Barry Robinson serves as President and Managing Director, International Operations, for Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL) — the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company with a portfolio of nearly 20, travel club, lifestyle and resort brands.
Based in Singapore, Robinson leads the international growth strategy for the largest timeshare operation outside of North America and oversees three vacation clubs — Accor Vacation Club, Club Wyndham South Pacific, and Club Wyndham Asia—catering to a collective membership exceeding 100,000. The business is also a mixed-use manager and a hotel management development agent in the Asia Pacific region.
Since joining the business in 2003, Robinson has grown the international operation to a club asset portfolio that exceeds US$1 billion with some 87 hotel and vacation club properties either open or under development. Under Robinson’s stewardship, the company has solidified its position as a leader in resort development, construction, and asset management, whilst concurrently managing a consumer finance portfolio valued at over US$190 million.
Robinson recently led the US$48.4 million acquisition of the Accor Vacation Club business, which oversees 24 resorts and serves 30,000 vacation members. Previously, he drove immense growth of Wyndham Hotel Group as its President and Managing Director Asia Pacific.
With more than 30 years of hospitality experience, Robinson has served in leading industry roles covering management, operations, development, branding, and franchising. He has held senior leadership positions for some of the world’s largest hospitality companies, including Swiss-Belhotel International, Swissôtel Worldwide Partner Hotels, and Choice Hotels International.
Robinson’s contributions to the hospitality industry in Asia Pacific were recognised in 2022 when he was named Asia Pacific Hotelier of the Year at the 2022 HM Awards and Entrepreneur of the Year at the GNEX Industry Awards. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) awards in 2017. Robinson is a Board Director of the Accommodation Association of Australia. He serves as President of the Asia Pacific Resort Development Organisation (APRDO) and Vice President of the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC).
A committed philanthropist, Robinson has been a Director of the Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) Global Research Foundation Board since 2007.
Robinson completed a Global Leaders Program with the Wharton School through the University of Pennsylvania in 2007, and an Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School in 2010. He also completed the WPO Harvard President’s Program in 2015 and continues to be a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization today.
Barry is also:
- President APRDO (Asia Pacific Resort Development Organisation)
- Deputy President of ATHOC (Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council)
- Board Director, FSHD Global
- Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors
- School of Hotel Resort & Tourism Management’s Executive Advisory Board, Bond University
- Member of Young Presidents’ Organisation, Queensland Chapter
- Long-standing CHA member for over 15 years
Barry’s contributions to the accommodation and timeshare industries have been recognised with numerous accolades over his lengthy career:
- Asia Pacific Hotelier of the Year – 2022 HM Awards
- Entrepreneur of the Year – 2022 GNEX Perspective Awards
- Australasian Hotelier of the Year (Highly commended) – 2020 HM Awards
- Best Industry Leader – 2020 GNEX Perspective Awards
- Hall of Fame – 2017 ATHOC Awards
- Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year – 2016 CEO Awards
- Industry Leader Award – 2013 GNEX Perspective Awards
- Significant Contribution to the Industry Award – 2009 ATHOC Awards
- Businessman of the Year (Semarang, Indonesia) – 1998