[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]In a decisive advance of its emerging market development strategy, TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™ has appointed veteran hotel executive Jie “Robby” Qiu to Vice President of development and acquisitions & chief country executive for Greater China. Qiu takes the helm of the brand's newly opened representative office in Shanghai.

“The Trump development team has identified Greater China as our top priority among high-potential emerging markets,” said Todd G. Wynne-Parry, Senior Vice President of global hotel development and acquisitions of TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION. “Robby is a dynamic and sought-after executive with strong roots in the region, and the right fit to lead our efforts there.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Robby to TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION,” added Chief Operating Officer Jim Petrus. “He will be a key player in achieving our goal of 30 hotels by the year 2020.”

Qiu joins the Trump team from Accor, where he was most recently Senior Director of development for Greater China. Over his seven-year tenure, which saw his rapid promotion through the ranks, Qiu dealt with leading developers throughout the region on the expansion of Sofitel and other prominent Accor hotel brands.

His diverse career has also included several years as senior legal associate in the Shanghai office of one of Australia's top hotel law firms, Blake Dawson Waldron.

Qiu holds a bachelor of law degree from Shanghai International University and a master of law from University of Manchester in the U.K.