March 2008
Christopher Cowdray becomes CEO for the Dorchester Collection
Luxury hotel group the Dorchester Collection has appointed Christopher Cowdray, general manager at London’s Dorchester hotel, as its chief executive officer.
The move comes as the company, formerly the Dorchester Group, seeks to move into hotel management through third party management agreements.
Cowdray, who has more than 23 years of international experience in managing luxury hotels including six years at London’s Claridge’s, said his intention is to grow the company into one of the “world’s foremost hotel management companies”.
The Dorchester Collection, which currently has five properties in its portfolio - in London, Milan, Beverly Hills and two in Paris – earlier this year announced it would look to expand in North America, European cities such as Madrid, as well as resorts and less-developed Middle Eastern destinations such as Qatar
The currently portfolio is owned and managed by Dorchester Collection:
The Dorchester in London
The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills
Le Meurice in Paris
Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris
Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan
http://www.dorchestercollection.com
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has been selected for the prestigious award of Best Accommodation Experience - Deluxe Hotel in Singapore's 22nd Tourism Awards
The Tourism Awards is Singapore's tribute to the best performers across 27 categories in the tourism industry, including hotels, spas, retail, restaurants and tourism entrepreneur of the year. It recognises those who have made a commitment towards service excellence and a significant contribution towards Singapore's position as a leading tourist destination
http://www.fullertonhotel.com
Seafood virtuoso joins Michelin three-star club in Marseilles
Only one new Michelin three-star restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide France 2008. The newcomer is Le Petit Nice in Marseille with chef Gerard Passedat.
The rating is also important for Marseille, since Le Petit Nice is Marseille’s first Michelin three-star restaurant. This 2,600 year old harbor city has lately been enjoying increasing popularity (check out our article Top 10 Solo Locations). And with good reason, since Marseille does not only enjoy a beautiful location and interesting architecture, but it also has a rich mix of cultures resulting in a strong, rebellious and welcoming character.
And in a premier location of Marseille, on a rock above the Mediterranean with striking sea views you can find the beautiful Le Petit Nice with its splendid cuisine.
Executive chef Gerard Passedat, 48, has cooking in his blood, he is already a third-generation culinary professional. His grandfather, originally a baker, purchased a neo-Greek villa in 1917 and named it Le Petit Nice. His father transformed Le Petit Nice into a luxury hotel that earned a Michelin two-star rating in 1977 and 1981.
Gerard Passedat is described not only to be a perfectionist, but also to be moody, seductive and occasionally tough. Having grown up in Marseille, fish is not surprisingly at the heart of his cooking. And he prefers to work with fish from the local waters, including forgotten fish as tub gurnard and red scorpion fish, and modest local fish such as girelle, saran and mostelle, and shellfish of course. A signature dish is bouillabaisse.
Chef Passedat believes that a dish should come together naturally, which explains his quest for simple, pared-down cooking and his loving respect for natural products.
And if you plan on visiting Le Petit Nice, of course you need to keep in mind that Michelin three-star restaurants don’t come cheap, and in addition you will have to pay in euros!
http://www.petitnice-passedat.com
IHG's Kenneth Low is PATA's face of the future
Mr Low wins most prestigious honour for young tourism professionals in Asia Pacific. The 2008 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Face of the Future is Kenneth Low, Director Strategy, Asia Pacific for the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
Mr Low will receive his honour during the PATA Foundation Gala Dinner at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka on April 6.
Based in Singapore, Mr Low, who just turned 35, is responsible for planning IHG's growth strategy in Asia Pacific, with a particular focus on the key markets of China (PRC), India and Japan. He joined IHG in November 2005 from Abacus International, where he was Head of Corporate Planning and Development.
Announcing the award, PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong said Mr Low was a high achiever who had risen rapidly though the management ranks of two highly successful travel companies. We were also pleased that along the way Kenneth found time to connect with PATA through our Young Tourism Professionals (YTP) programme," he said. Mr Low was chosen from an impressive shortlist of candidates from private and public sector organisations across the region.
"The calibre of entries gets stronger every year," said Mr de Jong. "Last year we were delighted to recognise a young entrepreneur from Vietnam, now this year a strategic planner in Singapore. With the enormous pressures on human resources in our industry, it is reassuring to see exceptional young professionals like Kenneth Low pursuing careers in travel and tourism."
Mr Low described the award as a great honour and a big surprise: "It has been a fantastic few years of association with PATA for me, not only as a participant at PATA events but also being involved in YTP programme." He added: "I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of my company and colleagues who share my enthusiasm for our region and our efforts to ensure a sustainable future for our industry."
http://www.pata.org
Majestic Hotel Group opens a new type of Boutique Hotel in Barcelona
Murmuri Barcelona has just opened in a privileged location of the city; Rambla de Catalunya. The hotel belongs to the Majestic Hotel Group that is owned by the Soldevila family and it occupies the original building that the Catalan architect Enrique Sagnier designed in 1892. Following a magnificent refurbishment project, Murmuri has a clear objective; to become the most exclusive, discreet and elegant boutique hotel in the heart of the Barcelona. This is the fourth hotel that the Majestic Hotel Group opens and its General Manager is Mr. Jean-Louis Dulau. Murmuri is a word with many nuances in Catalan and, this hotel intends to become a peaceful oasis, a quiet nook in the midst of the constant hustle and bustle of a vibrant, active and cosmopolitan city like Barcelona.
http://www.hotelmajestic.es
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The Morgans Hotel Group has appointed hospitality veteran Fred Kleisner President and Chief Executive Officer. Kleisner previously served as Chief Executive Officer for Wyndham International, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Americas for Starwood Hotels & Resorts; and President and Chief Operating Officer with Westin. He had been acting as interim President and Chief Executive Officer since the abrupt departure of Morgans top man Ed Scheetz a few months ago.
