Our Team
Meet the experts behind IHAT's success
Jacques Strydom
Co-founder, Auditor & Head Trainer
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jacques has a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion for the industry. His passion has led him to work and live on 4 continents. He has been instrumental in the pre-opening and management of a luxury boutique hotel, worked as a butler for numerous prominent individuals and conducted butler and hospitality training internationally. Jacques has a passion for customer service and a keen eye for detail. Jacques holds a BA in Hotel Management. Outside of work, Jacques enjoys travel, art and photography.
Hugo Huynh
Co-founder and Head of Operations
With decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Hugo brings a proven track record in hotel strategy and operations, front desk management, and cost optimization—particularly within the luxury hospitality segment. Hugo’s career spans leadership roles across high-end properties where he has driven operational excellence, elevated guest satisfaction, and implemented efficiency-driven procedures without compromising the guest experience. He specializes in aligning hotel concepts with market demands, streamlining front office operations, and optimizing resources to maximize profitability and service quality. As Head of Operations, Hugo remains committed to fostering teams that deliver exceptional standards and redefine hospitality through innovation and meticulous execution. Aside his passion for work, Hugo loves music travel, art and gastronomy.
Thanh Luong
Head of Sales & Marketing
With over 15 years of hands-on experience in Sales & Marketing as a strategic leader, Thanh has a proven track record of developing effective teams to deliver commercial success and has worked for some of the most prestigious international hotels in Saigon. Every hotel chain she has been with, increased revenue during her tenure. Drive and leadership are her greatest strengths. Thanh has developed herself into a respected and self‐motivated leader with ability to deal with challenging situations and provide a high level of service to clients with highest professionalism and ethic. In addition, the opportunity to work for Real Estate industry in 5 years has helped to enhance her strong network with variant business industries from global top companies to small and medium-sized enterprises. In her free time, she enjoy spending time with family, explore all different cafes with friends, arranging flowers and playing Piano.
Dung Nguyen
Project Lead - Sales & Marketing
Dung is a passionate Sales professional with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. Starting her career at the hotel front office, Dung steadily advanced to sales leadership roles, contributing to the successful pre-opening and business development of international 5-star hotels. Her background also includes roles in real estate and insurance, which have helped her build a diverse network and sharpen her consultative approach. With a keen understanding of customer needs and a results-driven mindset, Dung consistently delivers tailored business solutions that maximize guest satisfaction and drive sustainable business growth.
Khai Tran
Project Lead - Sales & Marketing
Having recognized the substantial growth potential and significant opportunities within the Vietnamese market, Khải embarked on a career in the hospitality industry. His experience working across numerous international hotel chains, encompassing a diverse range of models and brands, has allowed Khải to cultivate extensive expertise and a unique perspective on hotel products and services. Driven by a philosophy of continuous improvement, he firmly believes in the constant opportunity for refinement, focusing on solutions that enhance the guest experience and yield optimal results for the hotel. Beyond his professional endeavors, Khải is an avid traveler with a passion for experiencing hotels firsthand. His dedication to the hospitality sector fuels his exploration of emerging trends and developments, ensuring he remains at the forefront of the industry.
Dat Luu
Project Lead - Hotel Operations Division
Dat is a hospitality professional with over 15 years of extensive experience in hotel operations and guest service. Having held key management roles at several international 5-star hotels, he now works as a Hotel Operations Management Consultant at International Hospitality Auditing & Training, where he helps hotels enhance service quality, streamline daily operations, and strengthen their teams. Dat brings a practical, clear, and disciplined approach to his work, and believes great hospitality starts with consistency, empathy, and attention to the little things that matter most to guests.