Shangri-La appoints Didier Le Calvez Executive VP Europe and North America

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has appointed Didier Le Calvez as executive vice president, Europe and North America and general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena, Paris, opening early 2009. Mr. Le Calvez will report directly to Shangri-La’s chief executive officer.

In this newly created, Paris-based position, Mr. Le Calvez will be responsible for leading Shangri-La’s expansion into the West. He will introduce and maintain Shangri-La’s signature standards of Asian-style service excellence not only in Paris, but in new hotels opening over the next three years in London, Vancouver, Chicago, Miami and Las Vegas, and projects expected to be confirmed in New York, Toronto and other gateway cities. He is charged with positioning these hotels as market leaders in each location.

Didier Le Calvez joins Shangri-La from eight years as vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and a total of 18 years with Four Seasons. His celebrated 30-year hospitality career has included general manager positions at the Pierre and Plaza hotels in New York and The Regent Singapore. Previously, he was vice president food and beverage worldwide for Westin Hotels.

“I have known Didier Le Calvez for 28 years and can say he is uniquely qualified to spearhead our expansion into Europe and North America,” said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La CEO and managing director. “He is one of the world’s great hoteliers -- a visionary strategist who is obsessed with quality.”

Didier Le Calvez was named 2006 Hotelier of the Year at the World Hospitality Awards and New York’s Best General manager by the New York Hotel Association in 1995. He was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre du Merite by the French government in 2002.

The 110 year-old palais of Prince Roland Bonaparte, grand nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, will open as the 104-room Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena, Paris in early 2009. All elements will be in place for the hotel to be considered a “palace” hotel.

Located at 10, avenue d’Iena, near the Trocadero in Paris' prestigious 16th arrondissement, the building offers some of the city’s finest views of the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower, with the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe within walking distance. Facilities will include two restaurants, meeting facilities, library, indoor swimming pool, retail space, a business lounge, and CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.

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