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Catherine Germier-Hamel
Destination Mekong, CEO Millennium Destinations, Founder & CEO Herost, Founder & CEO Sustainable Tourism Development, Management and Marketing Consultant, Trainer and Facilitator Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, F&B and Leisure |
Trying my best to make our world a fairer place to live and explore
For over 25 years, Catherine Germier-Hamel has built an international career dedicated to sustainable global and local development in a variety of sectors including tourism, hospitality, leisure and environmental utilities -water, sanitation, waste.
After working for 9 years in a subsidiary of Suez group offering consulting and technical assistance for environmental utilities management in developing and emerging countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, she decided to embrace a career in sustainable tourism.
In 2005, Catherine started a new life in South Korea where she created the initiative Wine & Women Korea, then served as F&B Marketing Manager at Novotel Gangnam hotel (2007-2008) and Director of Global Programs & Sustainable Tourism Consultant at the UNWTO ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty) Foundation (2008-2013), before becoming an independent Consultant and Trainer in 2014.
In 2016, she incorporated Millennium Destinations in Seoul, as an impact company providing consulting services and innovative solutions to small businesses and organizations of the travel, hospitality and leisure sectors for their sustainable tourism development and marketing.
In 2019, she co-founded Herost, an impact platform designed as an online travel guide and toolkit promoting sustainable, community-driven travel places, experiences, and practices. Since 2020, she has acted as the CEO of Herost.
In 2021, Catherine was appointed CEO of Destination Mekong, a private-sector-led DMO aimed at championing the Greater Mekong Sub-region as a sustainable tourism destination creating value for all.
Catherine holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management from Neoma Business School (1992), and a post-degree in Sustainable Tourism Development from University Paris Nanterre (2004).
After working for 9 years in a subsidiary of Suez group offering consulting and technical assistance for environmental utilities management in developing and emerging countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, she decided to embrace a career in sustainable tourism.
In 2005, Catherine started a new life in South Korea where she created the initiative Wine & Women Korea, then served as F&B Marketing Manager at Novotel Gangnam hotel (2007-2008) and Director of Global Programs & Sustainable Tourism Consultant at the UNWTO ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty) Foundation (2008-2013), before becoming an independent Consultant and Trainer in 2014.
In 2016, she incorporated Millennium Destinations in Seoul, as an impact company providing consulting services and innovative solutions to small businesses and organizations of the travel, hospitality and leisure sectors for their sustainable tourism development and marketing.
In 2019, she co-founded Herost, an impact platform designed as an online travel guide and toolkit promoting sustainable, community-driven travel places, experiences, and practices. Since 2020, she has acted as the CEO of Herost.
In 2021, Catherine was appointed CEO of Destination Mekong, a private-sector-led DMO aimed at championing the Greater Mekong Sub-region as a sustainable tourism destination creating value for all.
Catherine holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management from Neoma Business School (1992), and a post-degree in Sustainable Tourism Development from University Paris Nanterre (2004).
Catherine's core competences
- Impact entrepreneurship and business development
- International cooperation, networking and partnership building
- Strategic and operational marketing and communications
- Development of tourism product, experiences and destinations
- International project design, coordination and management
- Sustainability tourism strategies, solutions and practices
- Public speaking, presentations, storytelling
- Information, awareness-raising, and advocacy
- Education, training, capacity-building and mentoring
Core sectors
- Tourism, hospitality, leisure, F&B and well-being (since 2004): Destination Mekong, Millennium Destinations, Herost, PlayForest (travel cooperative), Millennium Hikers (association, Founder & President), UNWTO ST-EP Foundation, Novotel, Wine & Women Korea, Visa 21 (association, Founder & President)
- Environmental utilities (over 10 years): Lyonnaise des Eaux Services Associés (Suez group), Partenariat Français pour l'Eau, Secrétariat International de l'Eau, Saunier & Associés
Geographic experience
- Long-term: France (mother country), Brazil (São Paulo, 1 year), South Korea (Seoul, 17 years; 2021 Seoul Honorary Citizen), Cambodia (Phnom Penh, since 2022).
- Short missions: Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Peru, Panama, Senegal, Togo, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Membership / social and professional engagements
Impact Collective, Community-driven Investment & Acceleration for Impact Makers, Expert, 2021
World Trails Network: Member, since 2020
Skål International Seoul: Member (2020-2022), 2021 Board Secretary
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea - ESCCK: Tourism Advisor, 2019-2021
Global Sustainable Tourism Council - GSTC: Member, Trainer, since 2018
AMFORHT - World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training: Delegate for Korea (2016-2021) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (since 2022)
Cercle des Entrepreneurs Francophones de Corée - CEFC : Member, President in 2018-2020
Green Drinks Seoul: Founding Member and Member of the Organizing Team, 2017-2022
Chris & Partners, Global Event Solution Provider: Partner, Global Marketing & Sustainability Consultant, 2017 - 2018.
K-Move Mentoring program, supporting young Koreans in becoming global professionals: Foreign Mentor, 2016 - 2017.
PlayForest, travel cooperative promoting sustainable forest tourism: Founding Board Member, 2015 - 2020.
Conseillère du Commerce Extérieur de la France (French Trade Adviser for Tourism and Sustainable Development), appointed by the French Prime Minister, 2013-2015
Wine & Women Korea wine club: co-Founder, Honorary Member, since 2006
World Trails Network: Member, since 2020
Skål International Seoul: Member (2020-2022), 2021 Board Secretary
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea - ESCCK: Tourism Advisor, 2019-2021
Global Sustainable Tourism Council - GSTC: Member, Trainer, since 2018
AMFORHT - World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training: Delegate for Korea (2016-2021) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (since 2022)
Cercle des Entrepreneurs Francophones de Corée - CEFC : Member, President in 2018-2020
Green Drinks Seoul: Founding Member and Member of the Organizing Team, 2017-2022
Chris & Partners, Global Event Solution Provider: Partner, Global Marketing & Sustainability Consultant, 2017 - 2018.
K-Move Mentoring program, supporting young Koreans in becoming global professionals: Foreign Mentor, 2016 - 2017.
PlayForest, travel cooperative promoting sustainable forest tourism: Founding Board Member, 2015 - 2020.
Conseillère du Commerce Extérieur de la France (French Trade Adviser for Tourism and Sustainable Development), appointed by the French Prime Minister, 2013-2015
Wine & Women Korea wine club: co-Founder, Honorary Member, since 2006