Ramon Pajares to open EIBTM 2003

Mr Ramón Pajares, OBE, one of the world’s leading international luxury hoteliers and former Chief Executive of The Savoy Group of Hotels and Restaurants, will speak and officially open EIBTM 2003 at Palexpo, Geneva on Tuesday 20 May at 11.00 am.

EIBTM is the annual global exhibition for the incentive, business travel and meetings industry held 20 – 22 May 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Over more than 20 years, Mr Pajares' has received many prestigious accolades and awards from the global hospitality industry.

Ms Debbie Jackson, Exhibition Director of EIBTM, said she was delighted Mr Pajares had agreed to honour the meetings and incentive industry by  participating in the opening ceremony.

“Mr Pajares speaks with great passion on the kind of relevant issues that are facing our exhibitors and visitors every day, such as customer care,  sharing knowledge, people assets, opportunities, leadership and many other aspects of human resources," Ms Jackson said.

“He insists that profits are mainly made through people and with people, and has demonstrated this throughout his career with great leadership  ability.

“His speech on the EIBTM stage in the exhibitions halls will be another valuable dimension to the leading global event for the meetings and  incentive industry,” she said.

Mr Pajares has had a long career in the hotel industry worldwide. For 22 years he worked for Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, in the United States, Canada and London. He served the last eight years of that period as Regional Vice President, responsible for Four Seasons Europe.

Mr Pajares became Managing Director of The Savoy Group in London in 1994, where over the next five years he totally revitalised the company,  re-establishing it as the leading luxury hotel company in the world. His work included a £90 million (AUD$239 million) restoration programme of five top UK hotels – The Savoy, Claridges, Connaught, Berkeley and the Lygon Arms. He was also responsible for restoring London’s famous Simpson’s in the Strand restaurant and the Savoy Theatre.

During his career, Mr Pajares has frequently been a guest speaker at many conferences and seminars throughout the world.

Mr Pajares, who has dual Spanish and UK nationality, said he was looking forward to participating at the Opening Ceremony of EIBTM. “I was very  pleased to accept the invitation to open such a prestigious event for the meetings and incentive industry,” he said.

He continued: ”I have always been fascinated and enthused by new ideas at the very heart of innovation. I enjoy working with the staff and sharing knowledge and experiences, providing training and helping to develop their  careers.

“In the hotel business the needs of our guests and the aspirations of the staff are constantly evolving and our job is to make sure that we keep  abreast of every change.”

Awards and Accolades to Ramón Pajares:

1980 ‘La Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Merito Civil’ 
1984 - 1988 Hotelier of the Year, UK 
1987 ‘Catey’ Hotel of the Year 
1987 Personality of the Year, UK hotel industry 
1988 Freeman of the City of London 
1989 ‘La Orden de Isahle la Catolica’ 
1989 ‘Catey’ award for knowledge of wines 
1997 Highly prestigious ‘Special CATEY Award’, Caterer & Hotelkeeper, UK 
1998 ‘Hotelier of the World’ from Hotels magazine, USA 
1998 ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, Waterford Wedgewood 
1999 Awarded OBE in New Years Honours List, UK 
2000 ‘La Medalla de Plata al Merito Turistico’ 
2000 Honorary Doctorate, Bournemouth University, UK