Topic HR

News & Stories

At the interface between real estate and hotel
25.3.2010

Berlin. He sees himself today as a "mediator" between property owner and construction industry, as hotelier among real estate economists and as architect among hoteliers. Five years ago, as Olaf Steinhage went into self-employment and set up "hospitality concepts" in Berlin, none of this was even clear to him. Meanwhile, the number of employees has grown from six to 18 and the reference list of hotel and resort projects is long. The real estate economist has taken residence in his niche: As service provider, it's sometimes the banks, sometimes project developers and sometimes hotel groups that now ask for his support.

The Syngenuity Group: Welf Ebeling and colleagues founded a new company
Locally analysed, globally linked
3.3.2010

New York. Nearly one year ago, Welf Ebeling and Marshall Calder left the Leading Hotels of the World. The former disappointment of the long-year Leading managers about the style-less separation procedure at the time has been transformed in new and positive energy. Welf Ebeling founded “The Syngenuity Group” in New York - in addition to his colleague Marshall Calder, he took on board several external, experienced and effectively networked partners in Europe and Asia. The result is not a new market presence, but a team that provides consultation services in questions of marketing, sales and operations and is also able to connect to hotel companies and industrial businesses as an external office. The Syngenuity Group thinks and works globally.

Analysis of CEO turnover at the 50 largest hotel companies
Staying for stability
26.1.2010

London. With profits plunging and companies adopting a remorseless focus on creating efficiency, one would have been forgiven for expecting senior leadership to come under the microscope; and for there to be some resultant upheaval. A study of CEO turnover at the 50 largest hotel companies in the world reveals however that a change in the company's Chief Executive declined by over 50% in 2009 from 2008. Furthermore, succession rate in 2009 is the lowest it has been for the past five years.

Munich University launches first master in hospitality management
Master degree becomes standard
20.1.2010

Munich. In March, the Department of Tourism of Munich University for Applied Sciences will see the first German master degree programme in hospitality management. Close collaboration with renowned hotel companies has already been concluded, as the study will be a full-time programme instead of running alongside with work. Based on real-life specifications, the university expects high demand. By 2015, Accor wants 10 percent of its General Managers to have a master degree. An interview with Professor Dr. Burkhard von Freyberg, who is responsible for the master programme.

In company succession, it's not always common sense that prevails
An emotional moment
13.1.2010

Wiesbaden. For many hotel owners, another year ended in which no successor has been found. Thousands of transfers of undertakings are set to follow in the coming years in Europe's SME-dominated hotel industry. Those with no suitable successor in the family must make early preparations for an alternative solution. But even the family-operated hotels with successors in their own ranks face a whole range of problems. An analysis of the possibilities and the uncertainties.

Founding: Leading Learning Institute
10.12.2009

Frankfurt. On the occasion of the annual convention of The Leading Hotels of the World at the end of November in Venice, Ted Teng, President and CEO, announced the new training initiative of Leading Hotels worldwide called Leading Learning Institute.

Despite crisis: Hotel boom continues – Dubai and UAE continue to recruit staff
Experienced singles preferred
25.11.2009

Dubai. The glittering city of Dubai has always been good at providing surprising paradoxes: The once booming market has currently fallen into a deep depression and the plug has been pulled on many projects. As a result, hotel employees, including managers, have had to leave the country within the shortest space of time. All the same, hotel staff are now again being recruited – and this time it's not only in Dubai but throughout the entire region, in particular in Abu Dhabi. The paradox is that staff who still have a job are preferred. Criteria used to select staff are quite different to traditional criteria used in Europe. Ulrich Wilhelm, Director for the Middle East, Africa and Switzerland at the consultancy Konen & Lorenzen, Dusseldorf, compares the two cultures.

University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef with new campus in Bavaria
Investors: Good times for privately funded education
15.10.2009

Bad Reichenhall. "Investing in privately funded education is like investing in a 5-star hotel," Dr Florian Schuetz compares with a smile, "but we're very satisfied with our investment up to now." The 41-year old business graduate from Munich owns 23% of the University of Applied Scienes Bad Honnef Bonn; two third are held by the private equity company Auctus in Munich. Schuetz acquired the UAS Bad Honnef Bonn in 2007. Last week, the institution was extended to take in a further campus in Germany - in Bad Reichenhall close to Salzburg and the Austrian border. The new location was previously the seat of the former Steigenberger Hotel Institute. This is now called the Steigenberger Academy. On the fringes of the opening celebrations, there was more news: Investors in education have also purchased a new UAS in former East Germany. And this won't be the last. Florian Schuetz and Auctus are rapidly becoming the largest investors in private tourism and hotel education in Germany. Their vision: "We want to establish a wide range of education."

Award for age-appropriate human resources policy
30.9.2009

Washington. The Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel in Singapore is the only hotel among ten award winners worldwide that was distinguished by an American organisation for elderly people for its innovative and age-appropriate human resources policy.

New collective bargaining agreement for the Swiss hospitality industry
10.7.2009

Bern. After two years of hard negotiating, a new collective bargaining agreement for the Swiss hospitality industry has now been concluded by six social partners.

