Qatari-owned hotel GM named hotelier of the year

The general manager of Qatari-owned The Hotel Schweizerhof Bern, Michael Thomann, has been named Hotelier of the Year by Swiss business magazine Bilanz.

The 150-year-old hotel, which is owned by Katara Hospitality Ltd., reopened in June 2011, following a two-year refurbishment.

“I am naturally delighted with the award and my team and I will keep doing our best to strengthen and build on the Schweizerhof’s exceptional positioning among Switzerland’s luxury hotels,” Thomann said.

“The whole team can justifiably be proud of the hotel’s ranking by Bilanz this year. In 2011 the Hotel Schweizerhof Bern was ranked number 21 in the category of best Swiss city hotels, and just one year later has already risen to position number 11 in the league table,” he added.

Katara Hospitality Switzerland AG managing director Bruno H. Schöpfer said: "It was not an easy task for general manager Michael Thomann, who together with his young team spared no effort during the last months to breathe new life into a legendary establishment that is rich in tradition.”

The property has 99 rooms and suites, as well as an 800m² conference and business centre, ballroom and 500m² spa. In the past, the hotel has welcomed guests such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor.