Topic HR

News & Stories

EU opens the labour market - Austria expects only minor changes
All "new ones" were already there
2.6.2011

Vienna. Four weeks ago, the labour market opened for eight EU states, including Germany and Austria. Given the joint borders with neighbours Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, tensions were high in Austria. Nevertheless: Austria's Federal Economic Chamber expects only minor consequences for hotels as a result. Flexible workers and apprentices remain highly sought after

Modul University Vienna expands further education
19.5.2011

Vienna. Tourism is Austria continues to perform well. As a result, Vienna's Modul University has now developed a course for managers in the tourism sector.

CEO Frits van Paasschen and his management style at Starwood
Cosmopolitan coach
13.4.2011

Berlin/Brussels. He's certainly not one of those hardened CEOs and the twinkle in his eyes makes clear: Frits van Paasschen listens very carefully. The meeting with him at the ITB in Berlin was so that he could introduce himself. And in so doing, the Dutchman at the top of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the American stock market listed hotel management company, is sure of one thing: His task here is not just to rattle out figures which are freely available for all to read, but to explain how he will manage the world's seventh largest hotel group. After all, van Paasschen is not a hotelier; his last CEO position was in a brewery in Colorado. Before that he was responsible for Nike's EMEA business.

No job interviews via Facebook!
31.3.2011

Munich. Xing, Twitter and Facebook – employers also use social media for recruitment. Now a survey points out: students and job seekers do not want that. There is hardly any human resources congress or HR conference that does not address this issue. But is this just due to mere hype? After all, it seems that companies have forgotten to ask applicants about it, as they prefer personal interviews instead of Facebook fan pages. A recent survey among roughly 600 students reveals the details.

Kempinski “Career Day” to surpass 1,000 applicants for the first time
24.2.2011

Munich. Last year’s premiere included 100 trainees solely from Kempinski’s own ranks, but this time there were more than 1,000 external applicants for the “Career Day” at the Kempinski Airport Hotel Muenchen. Reto Wittwer, CEO Kempinski, lined up 65 General Managers and leaders from the corporate office in Geneva to interview junior staff members. However, the large pool of people also included former employees that had been previously been laid off.

After Tucek's expulsion: "VI Leaks" betrays confidential details
10.2.2011

Vienna. The expulsion of Rudolf Tucek from the Vienna International Board of Directors last week has rendered unexpectedly public results for the hotel group and its owners: Employees have made confidential correspondence public that was "found on the servers" and then passed it on to the media. "VI Leaks" brings details to light that could initiate the end of the hotel group.

Falkensteiner launches its own academy
27.1.2011

Vienna. The Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group AG headquartered in Vienna invests more than half a million EUR in its own academy. Starting shot was on January 25, 2011.

Ex-Kempinski board member Michel Maass turns 70 and looks back
The apfelstrudel
19.1.2011

Munich. The press release on Michel D. Maass' departure spanned exactly three lines. That was on 22 June 1994. The board member of Kempinski AG leaves of his own accord, was the word at the time. As the 53-year-old left the company at the end of 1994, he had been a board member for almost 20 years, through Kempinski Hotels' most formative years. At the side of the extroverted Karl Theodor Walterspiel, he was always the "quiet second one", though was certainly no less influential on the business. This coming Thursday, Michel Maass celebrates his 70th birthday. hospitalityInside Editor-in-Chief, Maria Puetz-Willems, has a mutual friend to thank that the grand seigneur of Kempinski Hotels agreed to give an interview in his beloved Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich. In 1970, at only 29 years of age, he took on the luxury hotel in Munich's renowned Maximilianstrasse as Managing Director. As board member, he thwarted a takeover of the young Kempinski group no less than twice. An apfelstrudel was what it took. In the end, it was this that presumably cost him his position as board member. An unusual background conversation.

Hotels are complex systems that overtax chain managers
The frustration factor
9.12.2010

Augsburg. At the end of the year, there are always large numbers of changing staff: while many companies actively fire their managers, some managers give up themselves and hand in their notice. “I can’t go on”, is a common statement describing their exhaustion. In both scenarios, they often fall victim to a “systematic chain leadership” that takes away responsibility and freedom, generates lots of frustration and makes them sick. Lay persons consider their companies “chaotic”, while academics talk about missing “complexity management”. Chain managers are much more affected by this than managers of medium-sized businesses, thinks Franz-Josef Koenig, specialist for “Systematic Management” in the field of tourism and hospitality. His explanations agree with the observations of Marc Hildebrand, who has been working in leading positions at Hapag Lloyd, American Express, TQ3 and lastly at Accor Deutschland for over 20 years.

Austria fears for seasonal workers
20.10.2010

Vienna. In Austria's tourism, the number of open jobs increased by one third in September, according to the Austrian Hotel Association. Now, the industry fears a disadvantage on the labour market of the seasonal workers with respect to Germany.

