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

Premature and planned changes

HI+Premature and planned changes

Augsburg. After nearly ten years at the helm of Leading Hotels of the World, Ted Tend is leaving the company prematurely in April. Scandic has appointed Søren Faerber as the new head of Denmark. Mario Gubi is promoted to GM at the InterContinental Davos. Winfried Storm retires and leaves the Marriott Munich City Center to Jörg Kröter. Dorint starts 2019 in Switzerland with a new structure.

The expected and the unexpected

HI+The expected and the unexpected

Augsburg. Completely surprisingly, the Scandic Board replaced CEO Even Frydenberg last week. In Switzerland, Andreas Gartmann has left the Tschuggen Hotel Goup. Melià strengthens its Area Business Development at the German headquarters and welcomes two new hotel managers. After 17 years, Florian Schuetz returns from New York and takes over the Sofitel Frankfurt.

Company and role changes

HI+Company and role changes

Wiesbaden. Theodor Kubak becomes Managing Director of the new hospitality division of Arbireo Capital. Lee Kok Sun and Robert-Jan Foortse establish Acher Hotel Capital as a joint specialist for European hotel investments. Jason Simpson became VP Engineering at Choice Hotels Int. and Cristina Ramos the new operational manager of AccorHotels in Italy and Greece. Simone Sander is GM of the Dorint Hotel Herrenkrug Parkhotel in Magdeburg. Cornelia Kausch leaves Pandox after almost 13 years and becomes COO at a housing specialist. Rob Hornman is now on the road for HRS. Klaus Rohrbeck moved from AccorHotels to A&O as Head of Construction. Michaela Reitterer was confirmed as ÖHV President and in Italy Giorgio Palmucci was appointed the new President of the Italian tourism office ENIT.

Promotion to the turn of the year

HI+Promotion to the turn of the year

Wiesbaden. Prizeotel CEO hires a second Managing Director for the German market. At Dormero, Marcus Maximilian Wöhrl took over 100% of the company shares. Sigrid Köntopp became Senior Director Operations at Intercity Hotel, her predecessor Robert Boller Managing Director of Maxx Hotel GmbH. Ahmet Antepli leads the Kempinski Hotel The Dome in Antalya as General Manager and Benedikt Roos is in charge of the two 25hours hotels in Frankfurt. His predecessor Andreas Schnuerer moves to Hamburg as Key Account Manager for 25hours. Michael Artner is now Assistant General Manager at the Steigenberger Drei Moren in Augsburg and Nikolas Benedikt Grasmugg Deputy General Manager at the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm.

Coming and going

HI+Coming and going

Augsburg. In Italy, the founder of the Statuto Group was arrested. Deutsche Hospitality will welcome a new head of HR for the Group next April, while Anja Bachmann has decided to leave Meininger Hotels.

Handover

HI+Handover

Augsburg. Klaus Assmann starts for the second time at Sofitel Dubai Downtown, Marc K. Thiel says goodbye to Soravia Germany, and the Austrian tourism consultant Manfred Kohl hands over his lifework to a management team. Dr Michael Frenzel was also confirmed in office as President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry.

Big and small changes

HI+Big and small changes

Augsburg. After, as announced in May, Design Hotels founder Claus Sendlinger resigned at the end of November, a new Board has now formed – with a Marriott manager as chairman. Staycity appoints Wayne Arthur as CFO as Colm Whooley steps down. Heribert Gangl leaves Hamilton Hotel Partners in London. Rocco Forte Hotels has announced a GM for their second hotel in Rome. The Medical Wellness Resort Graeflicher Park in Germany has also appointed a new head for new projects. And David Kellett joins Invesco Real Estate's hotel fund management team.

The career wheel is spinning

HI+The career wheel is spinning

Wiesbaden. Dagmar Symes is the new General Manager of Anantara in Oman and Coro Ortiz de Artinano is the Commercial Director of The Dedica Anthology. At Sofitel Frankfurt Opera, Florian Schuetz became General Manager and Stefanie Schuster became Director of Sales & Marketing. At Maritim, Heike Schober takes over the management of the hotel in Munich and Frank Wilberg of the hotel in Ulm. Andreas Wieckenberg becomes General Manager of the Schlosshotel Kronberg; Hannes Horsch will manage the Romantik Hotel on the Wartburg in future. And, last but not least, A&O has appointed Chris Probst as its new Sales Manager for the DACH region.

Promotion in and around the hotel industry

HI+Promotion in and around the hotel industry

Wiesbaden. AccorHotels appoints Pierre-Charles Grob as CEO of Availpro and Fastbooking. Christian Hempel is the new Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty and Partnerships at IHG. Rüdiger von Stengel retires from Art-Invest as operational Managing Director. Aylin Nöske becomes GM at the IntercityHotel Dubai Jaddaf Waterfront and Frank Schönherr takes over the management of the Dorint Hotel Cologne am Heumarkt. Anton Birnbaum becomes GM in the Le Méridien Hamburg and Ralf Meister is the new manager of the a-ja resort Ruhpolding.

Big steps

HI+Big steps

Augsburg. Marriott International appoints Liam Brown as new head of Europe and successor of Amy McPherson. Radisson has appointed a new VP IT Service Management. Alexander Dürr takes the next career step at NH Hotels' corporate level. Jean-Jacques Gauer and Michael Mücke strengthen the supervisory boards of renowned hotel groups. Fabian Engels will further develop Althoff's new Urban Loft brand; Achiam Laurs will succeed him as Regional Director at Lindner Hotels. An experienced Kempinski manager takes over the boutique hotel Mauritzhof in Münster. And the young Bold Group from Munich hires a young manager from Munich for their property in the Giesing district.

