even closed down because of it.

 

 

Jude Allen

â??We are glad that we survived the crisis but subsequently we have to deal with Sept 11, the Bali bombing, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak and bird flu,â? Allen told StarBiz.

 

He said that was one of the worst times for the hospitality and tourism industry.

 

â??We explained our financial difficulty to our employees and thankfully they understood. We also froze our managers' salary during the bad times. I am not excluded from this as well,â? he said.

 

He added that there were months when he did not draw a salary for himself in the hopes of keeping the business afloat.

 

â??We eventually paid them with interest whatever we owed them,â? Allen said, adding that he was very grateful to his employees who have been very supportive and loyal all these years.

 

He is very passionate about the business and his eyes gleamed when he spoke about it during the interview.

 

Allen, who has more than 29 years of experience in the hospitality industry, started his career in the industry with Kuala Lumpur Hilton as a night auditor in 1978. It was during this time that he learned the ropes of hotel operations â?? from food and beverages to computerisation.

 

He reached the height of his career when he was 26 years old and decided to start his own consultancy business. Allen and his siblings IZ Melvin and Sergius Flavian founded the company.

 

He said the standardised hospitality sector was dominated by chain hotels such as Hilton and Marriott.

 

â??We tried to differentiate ourselves by staying away from traditional hotel management systems and constantly altering operations based on what guests wanted,â? Allen said.

 

Some might not have heard of Signforce but the group's most noticeable work is the Tanjung Rhu Resort, Langkawi, and fine-dining outlet Saffron in One Bangsar.

 

â??Over the past decade, Signforce has developed four distinct home-grown brands for hotels and resorts â?? Rhu (premium resorts), Essence (four- and five-star city business hotels), Moments (high-end limited-service hotels in suburban areas) and Suitestay (high-end serviced apartments),â? Allen said, adding that the group's focus was on luxury resorts and city hotels.

 

Signforce, which did not own any of the hotels but only managed the properties, offered a very comprehensive consultancy, development and operating services for hotels, he said.

 

Allen said the group had embarked on an expansion plan and has been pursuing opportunities overseas since last year.

 

â??We are expected to conclude negotiations in Indonesia soon. We are also looking at Vietnam and Indonesia to sign some contracts. We hope to get into India as well. I think India is a good location for us and Indonesia is superb! India's hospitality industry is growing and the market is becoming more brand conscious. They do not have enough hotel rooms there,â? he added.

 

Signforce has already secured a contract to manage two properties in Doha, Qatar and is also looking to expand its footprint in the Middle East.

 

Allen said the Qatar project would include a four-star 120-villa resort (to be ready in the third quarter of 2009), a 36-storey five-star city hotel (to be ready in the first quarter of 2010) and the conversion of an 84-room boarding accommodation into a four-star boutique hotel (to be ready in 2008).

 

Signforce's foray into Qatar marks the group's first overseas venture. The group also has offers from Abu Dhabi asking it to manage its hotel.

 

Apart from overseas expansion, Signforce was also â??in-talksâ? with potential clients for local hotel management contracts, Allen said.

 

The group may still be young but Allen is ambitious. He hopes to list the company in a few more years.

 

â??We have to put in a lot of money and effort into this business. It took us 10 years to get where we are today and we will continue to do our best,â? he said.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I thought this maybe of interest to some Bears.

 

Another little piece on him here.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://lumirahotels.com/home/?page_id=21

 

Javed Abdullah @ Jude Allen has over 33 years experience in the hospitality industry. Previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Signforce Hospitality for 13 years. Also served as Executive Director for Radisson International Asia Pacific and Area Director for Hilton International. Javed had been personally involved in the design and development of more than 15 hotels throughout the world and is an expert in areas of Strategy, Development, Hotel Planning and Design, Project Management, Information Systems, Management and Control Systems. Educated in the United States in Industrial Engineering and Finance.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Couldn't find much on Mazen.

 

http://www.zoominfo.com/#!search/profile/person?personId=1712099063&targetid=profile

[chilledbear 16]

It's a puzzle why someone like this would put money into a Football Club in Scotland.

 

He might see a profit down the line, but more than investing in other projects?

[der Berliner 3,292]

There are many unknowns in here and because the press has shown such an unprecedented investigative streak in recent years (when it comes to Rangers), there is reason why a) Green does not want to have the people named, and b) the people don't want to be named. We hardly know what these investors motives are. What we do know is that making money from a football club is usually a non-starter. So while it could very well be that some of them are in here for the most sinister reasons (usually expected from the hysteria-ridden folk) like "asset-stripping", it could also just be for very sentimental reasons like those shown by Kennedy or similar diehard Bluenoses. In the end, we'll have to wait and see.

[kuznetsov 0]

It's a puzzle why someone like this would put money into a Football Club in Scotland.

 

He might see a profit down the line, but more than investing in other projects?

 

It is very strange indeed. We can only guess what Green has promised them for their investment.

[kuznetsov 0]

There are many unknowns in here and because the press has shown such an unprecedented investigative streak in recent years (when it comes to Rangers), there is reason why a) Green does not want to have the people named, and b) the people don't want to be named. We hardly know what these investors motives are. What we do know is that making money from a football club is usually a non-starter. So while it could very well be that some of them are in here for the most sinister reasons (usually expected from the hysteria-ridden folk) like "asset-stripping", it could also just be for very sentimental reasons like those shown by Kennedy or similar diehard Bluenoses. In the end, we'll have to wait and see.

 

A club with the turnover of Rangers FC with all our backing and support from hundreds of thousands of fans in a country where there is basically NO opposition to stop us being successful should always be posting a profit, the only thing stopping us is financial mismanagement which we have seen over the last 10 - 13 years. Being run correctly we can be a very productive and most profitable footballing business. Sadly we have not been in years gone by due to Murrays many many mistakes.

[chilledbear 16]

It is very strange indeed. We can only guess what Green has promised them for their investment.

 

Folk who have made a few bob and built a business, common sense tells you they look after their money {£1m invested in a football club in the SPL}

 

As you say mate, very strange.

[GovanAllan 0]

It's not that strange if he's buying shares at a ridiculously low price. The club gets run correctly and is successful the share price goes up 5 to 10 years down the line you sell the shares for a nice tidy profit.

 

Job done.

[bigy 0]

Is Green the group leader/organiser though or just the public face of the consortium?

 

I know he's contradicted himself a few times, but he has said he was asked by someone or some people to get involved.

[kuznetsov 0]

Most likely the aim. For them to make money we must be successful surely? Win win for both parties.

[chilledbear 16]

It's not that strange if he's buying shares at a ridiculously low price. The club gets run correctly and is successful the share price goes up 5 to 10 years down the line you sell the shares for a nice tidy profit.

 

Job done.

 

Put it in an Isa.

 

What price do you think Rangers Shares are going to reach?

 

Common sense tells you there are loads of shares better value than ours.