The Kempinski turbulences

Bangkok/Geneva/Berlin. New begin for Kempinski following the image-damaging affair regarding accusations made against Reto Wittwer: The Supervisory Board of Kempinski AG and the Executive Board of Kempinski Hotels SA have today unanimously appointed Markus Semer new CEO of Kempinski AG effective of immediately. At the same time, they officially relieved Alejandro Bernabé of his duties as CEO.

Geneva. According to a press release on Wednesday, Kempinski Hotels and Reto Wittwer have settled their differences over a charge outside court this week. As a result, personnel repercussions have already made themselves apparent on the supervisory board.

Reto Wittwer.

Geneva. Kempinski Hotels SA, the international luxury hotel group has today reached an amicable, out-of-court settlement with its former President & CEO Reto Wittwer, to resolve their mutual litigation.

Kempinski Hotels SA states that the unfortunate allegations made in its press statement on November 2, 2015 were unfortunate and should not have been published. Both parties agreed they would put an end to these unfortunate accusations allegations, and would refrain from any action against each other, once the facts became clear and understood.

Reto Wittwer has been vindicated. With this official announcement, the decision has been made, but the story has not been told yet.

hospitalityInside.com is still seeking answers to some questions and will report about the issue as soon as possible. Exclusively. But it might take a few more days. We still have to do some research. / map

Geneva. Reto Wittwer is braced for a comprehensive legal counterattack. After a charge of fraud, which surprised the former Kempinski Hotels CEO last week, he brought charges of his own on Wednesday against the sitting Kempinski CEO Alejandro Bernabé and Supervisory Board member Michael Selby. The charges are for false accusation, slander and defamation.

Geneva/Bangkok. The story has real Hollywood style: it is nebulous and contradictory, with man-to-man friendship and rivalry, rise and fall. And a real motion picture plays a role in this story too, whose dramaturgy was drastically increased by Kempinski Hotels this week. On Monday, November 2, 2015, the luxury hotel group filed a complaint against its former CEO Reto Wittwer at the chief public prosecutor's office in Geneva: on grounds of suspected fraud. The accusations are severe. However, the timing was not a coincidence: since November 1, the one-year confidentiality obligation imposed on Reto Wittwer one-sidedly, no longer exists. After this public affront, Wittwer is no longer remaining silent: "I will take all possible legal action against these allegations!" he explained to hospitalityInside.com yesterday. And described his version of his Hollywood-style exit one year ago.

Geneva. Young, dynamic, successful - this zippy cliché is simply unavoidable in the face of the flowing blazer of this 1.94-metre tall and slim man approaching the coffee table in the lobby of the Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munich. Markus Semer has arrived. Or better: he is present, apparent, and perceptible. In the polished-up lobby of the grand hotel, he clarifies what Kempinski does not want to be like in future: slow and antiquated. On May 1, 2008, at the age of 31, he advanced to Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs & Strategic Planning in the Managing Board of Directors of Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. Chairman Reto Witwer will celebrate his 60th birthday this year, and Semer could be his son. The unspoken question behind this statement makes Markus Semer roll his eyes reluctantly, but he smartly answers: "You can view it like that: two generations sitting at one table!" A newcomer chats about himself, the industry, Kempinski and strategies.