Marco Polo Hotel Chief announces Retirement - Jeffrey Flowers appointed President

Mr Michael C. Kalyk, President of the Marco Polo Hotel Group has announced his retirement effective July 2005. As chief executive of the Hong Kong-based hotel company since 1990, Mr. Kalyk has led the strategic planning and development of four and five-star hotel properties throughout Asia including Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong and several cities in Mainland China.

A native of Seattle in the state of Washington (USA), Mr. Kalyk is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. His early career with Westin Hotels and Resorts included assignments in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. His first Asia posting was as general manager of the Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore, where he was subsequently appointed as the founding president of the Shangri-La Hotel Group.

“My wife, Roni, and I consider ourselves to be most fortunate to have lived in Asia during this most exciting period of economic growth and social advancement. Although we will regret leaving Asia, our home for 25 years, what we will miss most is the dedication, professionalism and friendship of our Marco Polo colleagues.”

“I feel it is appropriate and timely for my retirement. Our company has quality managers in place, two new hotels under development and a well-focused strategy to achieve its goals and objectives. With Mr. Flowers as President, Marco Polo will progress from strength to strength.”

Mr Jeffrey Flowers, who will assume responsibility as President upon Mr. Kalyk’s departure, has been with the Marco Polo Hotel Group since 1991. Joining as vice president for development, he subsequently expanded his responsibilities as area director for operating hotels outside of Hong Kong and most recently as senior vice president for marketing and development, responsible for the formulation of the group’s marketing and development strategy.

Also a native of Seattle, Mr. Flowers is a graduate of Seattle University and holds an MBA from Rutgers University. Early assignments with Westin Hotels & Resorts in Seattle, Honolulu, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. led to general manager posts at the Ilikai in Honolulu, the Philippine Plaza in Manila, the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong and the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

“Mr. Kalyk and I have known each other for many years and I have had the pleasure of working closely with him since joining Marco Polo. I am confident that we can continue the tradition of excellence established by Mr. Kalyk and further solidify Marco Polo’s position as one of Asia’s leading hotel companies.”

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