:: HRCI :: Newsletter

March 2007

Michelin news from Paris

Michelin 2007 news is out of the bag this morning. This is a big surprise, not the least because it's not even February yet, but even more so because of all the grand changes in it.
Yes, yes, yes, I know. I'm not going to torture you with a drawn out musing about this. We're talking Michelin stars here and you just want to get to the good stuff. So here it is!

New three-stars:
L'Astrance, Pascal Barbot and Christophe Rohat
Le Meurice, Yannick Alléno
Le Pré Catelan, Frédéric Anton
Pic, Anne Sophie Pic
Lameloise, Jacques Lameloise (regained the third star they lost few years ago)

Demoted:
Le Beurehiesel (The chef Antoine Westermann has stepped down and his son took over the kitchen.)
Le Cinq, Philippe Legendre
Le Taillevent (Previously thought to be untouchable, but I guess Michelin is on a mission to prove nothing is.)
La Ferme de mon père (Marc Veyrat sold the restaurant)

In other news, Marc Meneau is reportedly going bankrupt. The restaurant, saddled with plenty of financial problems over the years, is now going into liquidation. How sad for him.
I'm so very happy for L'Astrance and Le Meurice, on the other hand. They have long been my favorites, and their third stars are more than deserving. Bravo to everyone involved!! Also a bravo to Christian Constant whose tremendously popular Les Fables de la Fontaine is now a one star restaurant.

Interstate hotels & resorts appoints three vice presidents to head up Moscow operations

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation’s largest independent hotel management companies, announced that the company has further strengthened its international presence with the opening of a branch office in Moscow, Russia, and the appointment of three senior executives to be based there. The announcement comes on the heels of news that the company recently signed its fifth hotel management contract in Moscow.
Kenneth McLaren was named executive vice president of Interstate Management Services, Inc. and will oversee operations of the local hotels, with all general managers reporting directly to him. Irina Kulagina, new vice president sales and marketing, will also be responsible for new business development. As vice president-director of projects, Mikhail Rodionov will oversee the capital project process for the company’s Moscow hotels, as well as assist during the renovation/construction of new hotels.
“These three hospitality executives add significant bench strength to our international management team and together bring more than three decades of relevant industry experience in property and project operations and marketing,” said Thomas F. Hewitt, chief executive officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. “We recently announced our fifth management contract in Moscow and have an active pipeline for future growth. Our new office and executive team will give us greater operational strength and allow us to achieve strong economies of scale. We also have enhanced our ability to source additional new contracts and/or development and acquisition opportunities, both in Russia and throughout Europe.”
“All three executives have strong, proven track records in this region and are very familiar with the Moscow hotel market,” said Henry L. (Hank) Ciaffone, president of international operations and development at Interstate. “In addition to overseeing hotel operations, Ken also will also be directly responsible for the Marriott Hotels area sales and marketing office, the area human resources department and the area purchasing department. Ken, Irina and Mikhail all will report directly to me.”

About Interstate
As of January 31, Interstate Hotels & Resorts operated 223 hospitality properties with more than 50,000 rooms in 38 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Russia. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts, visit the company’s Web site: www.ihrco.com

Kempinski Hotels tap growth in Middle East outbound travel with exciting new destinations

New properties in emerging markets complement an exhilarating global portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts
Following the successful launch of its accelerated development plan in the Middle East and Africa with the announcement of seven distinctive new luxury hotels in the region, Kempinski Hotels is gearing up for greater growth by tapping into the projected increase in Middle East outbound travel, launching new properties in Russia, China and Central Europe.

Europe’s leading luxury hotel group is well positioned to offer Middle East and European tourists an unrivalled selection of top end hotels in emerging markets, increasing its global portfolio to 92 unique and award-winning hotels and making it the most represented hotel group within the Leading Hotels of the World.

“The Kempinski brand has been associated with the finest tradition of luxurious and elegant European hospitality for over a century, and combined with the distinctive qualities of the locations where it operates, provide a luxurious and unique leisure experience,” said Reto Wittwer, President and CEO of Kempinski. “Our extensive experience and understanding of the global hospitality industry reflects in the distinctive qualities of our properties across the globe, and enables us to establish our presence in emerging markets as the need for luxury hotels and resorts arises.”