VIP News

New jobs from Australia to Valencia

HI+New jobs from Australia to Valencia

Wiesbaden. RIMC has upgraded in HR and Controlling with Jana Thielsen and Johannes Louris, The Welcome Hotel in Wesel has a new Director, Relais & Châteaux Italia has a new President and La Vie Hotels has a new Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Terme die Saturnia has strengthened its management team and Fairmas has a new location in Valencia with an experienced manager.

Career leaps at the turn of the year

HI+Career leaps at the turn of the year

Augsburg. Rotana has now officially appointed Guy Hutchinson as the new President and CEO. At NH Rogier M. Hurkmans takes the position of Regional Operations Director for 21 hotels in Germany and Austria. Roomers Munich has a new hotel manager in Fabian Ahrendt, and Benjamin Ploppa changed from BNP Paribas to Christie & Co Germany.

Grief and anticipation

HI+Grief and anticipation

Augsburg. On New Year's Day the founder of the German Lindner Hotels, Otto Linder, passed away. The revenue management specialist IDeaS also mourns the passing of its top manager Fabian Specht. – B&B Germany Managing Director Max Luscher becomes regional CEO for Central and Northern Europe. Kempinski now announces new names at management level almost weekly: this week a new VP HR and a new VP Global Sustainability. At Seetel, Walter Neumann as CED now has the operation under his belt. At JLL Hotels, Heidi Schmidtke has taken over the management, Stefan Giesemann has left. TUI Suisse is looking for a successor for its CEO Martin Wittwer. Leonardo is strengthening Convention Sales, and the Dutch Duco E. de Vries is now taking over Bahrain as GM.

Goodbye and hello

HI+Goodbye and hello

Augsburg. Andrea Jörger advances to Chief Developer at RIMC. Peter Habelitz is the new CFO at the Dutch operator Cycas Hospitality. Fritz Joussen remains TUI CEO until 2025,. Now Sasha Brin also leaves the Kempinski development team in Geneva. Kempinski-GM Martin Cramer will remain at the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi under the new operator Mandarin Oriental. The new GM of Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy Frankfurt comes from Munich and the Director of Europäischer Hof Hamburg comes from Cologne.

Internal promotions

HI+Internal promotions

Augsburg. Selina has a new Managing Director for Germany and Austria: Graham Major-Ex. Sonnenhotels complements its management board with Mathias Laux. Tobias Hannemann takes over the position of Corporate Director of Operations at NOVUM Hospitality. Carsten Werblow moves to the Gambino Hotel Werksviertel as Director and hands over his previous position.

The personnel carousel is spinning fast

HI+The personnel carousel is spinning fast

Augsburg. Christophe Piffaretti is the new Chief Development Officer of Kempinski Hotels, Melissa Salibi becomes Chief Human Resources Officer and Marcel Kleffner VP Finance Europe. The first two are now also members of the Management Board. Hartmut Schröder makes way for Fleming's family offspring. Planteno Germany has a new Head of Finance. The Tschuggen Hotel Group has a new double head. In addition, there will be many GM changes and no CEO at Expedia any more.

Surprising changes

HI+Surprising changes

Augsburg. Svein Arild Stehen-Mevold takes over as Chief Portfolio Officer at Scandic at the turn of the year. Max Gross takes over Rober van der Graaf's duties at Radisson. The 12.18. group of companies brings Johann Kerkhofs on board. While Martin Brehm becomes the new GM of Maxx by Steigenberger Bad Honnef, Lina Wolf takes over the management of me and all Hotel Kiel. Stefan D. Ringgenberg became GM of Schloss Fuschls.

New week, new faces

HI+New week, new faces

Augsburg. Christian Renz is now CCO of the Corinthia Hotels. At the turn of the year Melanie Weiler becomes Head of Business Development at Geisel Privathotels. While Bastian Becker becomes GM Frankfurt Area, Andreas Gräber-Stuch takes over as GM at Melia Vienna. Maximilian Müller-Huck takes over the newly created position of Director Operations at Halberbacher Hospitality. As part of the transformation process, MRP Hotels Wien expands its management team.

New appointments

HI+New appointments

Augsburg.Mike Hämmerli, Senior VP Development and Member of the Management Board, has left Kempinski Hotels. Huazhu changes its Senior Leadership to drive international expansion. Sabre appoints Frank Trampert as Managing Director & Chief Commercial Officer, EMEA and APAC, Sabre Hospitality Solutions. With Lukas Willhöft, 25hours has a new Development Director Europe. Achat Hotels has appointed a new Director of Leisure Sales and two new Cluster General Managers. Marc Wachal has been responsible for the Munich Airport Marriott Hotel in Freising since July. And the Cornell Hotel Society's German Chapter has elected a new board and President.

New ascents on the career ladder

HI+New ascents on the career ladder

Augsburg. Kristin Intress isCEO at Worldhotels with immediate effect. Choice Hotels appoints Raul Ramirez Senior Vice President of International Strategic Planning. New CCO at Corinthia is Christian Renz. Three new General Managers for IntercityHotel. Jörg Arnold takes over from Regula and Jan E. Brucker as General Manager at Widder Hotels. Anna Hoffmann is the new General Manager at 25hours. New management at Trivago.

