Topic HR

News & Stories

Hospitality Manager on the move (1): Sonu Shivdasani, Six Senses
The long haul perfectionist
23.9.2005

 

Bangkok. He doesn't drive the car, he works in it. But mostly he doesn't need one anyway: Sonu Shivdasani spends one tenth of his time in the air. Bangkok-Maldives-Oman-Athens-London-Hua Hin-Bangkok…. The CEO of the Asian Six Senses Resorts & Spas has the misfortune of having to be mobile. His luxury resorts are scattered throughout the most beautiful islands in the most undiscovered corners of Asia and Europe. The frequent flight guest thus likes to travel with maximum efficiency.

Reto Wittwer CEO of Kempinski Hotels for 10 years
The luxury man
16.9.2005

Munich. He officially called from Singapore for another reason. He only marginally mentioned what was really important to him: On July 26, Reto Wittwer had been CEO and President of Kempinski Hotels for ten years. Only Kurt Ritter of Rezidor SAS Hospitality has been in office for a longer term. The interview about Reto's anniversary reveals some hitherto unknown details about Wittwer himself.

Fictionary hoteliers' salaries
9.9.2005

Zurich.  A Swiss financial newspaper published the salaries of the150 top earners in Switzerland. Four wellknown hotel managers are to be found among them. But they deny to have been asked about it.

Chances and conditions for young and old GM on different markets
Systematic rotation
9.9.2005

Munich. In Dubai, there are more General Managers on the market than posts available. In Eastern Europe, however, the demand is high. Germany remains an attractive location, although there are comparably few open positions. Maria Puetz-Willems talked with Antje Maesse, the Managing Director of Haystax in Munich and her Global Network partners in Istanbul and London about the chances and conditions for young and old General Managers on the domestic and foreign market. Haystax is specialized in placing executives.

Performance linked bonuses lead to better results
Overview: Bonus schemes for executives
9.9.2005

London. `People are our most valuable asset' is the preferred mantra of many a company these days with more and more firms emphasising that it is their employees which give them the edge in an increasingly competitive marketplace. One has the impression with some of these companies that these grandiose statements are in fact empty words. An overview about effective talent management, bonus plans and reward schemes for all departments and different hotel types.

FOCUS staff: More and more companies rely on personality tests
Reading the coffee grounds:Only 10 out of 100 tests on scientific grounds
2.9.2005

Munich. More and more companies count on personality tests as regards staff selection or team development. However, most of them are neither worth their money nor scientifically backed up. A look at the industry.

FOCUS staff: About the sense and nonsense of personality tests
The less ado, the more information
2.9.2005

Stuttgart. Good interviews resemble good tests. In order to separate the good tests for selecting employees from the mountains of unserious offers, one would need some kind of "Consumers' Association". Baerbel Schwertfeger interviewed the renowned diagnostics expert and psychology professor at Hohenheim University near Stuttgart, Heinz Schuler.

FOCUS staff: Even professors allow themselves to be used for dubious matters
Tests today, dog food tomorrow
2.9.2005

Munich. Due to lacking know-how of human resources managers and providers of personality tests becoming cleverer, applicants frequently have to cope with dubious tests.

Hotel Managers want fair terms on bonuses
Unattainable - guaranteed!
19.8.2005

Augsburg. In times like these the hotel groups set targets so high, that no manager can realistically achieve bonus targets short of working a small miracle. A highly sensitive issue, as our survey soon determined. By far not every General Manager was willing to state his view. The background to the survey is formed by a recent study confirming that the trend towards performance related pay is on the increase.

Manager Salaries: Performance related payment models increase
Freezing of fixed salaries
19.8.2005

Augsburg. The trend towards performance related manager salaries in the hotel industry is becoming increasingly widespread. This was confirmed by an extensive survey carried out by a German Staff Consultancy firm. 93 percent of the 186 representatives of top management who were questioned thought that variable payment models, that is, fixed salary plus performance related bonuses, would take further hold over the next few years. Only two years ago the percentage of respondents holding the same opinion was four points lower. This trend is confirmed by other personnel consultants and headhunters, too.

VIP News

Change of location

HI+Change of location

Augsburg. Jennifer Fox left Fairmont Hotels, Mandarin Oriental appoints a new person in charge for Northern Europe and Russia, Sebastian Kessel now runs the Courtyard Marriott Basel, his colleague Klaas Fongers takes over the Courtyard and Residence Inn Muenchen. Andreas Johannes Kartschoke is new General Manager of the Hotel Elephant in Weimar, and Nicole Adam is to enforce standards at Castlewood Hotels. Germany also has a new commissioner for tourism.

Change of General Managers

HI+Change of General Managers

Wiesbaden. Emaar Hospitality appointed Mehdi Morad and Riad Abi Haidar as General Managers for the hotels Adress Boulevard and Adress Dubai Marina in Dubai. At Lindner Hotels, the experienced Robinson manager Tom Pick takes on the management of the resort in Portals Nous, Mallorca. Hard Rock International appointed a new Head of Global Hotel Development. A-ja hired the director for its first city resort in Zurich, and hotelier Mario Pick switched to a head hunter.

