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Global update: Hotelier of the World awards
Vote for HOTELS 2012 Hotelier of the World awards!
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For the 32nd year this November, HOTELS will present the Hotelier of the World
awards. This month, we present the nominees for the Corporate and Independent
awards and ask you to go online to vote at www.hotelsmag.com/how2012.
When considering the ballots, remember HOTELS award program recognizes the
individuals and their careers – not the companies they have worked for. Our criteria
includes how they have defined standards of service excellence and performance,
demonstrated creativity in management and style, and what they have done to
improve and promote the global hotel industry.
The winners will be profiled in the November issue and formally recognized at an
event in New York City that same month.
Again, to cast your ballot, go to www.hotelsmag.com/how2012. Each subscriber to
HOTELS is allowed just one vote as the system is set up not to allow multiple votes.
Non-subscribers cannot vote.
Independent nominees
Jean-Jacques Gauer, general manager, Lausanne Palace & Spa, Switzerland
Regarded as a creative leader who is highly respected by his owners, staff and peers,
Gauer has been running the Lausanne Palace since 1996. He is, perhaps, best known
for his chairmanship of The Leading Hotels of the World from 1990 to 2010.
Today, Gauer also serves on the board of several Swiss hotels and manages sister
properties, including Château d’Ouchy, Lausanne, ‘Lhotel Flon, Lausanne, as well as
Hôtel des 3 Couronnes, Vevey, Switzerland.
Among his earlier experiences in the 1970s, Gauer worked at well-regarded Swiss
hotels such as the Hôtel de la Paix in Geneva and the Dolder Grand in Zurich.
After those initial experiences, the Swiss-born father of two worked as general
manager Gauer Hotels & Restaurants, which included four hotels in Greece, one in
Spain and East Jerusalem, five in Switzerland, as well as five restaurants in his native
land.
Gregory Meadows, general manager, The Sukhothai, Bangkok
Meadows started his career shoveling coal into ovens in The Savoy Hotel kitchen in
London, followed by stints as a waiter at The Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne,
Switzerland, back to The Savoy as Chef de Brigade on the reception desk and then to
the banqueting department at Grosvenor House.
While at The Park Lane Hotel, Kurt Wachtveitl called to offer Meadows a resident
manager’s position. From there he helped open The Conrad Hong Kong via The St.
James’ Club, Antigua, and then returned to Bangkok at The Delta Grand Pacific.
The Sukhothai, priding itself on attention to detail and sensitive service, beckoned
for the first time in 1996, and then again in 2008 after the motivational leader first
left to open the Conrad Bangkok in 2001.
When not attending to guests or surviving crises, both manmade and natural,
Meadows enjoys opera, theater and struggles with golf.
Georg Rafael, managing director, Rafael Group S.A.M., Monaco, vice chairman,
Orient-Express Hotels, London
Rafael’s career began with training at the Hotel Römerbad in Badenweiler,
Germany, at the Prince de Galles Hotel in Paris, and at the Hôtel du Rhône in Geneva.
He went on to gain further global experience in the United States, Uruguay and
Venezuela.
In 1972, Rafael joined Robert Burns to start Regent International Hotels and became
general manager of the Hawaiian Regent in Honolulu. He also served as regional
director for the Pacific with duties that encompassed the development and opening
of resort hotels in Fiji and Sydney.
By 1976, Rafael was overseeing Regent operations in the United States and
European operations and was negotiating acquisitions that included Mayfair Regent
hotels in New York and Chicago; The Dorchester, London, among other noteworthy
properties. He was also responsible for the construction of The Regent of
Washington, D.C., and the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu.
In 1986, he established Rafael Hotels, which comprised seven hotels worldwide,
including The Mark in New York; Hôtel du Rhône in Geneva; and Ananda in the
Himalayas before he sold the group in 2000 to Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He
assisted Mandarin in its expansion until May 2002.
Rafael then formed Rafael Group S.A.M., Monaco, where he advises and assists in the
acquisition, development and repositioning of deluxe hotels. At the same time, he
sits on the non-executive board of Orient-Express Hotels.
