Incoming Rezidor boss to focus on MidEast growth

Shane McGinley, October 7th, 2012

Wolfgang M. Neumann, who will take over as president and CEO of Belgian hotelier the Rezidor Hotel Group in January 2013, is aiming to develop the group’s presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and is also looking at the possibility of opening a Missoni-branded hotel in the UAE, he told Arabian Business in an interview.

“I have very clear views,” said Neumann, who was appointed chief operating officer (COO) and executive vice president of the Rezidor Hotel Group in May 2011 and will be promoted to president and CEO at the end of 2012, replacing Kurt Ritter.

“Kurt [Ritter] and I have a transition period for the last quarter and I take over officially in January… The Middle East is a key region for us and it is an emerging market where we want to continue the growth we have had over the last couple of years.

“Our core brands are Radisson Blu and Park Inn and that is where the main growth is… We have fantastic traction in the Middle East. We opened 14 hotels in the last three years. We have firm openings on the horizon with a focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” he added.

The group also operates the Hotel Missoni brand, which is a joint venture with the Italian fashion house, and it currently has one property in Kuwait and is planning to open Hotel Missoni Oman in 2013 and Hotel Missoni Qatar in 2015.

When asked if there was the possibility of an opening in the UAE, Neumann said “potentially”.

“Missoni is a niche growth,” he said.
Ritter will step down from his role in January 2013 after 23 years, but will remain on as a key strategic advisor to Trudy Rautio, chairman of the Rezidor Hotel Group and president & CEO of Carlson.