VIP News

More responsibility

HI+More responsibility

Augsburg. Langham Hospitality appoints the Managing Director of the London hotel as COO of the group, NH Hotels has a new CFO, Victor Betro moves from Dubai to the Red Sea at Kempinski, Achat Hotels gives Marco Stumptner even more responsibility, and Commerz Real has a new head for global transactions.

Promotions

HI+Promotions

Augsburg. Orascom Development appoints Omar El Hamamsy as CEO, and ex Travel Charme Managing Director Thomas Haas now manages the hotel business of the Jagdfeld Group. Union Investment appoints Michael Bütter to the management team, Marcus Zorn is promoted to CEO at BNP Paribas Real Estate and Andrea Ludy takes over as GM of Hotel am Steinplatz, Berlin.

Time to change course

HI+Time to change course

Augsburg. Daniela Schade leaves Accor after 15 years, Starhotels appoints Francesco Brunetti as Managing Director, Michael Kain and Raoul Hölzle become GMs at Steigenberger, Cüneyt Sovuksu forms the new management team at Victor's Teistungenburg together with Steffen Radespiel, Maike Helmke moves to The Fontenay Hamburg and Ralph Katthöfer is responsible for two hotels in Rügen. Sabre appointed Tom Fecke as Country Manager DACH of Sabre, Travel Solutions a few weeks after extensive personnel changes in the USA.

Promotion

HI+Promotion

Augsburg. Antonello De Medici becomes hotel director at Hilton, Bernd Gieske moves to Travel Charme, André Vedovelli joins the board of directors at Elysée Hamburg and Chris Mumford will advise the Berlin recruiting company at LHC.

Careers with experience

HI+Careers with experience

Wiesbaden. Britta Beringer climbs the corporate ladder in Steigenberger Camp de Mar, Barbara Weisshaar becomes manager at Roomers Baden-Baden, Christian Veit climbs the Board of Directors of Deutsche Hypo and ZIA Managing Director Klaus-Peter Hesse moves to ECE.

Short-term changes

HI+Short-term changes

Augsburg. In Spain the founder of Tryp Hoteles, Rufino Calero, died. Hilton developer Ulrich Widmer leaves the company at short notice. Jan-Oliver Meding resigns from the board of Revitalis. And Gabriele Volz becomes the new CEO of Commerz Real.

Change of location

HI+Change of location

Augsburg. Ramsay Rankoussi and Daniel Trappler will be responsible for the development of the Africa and sub-Saharan business at Radisson Hotel Group. Reiner Sachau of Marriott International announced his retiring at the end of the year. Marc Hoffmann is new GM of A-Rosa Sylt, his predecessor Eckart Pfannkuchen will change to Deutsche Hospitality. HRS has appointed Iris Steinmetz as Senior Director Operations EMEA, Carole Ackermann was elected new President of Board of Directors of EHL in Lausanne and the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz has created an entire new position.

Unexpected changes

HI+Unexpected changes

Augsburg. James Sherwood, the founder of the Orient Express Hotels, passed away in mid-May. The former CEO of Commerz Real, Andreas Muschter, will become CFO of The Student Hotel. Kempinski manager Eike Clausen moves from Aqaba to Malta. Denis Hüttig is now in charge of the operations of all hotels of the Steigenberger brand. 25hours has internal changes for the hotels in Vienna and Zurich. Erik Florvaag, previously Art-Invest partner, takes over the management of Ghotel Hotels.The family-run Park-Hotel Egerner Höfe at lake Tegernsee in Bavaria has hired a new director after the sale of the hotel. A new man is also at the helm of the Maxx Hotel in Potsdam and a manager with experience in the USA has taken over the Arborea Hotel on the Baltic Sea.

Appointments all around the world

HI+Appointments all around the world

Augsburg. Joanna Gunn supports Rosewood as Chief Brand Officer. Matthias Heck, CFO Deutsche Hospitality, will leave the company. Cycas Hospitality strengthens its regional teams in France and Germany with five new appointments. Tabea Schalkowsky is the new Head of Marketing at Achat Hotels, Hotel BollAnts in Bad Kreuznach has a new director in Jörg Stricker, and Mews' Managing Director Bastian Stosic is now building up the hotel business with an eMobility provider.

Change of Chief

HI+Change of Chief

Augsburg. Felizitas Denz takes over the operation of the east Hotel Hamburg, Reiner Heilmann hands over the management of Hotel Sacher Vienna to Andreas Keese, and Gabriele Maessen is the new president of the Cornell Hotel Society Germany.

Careers and Farewells

HI+Careers and Farewells

Augsburg. Marriott International‘s Dave Grissen to retire, Penta Hotels Worldwide appointed Rogier Braakman as new Managing Director, Andreas Erben passed on his responsibilities as Managing Director of Gorgeous Smiling Hotels and Frank Rückner took over the management of Hotel Berlin in Berlin.