Worldwide careers

HI+Worldwide careers

Wiesbaden. Gebhard Rainer is now CEO at Sandals, Ralph Tiergart is now appointed Vice President and GM of the extended stay brands ofr Choice, and Roland Elter steps up to management of Maritim Hotels. Constantin and Julia von Deines will leave Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden in May. Novum expands their HR department with Olaf Back and Kirsten Stein. Johannes Mayr now officially supports the leadership team at Sofitel Munich Bayerpost. Leonardo Hotels fill their management positions in southern Germany with Stephan Loewel, Yannick Goossens, Tim Ziegler, and Jacolien Benes.

Experience counts

HI+Experience counts

Wiesbaden. Currently, many experienced managers are changing jobs: At Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group, Agron Berisa has become the new COO and succeeds Jan Hein Simons in this position; at Deutsche Hospitality, three executives have assumed new responsibilities. Dagmar Zechmann left the Westin Hamburg unexpectedly, Anthony Ross is now the new CEO at JA Resorts, and Birgit Conix has been appointed TUI's Chief Financial Officer. Preferred is expanding their female managerial levels. Brent Bouldin joined Choice as VP Marketing, and Roman Barthelmann is the new Regional Director Sales & Marketing at Rocco Forte Germany. The new GM at Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski Riyadh is Christian Ruge, the GM at me and all Mainz is Holger Hanselmann, at Dorint Meissen it's Mark Anton. And Rafal Rosiejak has been named General Manager at Colliers Int. in Poland.

Surprising changes

HI+Surprising changes

Augsburg. Airbnb is able to win over a top manager of Amazon Prime; Fabrice Collet is the new CEO at B&B Hotels. Karl Schattmaier has a new position – at Welcome Hotels. Hilton has a new Chief Information and Digital Officer. Matthias Niemeyer takes over Development Europa at Adina, and Dorint has hired an eCommerce specialist.

Names and fates

HI+Names and fates

Augsburg. Former Starwood manager Michael P. Wale succeeded Gabriel Pérès becoming CEO of One&Only. Wolfgang Greiner left Mandarin Oriental Munich and the hotel group. Welcome Hotels CEO Christian Kettlitz also left the company. Roland Paar exited from Amedia Hotels as a Partner and Managing Director. Italian Valtur Group clarifies rumours about leadership. Ardi Goldmann, former 25hours partner, has to serve his sentence in prison due to a bribery scandal.

No extensions or transfers

HI+No extensions or transfers

Augsburg. Four Seasons CEO J. Allen Smith will not renew his contract. Choice Hotels pushes its technology by appointing a new Chief Technology Officer, Wyndham has a new president for EMEA, Albeck & Zehden hires a new GM for the Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre, Travel Charme gets a new lead for the Ifen Hotel in Kleinwalsertal, and arcona follows suit for the new Living-Hotel in Wetzlar. HRS strengthens its power for small and medium-sized business customers.

International leadership positions in focus

HI+International leadership positions in focus

Wiesbaden. Steigenberger Dubai appointed Taras Ettl as new Managing Director for the region and, in Miami, Luis Riu is in trouble with the prosecution. Uwe Prein stepped up into management of alltours España, former head of Swiss Tourism, Juerg Schmid is now involved at The Living Circle, and Miriam Malzkeit is spearheading Forens Resort & Suites in Switzerland.

Worldwide change

HI+Worldwide change

Wiesbaden. Karin Sheppard is appointed Managing Director, Europe for IHG, Leonardo restructures its top management and promotes Daniel Roger and Yoram Biton. Pascale Lagadère is new Vice President Human Resources at pentahotels, Michael Fruin joined Choice Hotels as Regional Vice President for the Northeast, and Martin Henning now runs the Design Hotel Zum Loewen in Duderstadt, Germany.

Farewell and a fresh start

HI+Farewell and a fresh start

Augsburg. Moevenpick has a new president for the Middle East and Africa. Jan Hein Simons, COO of Falkensteiner Hotels in Vienna, left the company. Juergen Buellesbach is not going to renew his contract as CEO at Bayerische Hausbau in Munich. TUI Group created the new function of Chief Digital Officer.

Strategists in demand

HI+Strategists in demand

Augsburg. Yesterday, Thomas Willms has been appointed CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG. Rezidor hires a new expert on financial transformations; A&O Hotels also gets a Chief Investment Officer. NH has a new managing director for Southern Europe. Kempinski Hotels makes two German GMs running its flagships in Bangkok and Abu Dhabi. Novum gets support for its Leisure Sales department at the base in Hamburg, operator Odyssey strengthens his team of the AC by Marriott Hotel in Mainz, Georg Plesser at the Rocco Forte Hotel Villa Kennedy Frankfurt receives assistance, Adina hires a well-known GM for its new property in Copenhagen, and Christie & Co expands its teams in Frankfurt and Munich.

