A UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay translates to Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese. The Bay features a couple thousand limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. The water is very calm despite a flurry of container ships and overnight boat cruises passing through the area. Floating fishing villages and limestone caves add to the allure of the area. For both days spent on the water, we were shrouded with overcast skies, misting rain and cool temperatures. These weather conditions created a mysterious and mesmerizing effect for this photo taken in color with my Panasonic DMC-GF1 camera on the morning of the second day just before returning to the harbor. April 17, 2010. - Laurel Pfund

Biography

Photograph of Laurel Pfund

Laurel Pfund oversaw nine properties and assisted 23 other hotels worldwide with Orient Express Hotels. Her major responsibility was setting up revenue management policies and procedures, training, and coordinating with IT, Central Reservation Office and Central Reservations System teams. She transitioned twelve hotel and resort acquisitions during her tenure.

With Morgans Hotel Group she was responsible for eleven hotels. In addition, she served as the point person for Yield Management Software implementation at all properties.

Ms. Pfund's experience has been in mid-tier, upscale and luxury hotels and resorts around the world ranging in size from 48 to 842 rooms. An essential element of her success is her close relationships: General Managers, Director of Sales/Marketing, Revenue Managers/Directors and Corporate Vice Presidents.

Because of this background she can blend seamlessly with your on-site team and easily transition new strategies and procedures. The ability to monitor and provide support remotely is second nature.

Ms. Pfund, a University of Hawaii graduate, began an extensive career on property with Hyatt Hotels, Westin and ANA Hotels where she was promoted to a corporate level position followed by ten years as the Corporate Director of Revenue, North American, for Orient-Express Hotels. Subsequently she was the Corporate Director of Revenue at Morgans Hotel Group. Her assignments at the property and corporate levels in various markets and cities throughout the world, give her in-depth knowledge of sophisticated revenue management, channel connectivity, systems integration and vendor capabilities

She now consults mainly for independently owned and operated hotels.