Steigenberger Hotels AG has appointed 48-year-old Puneet Chhatwal as CEO, due to take up the role on January 1, 2013.  

After gaining valuable insights and experience in hotel consulting and project development, Chhatwal joined Carlson Hotels Worldwide in 1998, where he was responsible for the development of the group's brands in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Since 2002, he has been responsible for Corporate Business Development at the Rezidor Hotel Group in Brussels.

As Chief Development Officer (CDO) he became a member of the Executive Committee in 2007. During his tenure at Rezidor, the group grew from 150 to the current level of 435 hotels, with brands such as Radisson Blu, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Missoni and Regent.

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"With his worldwide experience in top international hotel development and management, Puneet Chhatwal will give decisive stimuli for growth of Steigenberger and systematic orientation of operating management to achieve the goals of our corporate strategy", said Dr. Ralf Corsten, chairman of the supervisory board of Steigenberger Hotels AG.

Chhatwal completed a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Delhi and a diploma in Food Service and Hotel Management before starting his career with the India Tourism Development Corporation. After several operational positions in India, he studied at IMHI (ESSEC), Paris and earned a Master's Degree in 1991 in International Hospitality Management. In 2012, he completed the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau.

Chhatwal is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality (FIH).