Sheraton Waikiki Appoints Three Members To Its Executive Team

Sheraton Waikiki has appointed a trio of longtime hoteliers to its executive team: Jason Kim, Casey Obatake and Shaun Ono. All three have prior experience within the Marriott Waikiki Complex (former SPG Resorts owned by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts). 

Jason Kim is Sheraton Waikiki’s new hotel manager and most recently was the general manager at the Aloft Seoul Myeongdong in his native South Korea. Prior to that, he held a number of leadership positions in Asia such as the W Seoul Walkerhill, and several Le Meridien hotels in Thailand. He has also worked in Russia. Kim began his career in the hospitality industry nearly 20 years ago in food and beverage and also served as director of restaurants and bars at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani early in his career. 

As the new director of operational excellence, Casey Obatake is now the highest-ranking woman at the Sheraton Waikiki. She began her extensive career among the Waikiki Complex in 2000 as a guest service agent at the Moana Surfrider. Following that, she quickly moved up the ranks through the housekeeping department at the Sheraton Waikiki, where she was both housekeeping project manager and assistant director of housekeeping. In 2014, Obatake switched to the hotel’s front office, where she effectively led teams as front office manager and director of front office.

 Newly appointed Director of Rooms Shaun Ono began as an intern for the Sheraton Waikiki in 2004, and has served in a variety of guest-service capacities such as Japanese guest service manager and director of guest services at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, and director of Asia guest services for the Sheraton Waikiki and The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. He most recently was assistant director of rooms, where he helped to create quality experiences for hundreds of Sheraton Waikiki guests daily.

Both Obatake and Ono are high achievers outside of the hotel when they’re not at work. In 2018, Obatake finished her first Honolulu Marathon, and has been participating in a number of distance races around town. Ono has danced in the Merrie Monarch Festival five times with Hālau I Ka Wēkiu. In 2018, the hālau placed 4^th in kahiko and 4^th in ‘auana in the competition known as the world championship of hula dancing. 

“Jason, Casey and Shaun are extraordinary additions to our executive team at Sheraton Waikiki,” said General Manager Tom Calame.  “Each of them is a proven hospitality leader – talented, passionate and compassionate, and most importantly, our team and guests respond well to them.”