Rafael also owns Georg Rafael Vineyards, an exclusive boutique winery in the Napa
Valley, California.
Thomas Schmid, managing director, The Dolder Grand, Zurich
After closing its doors in July 2004 for an approximate US$440 million
transformation, The Dolder Grand re-opened in April 2008 with Schmid at the helm
He oversaw the legendary “curhaus” property renovation from the start.
Schmid held several management positions at hotels in Switzerland and abroad,
including at the Montreux Palace in Montreux, Switzerland, and the Cipriani in
Venice, Italy. Schmid was also deputy director of the Grand Hotel in Bad Ragaz, as
well as sales and marketing manager at the Baur au Lac in Zurich.
More recently, Schmid spent two years as GM of the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in
Arosa, Switzerland, beginning in 2001 before joining The Dolder Grand as GM in the
summer of 2003.
Corporate nominees
Christopher Cowdray, CEO, Dorchester Collection, London
Cowdray brings nearly 30 years of global hotel experience on four continents to his
position, including three years as general manager of The Dorchester in London
immediately prior to his appointment, a six years as managing director of Claridge’s
in London and a stint as GM of the Al Bustan Palace in Oman.
Since 2007, Cowdray has been working to create a solid branding proposition,
robust sales and marketing infrastructure and a high performance operational
framework to transform Dorchester Collection into the ultimate hotel management
company. He has outlined ambitious growth plans for 15 hotels within the next five
to 10 years, predominantly in North America and Europe.
A native of Zimbabwe, Cowdray is a regular speaker at major customer service
conferences, a Fellow of the Hotel Catering Institute Management Association, a
Master Innholder, and past chairman of the British Hospitality Association. He has
been granted the Freedom of the City of London and is also a Governor of the
English National Ballet.
Laurence Geller, president and CEO, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Chicago
After starting his career in the kitchen at The Connaught, Geller was a senior
executive at Grand Metropolitan Hotels by age 25, responsible for global growth
activities. Geller also held leadership positions at Holiday Inns and Hyatt, and today
owns hotels and resorts throughout North America and Europe such as the Marriott
in Grosvenor Square, London, and the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C.
Geller has survived insolvency on several occasions and has displayed resilience and
persistence while pioneering lodging asset management to become one of the most
regarded and innovative owner-asset managers.
As chairman of the Churchill Centre in London, Geller is a passionate and tireless
advocate for the life, times, lessons learned from Sir Winston Churchill. He is also
continually involved in multiple civic, philanthropic and humanitarian activities.
Most recently, Geller was appointed Commander of The Most Excellent Order of The
British Empire by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Thomas Hewitt, chairman of the board, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Arlington,
Virginia
Hewitt was the company’s chief executive officer from 2005-2011 and served as a
director since the company was formed in July 2002, following the merger of
Interstate Hotels Corp. (IHC) and MeriStar Hotels & Resorts. Prior, Hewitt was
chairman and CEO of IHC since March 1999.
During his tenure as chairman and CEO of IHC, he led the successful spin off of that
company from Wyndham International and helped facilitate the merger with
MeriStar. Previously, Hewitt was president and chief operating officer of The
Continental Companies, which owned and managed more than 80 hotels.
Hewitt had a career spanning more than 20 years with the Sheraton Corp., serving
as president of its North American division from 1983 to 1985.
Hewitt is actively involved in a variety of civic organizations and has served as
chairman of the American Hotel Foundation.
A. Patrick Imbardelli, president and CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Singapore
Imbardelli began his career with Hilton International before moving on to Southern
Pacific Hotels Corp. (SPHC). In 2000, when SPHC was sold to Bass Hotels & Resorts
(today IHG), he led the group as chief executive for Asia Pacific from 2003 and drove
growth in key markets, especially China.
Appointed to his current role in 2008, Imbardelli has worked to integrate and
refresh the Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts and Parkroyal Hotels & Resorts brands.
Since 2009, the group has extended its hotel portfolio with the rebranding and
opening of 14 hotels under the two flags, with five due to open this year. Notably,
Imbardelli re-introduced the Parkroyal brand to its birth country of Australia after a
decade-long absence and this year will see the brand debut in China.