Change of leadership with CEOs and in operation

HI+Change of leadership with CEOs and in operation

Augsburg. Ajit Menon is promoted to Interim CEO at Meininger Hotels, the new CFO is Andrew Scott. Oliver Elsässer joins Brera Serviced Apartments in the operational division. Center Parcs appointed Andrea Nestle as General Manager of Park Allgäu in Leutkirch, Germany and Georgios Daskalakis moved to Abaton Island Resort in Crete.

Old and new faces at the top

HI+Old and new faces at the top

Augsburg. Steigenberger appoints André Witschi, an old acquaintance, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Dion Maes becomes General Manager of the 25hours in Paris and Travel Charme Hotels & Resorts fills two new management positions. Patrizia AG welcomes a new Co-CEO in Thomas Wels and says farewell to COO Klaus Schmitt, while Anna Heuer takes over the management of HSMA Germany.

Changes at the turn of the quarter

HI+Changes at the turn of the quarter

Augsburg. The coronavirus has displaced almost all other topics in the last week. For the change to the 2nd quarter of 2020 there were now news again, including a death notice due to corona. There were changes at B&B Hotels Italy, at QR Quality Reservations, Dorint Hotels, 25hours Bikini Berlin and Intercity Hotels. Furthermore, two well-known developers changed the company.

Coming and Going

HI+Coming and Going

Augsburg. IHG lets Martin Bowen and Caspar Kraushaar go and appoints Miguel Martins as Head of Development, Northern Europe. Deutsche Hospitality has to say goodbye to Gabriele Maessen and announces three new Area Managers and General Managers respectively. Andreas Kartschoke is the new director of the Hotel Bachmair am See and Janet Schroeder takes over the lead of Schlossgut Gross Schwansee.

Surprising switches and regional responsibilities

HI+Surprising switches and regional responsibilities

Augsburg. Frank Marrenbach switches from Oetker Collection to Althoff Hotels. Kempinski appoints Wafik Youssef as new Vice President Operations, Middle East & Africa, while at Millenium Hotels and Resorts Hamid Sidine takes over the role of Managing Director for Saudi Arabia and COO for Turkey and Africa. Rolf E-Brönnimann swaps the Budersand Hotel for the Savoy Hotel Baur au Ville and Martin Dell becomes General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague. There are new responsibilities for the German-speaking countries with Annette Hopfensperger at Accor Academy and Eric Tapper as Key Account at B&B Hotels.

New GMs and Directors

HI+New GMs and Directors

Augsburg. John Brady is the new Corporate Director E-Commerce at Vienna House. Kempinski, Wyndham and Pentahotels appoint new general managers: Richard Appelbaum, Helge Lütters and Carsten Schieck. And Savills strengthens its hotel investment team with Ann-Katrin Kaiser.

New responsibilities on corporate level

HI+New responsibilities on corporate level

Augsburg. Premier Inn appoints Ling Dross as Distribution Manager. At Novum Hospitality there is a coming and going: CFO Torsten Scholl leaves the company and will be replaced by Dr Stefan Gneuss. And B&B has a new Head of eBusiness in Klaas-Jan Meijer.

The momentum of new executives

HI+The momentum of new executives

Augsburg. Orascom mourns the loss of its CEO Khaled Bichara. – Six Senses hired a new CCO and LVMH a specialist in the hotel and restaurant business. Rosewoood extended the power of their VP Global Sales & Marketing, Radisson expanded the geographical responsibility for its Area Senior Vice President, and Kempinski created a new position for Global Sales and The Americas. Marriott expanded his EMEA marketing team. Kerten Hospitality hired its first Global Commercial Head, the German Althoff Group two new heads for the Ameron and Urban Loft brands. TUI Group has hired a new Director for Sustainability and in Berlin there is a new Director for the Hotel Bristol. The new, almost completed Loftststyle Hotel Hanover has found its director, Colliers International another senior consultant. There were also new elections at HEDNA.

New stuctures, new positions

HI+New stuctures, new positions

Augsburg. Unexpected GM change at Adlon Berlin: Matthias Al-Amiry is transferred to Singapore, Michael Sorgenfrey takes over. Palladium Hotels has a new President and a new CEO. Mark Sands is promoted to Vice President of Wellness at Six Senses. Robert van der Graaf will take up his position as Director Development for the DACH region at IHG Althoff Hotels appoints Martin Steiner as Director of Finance Ameron Switzerland and RIMC appoints two new hotel directors in Switzerland. Stefan Schwind replaces Andreas Johannes Kartschoke as Director at Elephant Weimar, who is retiring. The law firm Hogan Lovells is gaining a new partner in Sandra Handke. And Commerz Real is strengthening its commitment to sustainability with two new executives, Tobias Huzarski and Viola Joncic.

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