Boss change

HI+Boss change

Augsburg. From April 2019, Marriott's European boss Amy McPherson will be pursuing her own plans in the USA; London rumours have already brought up the name of a possible successor. A former Starwood man now manages the luxury hotel Zur Tenne in Kitzbühel, Austria. There are new manangers in the Lindner Hotels in Hamburg and on the German island of Sylt, and the Schlosshotel Kronberg near Frankfurt has appointed a new "second" man. DER Touristik has reoccupied the top of its worldwide destination management.

Personal news from Germany and the world

HI+Personal news from Germany and the world

Wiesbaden. AccorHotels has appointed Sami Nasser and Marc Descrozaille as COOs for the Middle East. Ulrich Heim is General Manager of Swissôtel Bremen and Markus Wölflik of Steigenberger Hotel Zingst. Tatiana Kaczmarska takes over the management of the Premier Inn Hotel in Munich-Schwabing, P. David Kurzböck and Sonja Holzhauer will represent Konen & Lorenzen recruitment in the newly opened office in Vienna. Stefan Menden left Secret Escapes.

New job opportunities

HI+New job opportunities

Augsburg. Peter Verhoeven has discreetly left Booking.com. Ian Biglands finds new luck at a company specialized on nursing home properties, Chris-Norman Sauer climbs the latter at Premier Inn. Christian von Rechenberg is now second in charge at Baur au Lac Zurich. In Vienna, Gerhard Mitrovits hands over the Palais Hansen to Florian Wille. Robinson Club completes its leadership team again, and Christian Boell now develops the comprehensive cruise strategy for DER Touristik.

Farewells and Beginnings

HI+Farewells and Beginnings

Wiesbaden. Michael Zager has left IHG, Dirk Führer Falkensteiner, Stephan Demmerle NH Hotels and Tina Froboese Hotel Affairs Consulting. Andreas Drobniewski became Cluster Manager at Victor's Residenz Hotels, Ralf Adamczyk is now Director of the Welcome Hotel in Bad Arolsen and Andreas Kriener manages the Welcome Hotel Frankfurt. The Achat Premium Walldorf/Reilingen is now managed by Franziska Kubiciel. At Hotrec, the Dane Jens Zimmer Christensen was elected as successor of President Susanne Kraus-Winkler.

Resignations and changes

HI+Resignations and changes

Wiesbaden. At Rotana Hotels in Dubai, Guy Hutchinson succeeds Omer Kaddouri, who is moving to Europe, as President and CEO. At Hyatt, Joan Bottarini will succeed Patrick Grismer as Chief Financial Officer. Kerstin Gilbert is now Regional Sales Director at Premier Inn Germany, Ian Biglands will leave the group. And Björn Achstaller has taken over as General Manager of the Dorint Airport Hotel Zurich.

New jobs in the DACH region

HI+New jobs in the DACH region

Wiesbaden. Financial expert Michael Kowalzik has joined Brera as Managing Director and shareholder. Tim Weiland becomes GM of The Alpina Gstaad and Susan Fahrnholz Director of Maritim Hafenhotel Rheinsberg. Dorint announced new managers in Bitburg, Bremen and Cologne Junkersdorf with Kerstin Kohnen, Daniela Mäckle and Jörg Senior.

On to new shores

HI+On to new shores

Wiesbaden. AccorHotels promotes Chris Cahill and Jean-Jacques Morin. Constantin and Julia von Deines take over the management of the Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden in Austria. Christoph Grödel becomes host in the Schwabinger Wahrheit of Geisel family in Munich. Marion Gigl becomes Head of Marketing & Sales at Robinson Club and Kathrin Jung joins CBRE as Director for EMEA Hotel Investment Properties where Colin became Low Head of Hotel Investment Properties.

New career steps in Europe

HI+New career steps in Europe

Wiesbaden. Duncan O'Rourke will join AccorHotels as COO Central Europe in addition to his duties in the luxury sector, and IHG will fill two new regional positions in Europe with Mario Maxeiner and Eric Viale. Nikolai Bloyd is moving to Geisel Hotels as COO, Salvatore Longo is the new GM of the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte in Viareggio and Gianmarco Nasti became Managing Director of the Tambolo Talasso Resort in Tuscany. Steffen Seichter becomes GM of the Scandic Emporio Hamburg and Thomas Marusczyk runs the Welcome Hotel Euskirchen. Stefan Schwind is now director of the Hotel Kloster Johannisberg in Geisenheim. Christian Hinteregger became Managing Director at PKF tourismexperts and Philipp Kunz joins Union Investment.

Rejuvenation into top positions

HI+Rejuvenation into top positions

Augsburg. With the complete takeover of Mövenpick by AccorHotels, Olivier Chavy has resigned as CEO at Mövenpick. Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz streamlines its management. Achat Hotels appointed Philipp von Bodman as new managing director for the group; Wilhelm Kotter will retire. Erik van Kessel takes over operations at Maritim Hotels. Ruby CEO Michael Struck appointed six employees to the extended management board. Alltours founder Willli Verhuven makes himself chairman of the management board. Consultant Bernd Maesse and hotelier Edgar Lichter have joined forces to form a consulting company. And Lore König, an international marketing and sales professional, has joined Lobster Experience.

New challenges

HI+New challenges

Augsburg. AccorHotels puts its own leader in place at South African Mantis Group: Philippe Baretaud. Axel Bethke has been appointed General Manager of the Kempinski Hotel Bahia, Estepona-Marbella, Spain. Chair-moving on the executive floor of the Dormero Hotels: Carsten Kritz becomes the new COO, the previous COO is promoted to CEO. In Bad Honnef, the former Avendi Hotel will soon be given a new brand name and Thomas Steger will lead the hotel into the next few years.

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