Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has appointed Didier Le Calvez to the newly created role of executive vice president Europe and North America, as well as general manager of the new Paris property due to open in 2009, the Shangri-La hotel Palais d'Iena.
He joins the company having spent 18 years with Four Seasons, the last eight of which as vice president and general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. He has also held general manager positions at the Pierre and Plaza hotels in New York and The Regent Singapore.
Le Calvez will be responsible for leading the company”s growth in the West and making the new openings over the next three years in London, Vancouver, Chicago, Miami and Las Vegas market leaders in their respective locations. Shangri-La currently has plans for further developments in New York and Toronto.
Shangri-La CEO and managing director Giovanni Angelini said: ”Didier Le Calvez is one of the world”s greatest hoteliers ” a visionary strategist who is obsessed with quality. He brings not only extensive experience in Europe, the US and Asia, but demonstrated success in introducing a new international luxury brand to Paris, which will be critical in the opening of our first European hotel there.”
The hotel in Paris (pictured) is the 110 year-old palais of Prince Roland Bonaparte, grand nephew of Napolean Bonaparte. It is situated on Avenue d”Iena, near the Trocadero in Paris and with views over the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower. The hotel will have 104 rooms, two restaurants, meeting facilities and business lounge, library, indoor pool and CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.