FIVE STARS FOR HEAD OF SWISSÔTEL FOSHAN

SINGAPORE, 17 June 2009 – Mr. Torsten Pinter, General Manager of the five-star Swissôtel Foshan has been awarded the Golden Five-Star Badge for Best Foreign General Manager at the 60 Splendour Years of China Hotel Industry Awards Presentation Ceremony. The awards ceremony, attended by over 1,000 representatives from the hospitality and tourism industry, was held as part of the 2009 Annual Meeting of China Hotel Industry and 9th China Hotel Forum.

Torsten Pinter was amongst a select group of 60 hospitality industry professionals to receive this award. Representing the highest honour in China’s hospitality industry, winners were selected based on professional assessments by the expert judging panel and recommendations from authorities and industry associations.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and a sixty-year journey for China’s hospitality industry, the 60 Splendour Years of China Hotel Industry Award Presentation Ceremony was held during the Annual Meeting to recognise enterprises and entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to the industry. Into its ninth consecutive year, the Annual Meeting is managed by the World Tourism Organisation, Asia Pacific Tourism Association and relevant national ministries, in collaboration with the Circulation Industry Promotion Centre of the Ministry of Commerce for PRC, China Travel & Tourism Press and other partners.

Mr. Meinhard Huck, President of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts comments on the achievement, “This award is further validation of Swissôtel’s ‘Passion for Perfection’ commitment to all that we do and I am thrilled that in less than a year at the helm of Swissôtel Foshan, Torsten has been recognised not only for his pursuit of excellence but also his contributions to China’s growing hospitality industry”.
Mr. Pinter adds, “I am humbled by this recognition from my industry peers. However, the credit must go to my team members who epitomise the Swissôtel commitment to perfection”.

With a career that spans 10 countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Torsten first joined Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts in 2001 as part of the pre-opening team of Swissôtel Berlin, Germany. He was Executive Assistant Manager at Swissôtel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Centre prior to his appointment at Swissôtel Foshan which opened in May 2008 to become Foshan’s first international deluxe hotel. In a matter of months, Torsten led his team to win the Best New Opening Hotel of China at the 4th China Hotel Starlight Awards and earned himself the Best General Manager of China’s Hotel Industry Award at the same ceremony.

The 234-room Swissôtel Foshan is one of four Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts’ properties in China, the other three being Swissôtel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Centre which was the Swiss hospitality pioneer’s first property in China, Swissôtel Kunshan and Swissôtel Grand Shanghai, which also opened in 2008.

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Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts (www.swissotel.com) is a distinctive group of deluxe hotels for today’s discerning business and leisure travellers, combining the renowned Swiss touch with a fresh, contemporary and modern design. Each Swissôtel hotel offers personalised service with charm and efficiency. Located in main gateway destinations and city centres, the hotels have convenient access to business and shopping districts, and local attractions. Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts worldwide have won prestigious awards and accolades.

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 91 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts under development:
Swissôtel Dresden, Germany (2010)

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Office
Eva-Maria Panzer
Director Communication
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts
Tel: +41 44 317 3322
Email: evamaria.panzer@swissotel.com

Germany, Switzerland & Austria
Beatrice Davis
Director Media Relations
Tel: +49 40 890 1707
Email: beatrice.davis@swissotel.com

Asia Pacific
Carolyn Tay
Director Media Relations
Tel: +65 6431 6957
Email: carolyn.tay@swissotel.com

Address:
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts
2 Stamford Road
#05-01 Raffles City Convention Centre
178882 Singapore

This release was published on openPR.