InterContinental Hotels Group has named David Greydanus Senior Vice President, North America Operations, based in Atlanta. He most recently served as Senior Vice President, Brand Management, for the Waldorf Astoria Collection. Previously, he held various other positions for Hilton Hotels including Senior Vice President Brand Management, and Senior Vice President Operations for Embassy Suites.
Thomas Klein is taking over from retiring Francisco Gomez as Regional Vice President and General Manager of the historic Fairmont San Francisco. A slight move from sister company Raffles/Swissôtel, where he held a similar position, based in Chicago, as Senior Vice President, the Americas, and General Manager of the Swissôtel Chicago. Prior to joining Swissôtel in 2001, Klein had been a Senior Vice President for Mövenpick in Africa.
Guy and Dagmar Lombard have joined Le Toiny on St. Barthélémy as Co-General Managers, replacing David Henderson, who had been at the helm of the resort for the past 14 years. The Lombards come from Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, where they were Co-General Managers. Prior to that, Guy was the Managing Director of the Villa Marie in St. Tropez, while Dagmar was a Sales Manager at Paris’ Hotel Plaza-Athénée.
Carlson has named Bjørn Gullaksen President, Regent Luxury Group. He was most recently the Executive Vice President for Carlson Hotels Worldwide Managed Hotels & Resorts in the Americas. He previously served as the company's Executive Vice President of Full Service Hotels, including Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts.
Kari Koskela has relocated to the Ritz-Carlton Washington D.C. as Hotel Manager. He was most recently the Director of Food and Beverage at the Four Seasons Las Vegas and the Four Seasons Vancouver.
Nicolas Marquez has been named Executive Assistant Manager of Rooms at the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco. He has previously held various positions at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and Raffles L’Ermitage.
Gemstone has appointed Michael Straube Regional Director of Operations, based out of the Gemstone-managed Carlton in New York City. He was most recently the Senior Vice President for the Peninsula Real Estate Group.
Scott Hagan has moved to the Somerset on Turks and Caicos as Director of Operations. For the past two years, he was the Director of Operations at the Palms (now the Regent Palms) on the same island of Providenciales. He had previously overseen rooms operations for the Hotel Gansevoort and the Regent Wall Street.
Thomas Henseler has been appointed Corporate Food and Beverage Director for Orient Express Hotels Trains and Cruises Peru, based at the Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco. He was most recently in a similar position with the Villagroup Los Cabos.
Sébastien Silvestri has returned to Las Vegas as Executive Director of Food and Beverage at the Venetian. For the past year, he had served as Director of Food and Beverage at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Silvestri previously served in various food and beverage management positions at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort, the Mansion on Turtle Creek and the Lanesborough in London.
Felix Mayer has transferred to the Four Seasons Washington, D.C. as Director of Rooms, from the same position at the Four Seasons Damascus. Prior to joining Four Seasons, he was with InterContinental for nine years in various positions at the InterContinental Doha, the InterContinental Miami, the InterContinental Vienna and the InterContinental New York.
The Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles has named Andreas Nieto Executive Chef. He was most recently the Executive Chef at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. He also previously served in the kitchens of the Westin Century Plaza, the St. Regis Century City and the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Nicolas Dubort has joined the Hotel Bel Air as Bar and Restaurant Manager, taking over for James Lukanik who had come from L’Orangerie, and has left the company. Dubort was most recently in charge of Avenues at the Peninsula Chicago. He had previously overseen the Fountain restaurant at the Four Seasons Philadelphia.
Grace Hotels have appointed Philippe Requin Chief Executive Officer. He was most recently the General Manager of the InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort in Cyprus. Requin previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Elegant Heritage Mauritius and Voile D’Or Resort and Spa. In addition, he was the General Manager of the Sultan of Brunei’s Empire Hotel & Country Club, and the Director of Group Operations for Naiade Resorts on Mauritius.
Hyatt Hotels has promoted Frank Lavey to Senior Vice President of Operations for the Europe, Africa, Middle East division, based in Hyatt's regional office in Switzerland. A seventeen-year Hyatt executive in North America, Lavey has served as Vice President and Managing Director of the Hyatt Regency Maui for the past three years. He previously held the General Manager role at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles and the Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco.
Arnaud de Saint Exupéryhas been promoted by Hyatt to be the General Manager of the very first Andaz prototype opened on London’s Liverpool Street. He was previously the Manager of the Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, after serving as Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Hyatt International.
Lausanne grad Nathalie Seiler has been appointed General Manager of the Regent Bordeaux, taking over from Werner Knechtli. A former Director of Sales and Marketing at Paris’ Hotel Lutétia, Seiler joined Rezidor in 2004 as General Manager of the Radisson SAS Champs Elysées.
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