2018 brings new managers

HI+2018 brings new managers

Wiesbaden. Moevenpick farewelled Andreas Mattmueller into his retirement and Jumeirah appoints Jose Silva as new CEO. With Thomas Hertkorn, A&O has a new Head of Online Marketing. Sascha Knese was appointed Regional Director of Revenue Management Europe at Pestana, and Axel Missner General Manager of the Pestana Berlin Tiergarten. Irmela Heinsius becomes Pre-Opening & General Manager of the Hotel Alsik in Sønderborg, for the second time Tanja Wegmann becomes General Manager of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel and Michele Rinaldini holds the same position at Swiss Hotel Belvedere Locarno. Jan Hartwig leads the new Scandic Frankfurt Museumsufer, Andreas Drobniewski is now Director of Victor's Residenz-Hotel Berlin-Tegel and at Derag, Magnus Schwartze and Daniel Gust relocate but remain in their roles. Kay Plesse took over management of the Atlantic Grand Hotel Travemuende in December, Stefan Winistoerfer is now Director of the Sofitel Berlin Kurfuerstendamm and Holger Flory has taken on the position of Director Commercial at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof.

New year, new roles

HI+New year, new roles

Augsburg. The new board has taken over at Best Western's European parent company DEHAG; at the traditional hotel Raphael Altona in Hamburg, the director retired after 36 years. The long-time Managing Director Hartmut Pirl left Saminaris Hotels after 20 years. Martina Eggler moved from CWT to HRS. Gutheinz Family from the Austrian spa resort Jungbrunn promoted the HR manager to director. Novum is hiring more employees for its new nui brand. The Austrian Hotelier Association newly appointed its regional representatives. Munich Hotel Partners welcomes a new Chief Commercial Officer.

Change around the end of the year

HI+Change around the end of the year

Wiesbaden. Armin Roedel is Head of Finance at Motel One, Carlson Rezidor expands the Business Development Division in Italy and Great Britain with Mauro Vinci and Adela Cristea. Nikolas von Olberg is appointed new Director Franchise-Service for Central and Eastern Europe at Choice Hotels in Munich. Pascal Rueegg and Ute Dirks take on new leading positions at Moevenpick in Switzerland. Eliza Artiaga becomes General Manager of Vida Downtown in Dubai. David Falter is now President of the Hotel-Division Roomlt by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and Gerardo Solaro del Borgo is new CEO of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi.

New GMs and Chairmen

HI+New GMs and Chairmen

Wiesbaden. Accor Paris has sent Laurent Picheral back to Munich; he will switch back from AccorInvest to AccorHotels. New CEO Europe of AccorHotels is a 40-year-old from outside the sector. Hilton has appointed a new Marketing Officer for global business. Moevenpick appoints Mark Willis to new President Asia, Martina Maly-Gaertner joins Arabella Hospitality as COO. At Warimpex, Daniel Folio follows in the footsteps of Georg Folian as new CFO and board member. The Steigenberger Hotels in Jena have new general managers, so do the Roomers Hotels in Baden-Baden and Frankfurt. The well-known Seehotel Krautkraemer in Muenster-Hiltrup is now led by Joachim Freche.

Growth with experienced staff

HI+Growth with experienced staff

Wiesbaden. In view of the expansion plans, 25hours strengthen their management with Christoph Hoffmann, Britta Doenselmann is promoted to General Manager at Adagio access Muenchen, and Brian Staudenmaier takes the lead at Adagio Muenchen City.

Surprising changes

HI+Surprising changes

Augsburg. Daniel Ruff left Wyndham and changed to Belmond. German Dorint Hotels expands management: After Karl-Heinz Pawlizki was appointed CEO in October, a former IHG colleague Joerg T. Boeckeler has also been brought on board as COO. The Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten has surprisingly separated from Managing Director Axel Ludwig; in January Holger Schroth, up to now at the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, will take on the reins. Having left Nassauer Hof, Thorsten Sander arrived at Malta. Tour operator alltours has appointed Michael Kalt, an IT graduate, on to its management board.

New jobs

HI+New jobs

Augsburg. prizeotel appointed a Chief Digital Officer. Becky Dimant assumes new responsibilities at Associated Luxury Hotels, a young manager runs the Comfort Hotel Ulm/Blaustein. Wolfgang M. Neumann has been announced the new chairman at Hotelschool The Hague.

Confirmed or promoted?

HI+Confirmed or promoted?

Augsburg. Relais & Châteaux confirms Philippe Gombert as President. Robin Kornman becomes Head of Loyalty Marketing & CRM of Global Hotel Alliance. Joseph Chong, new Area Vice President of Peninsula Hotels, now also manages the flagship hotel in Hong Kong. Steigenberger Hotel and Spa Krems announces its new General Manager, while Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof welcomes its new deputy director. With Henk R. Oosterhuis, the industry has lost a highly active but amicable hotelier this week.

New Job or new split

HI+New Job or new split

Augsburg. Christoph Mares becomes COO of Mandarin Oriental Hotels; in addition, further colleagues are promoted to executive level. After only nine months, COO Mario Pick leaves the rapidly expanding Novum Group Hotels; at the same time, there is a new face at the Novum brand niu. The new VP Sales and Marketing of Deutsche Hospitality comes from Moevenpick. Rosewood appointed an ex-Starwood manager as new Chief Development Officer. After ten years, Sabres Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Kennedy has left the company.

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