Abu Dhabi, UAE: Emirates Palace has announced the appointment of Hans Olbertz to the position of General Manager. With a long and distinguished career in hospitality spanning over 34 years, Olbertz brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Abu Dhabi's iconic property.
Commenting on his appointment, Olbertz said, "Emirates Palace is a jewel among hotels, a symbol of exemplary luxury and hospitality excellence unmatched in distinction and elegance. It is a great honour and challenge to take on the role of General Manager of such a fine property, and I fully intend to continue and build upon its status as one of the most esteemed hotels in the Middle East, if not the world".
Prior to his appointment at Emirates Palace, Olbertz spent two years with the InterContinental Hotel Seoul, where he held a dual role as General Manager of the five-star property as well as Director of Operations for Korea, overseeing a number of properties within the group.
In close to four decades of outstanding service in the hotel industry, Olbertz's sterling career has included various key executive positions at InterContinental Hotel Group properties in Austria, Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, England, China and Thailand.
The appointment at Emirates Palace marks his return to Abu Dhabi, having served as Resident Manager for Hotel InterContinental Abu Dhabi from 1988 to 1990.
Fluent in German and English, Olbertz graduated with a Diploma in Hotel Management from the Hotel School in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, and obtained a Diploma as a Hotel Economist from the School of Hotel Administration for Business Management in Berlin. He also pursued higher studies from Cornell University in New York, an institution well-known for providing excellent training for leaders/senior executives in the hospitality industry.
www.emiratespalace.com / www.kempinski.com
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Editors Note:
Built as an iconic landmark showcasing Arabian culture and hospitality at its finest, Emirates Palace has created an enviable niche in the luxury resort industry, welcoming holiday makers from all over the world and giving them a truly memorable leisure experience by providing luxurious facilities and amenities in comfortable surroundings and superior and personalized service.
Situated on a 1.3 km stretch of private beach and surrounded by hectares of manicured lawns, Emirates Palace comprises 394 luxury rooms and suites and a variety of fine dining options. The resort's leisure facilities include two intricately landscaped swimming pools, a spa, tennis courts, and two state of the art fitness centres. Emirates Palace houses the most luxurious and technologically advanced meeting facilities in the region which include an auditorium with 1,100 seats, a main ballroom that can accommodate up to 2500 guests, over 40 meeting rooms, a Media Centre and a Business Centre.
Emirates Palace, since its inception, has quickly established an enviable reputation in the industry, winning many prestigious industry awards including -- Best Conference/Convention Center, Best 5-Star Leisure Hotel, Best 5-Star Business/Corporate Hotel - at the MENA Travel Awards 2007, considered the most prestigious and highly coveted industry recognition programme in the region.
About Kempinski:
Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski Hotels was founded in Germany in 1897. Kempinski's impressive portfolio of distinctive properties includes historical landmarks, unique hide-away resorts and vibrant city hotels throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia. Rich in tradition, each Kempinski hotel celebrates the local culture and customs of its destination whilst maintaining the impeccable personalised service for which Kempinski is renowned. Put simply, they are the first choice for the discerning luxury traveller.
About Global Hotel Alliance:
Kempinski is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, which currently comprises seven luxury brands encompassing 153 upscale and luxury hotels with over 46,000 rooms in 39 different countries. Each brand is a key player in their main region of operation: Kempinski in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Omni in North America, Pan Pacific in the Pacific Rim, The Leela Group in India, Dusit in Thailand, Landis in Taiwan and China, and Marco Polo in China and Hong Kong. Global Hotel Alliance will continue to grow to include selected hotel brands in those regions not currently covered by the alliance.
For more information please contact:
Kempinski Hotels
Fatima Al Romaithi
E-mail: fatima.alromaithi@kempinski.com
Tel : +971 2 6907921
Sarah Harris
TRACCS Public Relations
E-mail: sarah.harris@traccs.net
Tel: +971 4 367 25 30
© Press Release 2008