The responsibility increases

HI+The responsibility increases

Augsburg. Kempinski Hotels appointed Benedikt Jaschke as Chief Quality Officer and member of the Management Board. Roger Müller is now a member of the Management Board of the Holiday Home Division. me and all hotels strengthen their management with Maximilian Abele as Corporate Brand Manager. Annette Krumrey is the new Director of the Steigenberger Hotel Thüringer Hof Eisenach.

New management, new positions

HI+New management, new positions

Augsburg. LHW appoints Shannon Knapp as next President & Chief Executive Officer. New double leadership at Convivio with Daniel Frey and Marcus Bartenstein. Steve Carroll becomes Senior Vice President Capital Investments & Transactions. Birgit Eisbrenner becomes Regional Director Australia and New Zealand at A-Rosa. Gebeco founder hands over management to Michael Knapp and Thomas Bohlander.

The big carousel

HI+The big carousel

Augsburg. The two top heads of prizeotel will remain with the company, even after Radisson has taken over the budget design group. Almost three months after the new CEO took office, Kempinski announces the first personnel changes. Hilton lets well-known heads rotate, also because Rudi Jagersbacher says goodbye in the Middle East. GCH Hotel Group has made its COO CEO. Althoff has found a GM for Ameron Zurich. And Gert Prantner has retired from RIMC Hamburg; the internal restructuring that has been underway for some time is now complete.

New positions and reinforced management levels

HI+New positions and reinforced management levels

Augsburg. Frank Holzapfel, shareholder of J.T. Ronnefeldt KG, died last Wednesday. Uwe Jenssen complements the management team of the 7 Days Premium Hotels in Europe. The new position as CCO at Vienna House will be taken over by Dirk Führer. Anton Reichl also becomes the new CFO at Arabella Hospitality and completes the management of the company. Siim Karu is now Chief Revenue Officer at a&o.

Changes and opportunities

HI+Changes and opportunities

Augsburg. Georg Plesser from Rocco Forte Hotel Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt succeeds Henning Matthiesen at the Excelsior Cologne. Grand Bellevue Gstaad in Switzerland hires an internationally experienced manager as GM. Michael Bungardt leaves the expansive GSH Hotels and founds his own company. Achat Hotels continues to build up structures with a Revenue Manager, Althoff with a new VP Engineering. IntercityHotels rotates four GMs. And STR London was sold to an American data analyst.

Mergers, cooperations and new positions

HI+Mergers, cooperations and new positions

Wiesbaden. Last Friday, Barron Hilton, the son of founder Conrad Hilton, passed away. The consulting companies of Olaf Steinhage and Martin Schaffer merge. In addition, Kohl & Partner and pkf hotelexperts Vienna announce a closer cooperation. Kai Wientapper is now with Highstreet Group and Giampaolo Padula GM of Aman Venice Palazzo. In Frankfurt, Eduard Singer is drawn to Novum's IHG three franchise operations. Best Western Europe has a new Director Conference Service, Leonardo a Director HR Operations. Peter Krüger and Matias Kiep take up new positions at TUI AG. American Express GBT has a new CEO and Choice a Chief Transformation Officer.

New Heads

HI+New Heads

Augsburg. Daniela Fette-Rakowski has taken over the management of Jumeirah Frankfurt. Best Western reports two new appointments: Serhat Götz as Director Leisure Sales and Sebastian Prang as new Director at Seehotel Krautkrämer. And with Max Oehler Selina has found a general manager for its hotel locations in Berlin.

New Careers

HI+New Careers

Augsburg. B&B Hotels expands its management team with two Directors for Development/Acquisitions and Finance. Leonardo Hotels provides a new cluster GM in Frankfurt for Central Europe. Stephan Boesch returns from The Lanesborough London to Oetker Collection headquarters in Baden-Baden. And Wilko Weber joins Kempinski in Geneva as a revenue and digital strategist.

VIPs: From luxury to student hotels

HI+VIPs: From luxury to student hotels

Augsburg. Hilton's new luxury collection has found a new director with Feisal Jaffer. From now on, Willem van der Zee will manage all event hotels in Europe, while Oliver Fudickar, Executive Director DACH at Vienna House, will concentrate on the hotels in German-speaking countries. Richard Schestak will move as General Manager from Fairmont to Kempinski and from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok. In the same position, Philip Ibrahim will be responsible for the launch of The Student Hotel in Berlin.

New bosses all over the world

HI+New bosses all over the world

Augsburg. Karelle Lamouche is Accor's new CCO for Europe, at Airbnb Kathrin Anselm took  over the management in DACH, Eastern Europe and Russia. Christoph Eichbaum joins the investment team of Union Investment, Christoph Härle starts with his own company. Christie & Co brings three young experts on board. Raphael Krucker will be the new CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG from 2020. Hard Rock hires Antonio Alvarez to Madrid as GM, Kempinski welcomes three new GMs. The Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotels and the Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint are also under new management.

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