Job Of The Month
(small selection)
all jobs available here

Duty Manager, Czech Republic

Area Director Of Finance, Dubai

Executive Chef, Russia

Cluster Corp Sales Manager, UK

Financial Controller, Kazakhstan

Chinese Restaurant Manager, Mexico City

General Manager, Senegal

Financial Controller, Kiev - Ukraine

Front Office Manager, London

Executive Sous Chef, Croatia

Room Division Manager, Mauritius

Credit Controller, Dubai

Events Manager, London

Staff Movements

Fairmont Raffles Hotels has named Matthew Sparks Senior Vice President, Development for The Americas. Most recently serving as consultant for Fairmont, Sparks has held various executive level development positions with Wyndham and Starwood.

Massimo Ianni joins Armani Hotels and Resorts in London as Vice President Operations. Ianni was previously the General Manager at the Hotel Faena in Buenos Aires and spent fourteen years with Hyatt International as General Manager in Belgrade, Buenos Aires and Tahiti.

Raymond Vermolen is Acting General Manager for the newly rebranded InterContinental Los Angeles (formerly the Park Hyatt). Since 2005, he had been the Hotel Manager at New York Barclay InterContinental. He previously held many positions with InterContinental in Beirut, Athens, Paris and Amsterdam.

Fabrice Lasnon has transferred to the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin as Executive Chef. For the past three years, he has been the Executive Chef at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.

Philipp Economou has been named Director of Food and Beverage at the InterContinental Miami. He transfers from the InterContinental Carlton in Cannes where he had been the Food and Beverage Manager since 2005, after serving in the same post at the InterContinental Madrid.

Fabrice Guisset has joined Las Ventanas Al Paraiso as Executive Chef taking over from Michel Gehrig. In 2001, he joined ParaÌso de la Bonita as opening Executive Chef following one year as Executive Chef at La Jolla de Mismaloya in Puerto Vallarta.

Denys Courtier has been promoted within the Stein Hotel Group to Regional Director, Spain, Italy and Special Projects. He was most recently the General Manager for the group Grand Hotel La Florida in Barcelona. Courtier was previously the General Manager at the Hotel Lancaster in Paris following a ten-year career with Hyatt International.

Pierre Boissel has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for Ana Hotels, based in Bucharest. He was previously with InterContinental for more than 32 years in thirteen different countries.

Christopher Rudolph has been named General Manager at the Hotel du Lac in Switzerland. Rudolph, a Lausanne graduate, comes from Berlin where he was the Executive Assistant Manager at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski after serving as the Director of Food and Beverage at the Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul.

Roberto Amodei has been appointed Financial Controller for Armani Hotels & Resorts based at the corporate office in London. He joins from Baglioni Hotels where he was the Assistant Director of Finance.

Stephane Personeni has left his position of Director of Operations at Cannes Hotel Martinez, to become the General Manager of both Hotels Byblos in St. Tropez and Courchevel.

Jean-Michel Orieux is the Managing Director of London-based Ping Pong Dim Sum, a budding chain of stylish restaurants featuring ìlittle steamed parcels of deliciousness. There are currently six restaurants in operation, with many more under development. Orieux comes from Paul UK, where he served as Managing Director for the Paris-based chain of French bakeries and cafes. Prior to that, he was an Operations Director for Conran Restaurants.

Aurelio Giraudo has been appointed General Manager at the Nai Lert Park Raffles International in Bangkok, taking over from Blaise Montandon. He was most recently the General Manager at the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei after serving as General Manager at the Imperial Angkor Palace.

Philippe Lamadieu has joined the SALA Samui Resort & Spa as General Manager. He previously served as General Manager at the Emerald in Bangkok and the Bandara Resort & Spa.

Marc Gussing is the opening General Manager for the Alila Cha Am in Thailand. He was most recently at Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives as Director of Operations.

Thierry Guillot has been promoted to General Manager at the Hyatt Regency Paris-Charles de Gaulle, replacing Jean-Pierre Marcadier who has headed for the Hyatt Regency Belgrade. Guillot was most recently the Executive Assistant Manager at the hotel after joining them in 1993 in the finance department. In addition, he has served as Director of Finance at the Hyatt Regency Paris-Madeleine and the Hyatt Regency Casablanca.

Dany Kattar is the new Executive Chef at the InterContinental Mzaar in Lebanon. He comes from the Holiday Inn Downtown Kuwait where his assistant, Emmanuel Thomas, replaces him as Executive Chef. Kattar has been with InterContinental for over five years with previous postings at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi and Crowne Plaza Beirut.