Christian Navales

Responsible for ensuring that all personal data processing activities across all properties and business units of Ascott Philippines comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations, including the National Privacy Commission (NPC) requirements and the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Oversees data governance, risk management, compliance monitoring, and privacy awareness across the entire national portfolio.

Responsible for leading and managing all digital, IT infrastructure, and technology operations across all properties of Ascott Philippines. Ensures the delivery of secure, scalable, and innovative technology solutions that support business growth, enhance guest experience, and optimize operational efficiency. Act as the key bridge between country operations and regional IT strategy.

1) Project Manager for upcoming Mandai Rainforest Resort; implementing Hotel Systems consisting of Network Infrastructure, Hotel Front-Of-House Systems, Hotel Back-of-House Systems, In-Room and Guest Experience Systems, and End User Computing requirements. 2) Acting as internal consultant providing solutions to address business needs, and manage solution delivery based on business requirements, cost, and schedule. 3) Working closely with the stakeholders and project team members to gather business and users’ requirements and translate the requirements into tender specifications. 4) Managing end-to-end tender preparation and procurement process including sourcing, evaluating, and short-listing of vendors (solution, products and services) to meet business objectives and operation needs. 5) Managing a team of vendors and working closely with the business stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery within time, scope, and budget, and in achieving business outcomes.

1) Pre-opening IT Manager for Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, with 261 Guest Rooms. Ensuring all Hotel Systems are properly setup for a seamless Hotel Opening and Operations. 2) Project Management – Overseeing the over-all IT System and Infrastructure. Engage with all System vendors and Stakeholders, ensuring the right technologies and systems are to be inplaced meeting the given target Project timeline. 3) Setup and Maintain all Hotel Systems – build, set-up and maintaining all Hotel Systems such as Windows Server and Virtualization, Opera PMS, Micros Simphony, POS Machines and Workstations, PABX and Call Accounting System, Back-up Server, HR Management System & Payroll System, Sales and Catering System, SPA System, Background Music, Passport Scanning System, Time Attendance System, Telco & ISP lines, CableTV, Network and Wi-Fi as well as End-user support. 4) In charge of planning and forecasting the IT Budget pertaining to CAPEX and OPEX. Ensure that all Systems to be procured are within the Budget allocated by the Regional IT, Hotel Management, and Ownership. This includes planning for hardware’s and devices that are due for upgrade and tech refresh. 5) Hardware and Software Procurement – ensuring that all items are within Company’s approved standard model and specifications. 6) Responsible for tracking and administration of all IT Business related functions. Implementing and maintaining all IT Systems to fulfill Organization’s Information System requirements and compliance for regular and scheduled IT audits. 7) Monitor and conduct backup, restore and disaster recovery as per Organizations requirements and standards.

1) Supervising and handling the IT Support team, providing IT assistance to all the users in the Singapore Regional Office. As an IT Manager, one of the core duties and responsibilities is to provide IT support and assistance, primarily to the COO as well as the Senior Leaders and all other users. 2) Lead IT Project and coordinator, mainly responsible for opening and setting up Marriott Regional Offices in APAC outside China. 3) Managing the Company’s IT Operations and Infrastructure, Servers and Network Technology as well as Office Security. 4) Maintaining and managing the IT assets and inventory lists of PC hardware’s as well as software licenses been used by the Company. 5) IT procurement of IT Hardware and equipment’s from Servers, PC and laptops, as well as mobile devices. 6) Liaising with multi vendors and report whenever there are some issues related to their product or services. 7) Doing a research and evaluation on new technologies that can be used to enhance and upgrade the existing servers, network, and other IT infrastructure equipment’s. 8) Prepare, maintain and keep an updated file of all the IT procedures and documentations related to the process and IT operations. 9) Supervise, hire, train and ensure the career growth of IT associate reporting on me.

1) Promoted as System Security Engineer in January 2013, had deployed and currently handling more than 700 Security Servers, using Dell’s Hypervisor and VMWare VRTX. With 280 and still growing number of Property Hotels in Asia Pacific including China, keeping track, monitoring and ensuring the protection of computer systems, networks and information for Starwood Hotels. 2) Administrating and maintaining Centralized Management tools such as SolarWinds Patch Manager and WSUS Server for deploying all Critical, Security as well as 3rd Party software’s/patches, and SolarWinds SAM for Server and Application monitoring. 3) Managing database servers such as Microsoft SQL for Security server enrollment and maintenance. Use of Microsoft’s PowerShell scripts for faster and efficient way in setting up Security servers. 4) Handling software tools such as SolarWinds NCM for monitoring all network devices and servers, and Dell’s Desktop Authority Management for managing all our Windows system servers and devices. 5) Administrating, implementing and handling McAfee Vulnerability Manager for Starwood Asia Pacific Division, ensuring that vulnerabilities in all systems are closely monitored and fully addressed. 6) Providing prompt action and assistance to Property Hotel ITM’s in troubleshooting issues related to Security servers. 7) Prepare and document standard operating procedures and protocols, guidelines and troubleshooting tips for other Engineer’s and Property ITM’s use.

1) Supporting 130+ users in Starwood Divisional Office, assisting in software application issues such as SAP, TOAD for Oracle, Workshare, DHL, Hyperion HFM, Skype for Business, Microsoft Office 2010 & 2013, MozyPro and vSphere Web Client. Windows machines and OS Platforms such as Surface Pro, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. 2) Ensuring all data and servers are successfully backed up daily using Symantec Backup Exec. Daily routine of changing tapes in the tape drive. First level support for basic troubleshooting on failed backups, before escalating to Symantec Support / Backup Engineer, and creates a report based on the analysis and issue encountered. 3) Managing DHCP server for office MAC filtering, restricting only Starwood devices that can access the Divisional Office internal network. 4) Managing WSUS Server, assigning the machines to the right group, ensuring that all client machines and Servers are fully patched. Creates a weekly report and submitted to the IT Administrator for review and record. 5) Managing Microsoft’s ADUC or Active Directory User and Computer, adding new user’s and computer’s, reset password’s, unlock of user account’s, and granting rights to the server files on our server by creating security groups. 6) Prepare and setup workstations for the new Starwood Associates. Using Acronis image tool for installation and setting up Windows OS and all of basic applications. Join machines to domain, ensure all are reporting to WSUS server, configure MS-Outlook and phone extensions. 7) Setup and manage meeting and Web Conferencing using Polycom Real Present for whole Starwood AP Divisional Office. 8) Managing, assigning and categorizing tickets using helpdesk system “ServiceNow”. 9) Supporting users in setting up Outlook e-mail for mobile use using iPhone active sync activation and BlackBerry Enterprise activation.

1) Supports IBM Corporate Customers on Hardware problems. Thoroughly troubleshoot problems on ThinkPad’s and ThinkCentre machines, both Laptop and Desktops. 2) Doing the weekly reporting, using IBM database software (IBM Personal Communication), doing admin jobs to meet the requirements and SLA needed by the company. 3) Maintain, supports and rendering ideas managing the IBM products. Establish and maintain good relationships with customers and make sure to meet their requirements.