Exclusive by James Wilkinson
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s incoming President of Asia-Pacific, Thorsten Kirschke, says he’s “very excited” to be taking up his new post in Singapore.
Kirschke, currently the company’s President of the Americas, is taking over the Asia-Pacific role following the resignation this week of Simon Barlow.
“Thank you James! I am very excited to lead our team in Asia Pacific and build upon the growth Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has made in the region,” Kirschke exclusively told HM when being congratulated on his new role.
“Over the last three years, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Asia Pacific signed 80 new hotel management agreements and opened 42 new hotels.
“Additionally, the Asia Pacific portfolio is expected to grow by 32 hotels this year, bringing the total number of Carlson Rezidor hotels in operation and development to 196 by the end of 2014,” he told HM.
Barlow has left to “pursue other opportunities”, according to Carlson, and his replacement is one of the most experienced in the organisation.
For the last four years, Kirschke has been Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s President of the Americas and in that time has led the repositioning of Radisson, launched Radisson Blu and led a significant turnaround with RevPAR and operating performance in the United States.
Carlson’s Chief Operating Officer, David Berg, said Kirschke was the ideal executive for the role.
“Thorsten brings an exceptional background of leadership and management success in the hotel industry to this role,” he said.
“His extensive global experience includes management roles in Central Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China and the Middle East.”
Kirschke could not be moving to Asia Pacific at a better time for the company.
Through the work of the Singapore-based team, Carlson Rezidor has been rejuvenated in Asia-Pacific region over the past three and a half years.
Under Barlow’s leadership, the team doubled the portfolio, signed major joint ventures in India, Indonesia and the Philippines, and is in the midst of a Radisson refresh that has been praised by key owners right across Asia Pacific.
“The Asia Pacific region is a key growth market for Carlson Rezidor where we continue to expand our leadership position across emerging markets,” Berg said.
In the Americas, no replacement for Kirschke has been announced and the existing management team of Javier Rosenberg (Chief Operating Officer, Radisson, Americas and Executive Vice President, Owned and Managed Hotels), Scott Meyer (Senior Vice President, Midscale Hotel Brands, Americas) and Phil Silberstein (executive vice president, development, Americas) will now report to Berg.