Starwood Hotels & Resorts picks global brand leader

Starwood Headquarters (Photo: Wikipedia)

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties, announced that it has named Vincent Gillet the Global Brand Leader for W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts.

Gillet has spent the past three years as Chief Marketing Officer for Six Senses Resorts & Spas, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Gillet, 40, will report to Phil McAveety, Starwood’s Chief Brand Officer.

He replaces Eva Ziegler, who has chosen to leave Starwood and return to Europe after a remarkable six years with the company.

As Global Brand Leader for W Hotels and Le Méridien, Gillet will oversee the strategic direction of the brands and their combined portfolio of more than 140 hotels around the world.

Armani Hotel Dubai to host Fabian Edelstam art expo

Armani Hotel Dubai is joining hands with Swiss Art Gate UAE in hosting an art exhibition featuring the works of Swedish artist Fabian Edelstam.

THe art exhibition, which will coincide with Art Dubai, the premiere art event in the city, will feature oil and photography on canvas by Edelstam.

Also on display will be artworks on Burj Khalifa, the 200- and 100-dirham banknote and the Dubai Shopping Festival, all serving to highlight the evolution of the country in the past 40 years.

Marriott Hotel to hire 12,000 staff in China

Marriott International will need to recruit 12,000 to 15,000 staff members for China this year to keep pace with its phenomenal growth in the mainland.

Jim Pilarski, Chief Human Resources Officer for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa of Marriott International, believes the company knows what is required to make this happen.

Pilarski said Marriott is currently managing some 60 hotels in China, and the number is expected to increase to 100 properties by 2014.

“In a burgeoning hospitality market such as China, there is indeed a talent war among all hotel players. At Marriott International, we are confident that we have the upper hand in attracting and retaining quality people to work with us because of our family culture,” said Pilarski. “Any good human resources initiatives can be easily replicated, but not a great human resources culture.”

New York Palace Hotel to get US$100 million makeover

Owners of the opulent but aging New York Palace hotel is planning to launch a US$100 million renovation works to restore the glory of the historic hotel.

The renovation aims to modernize the Palace's 900 rooms although the works will be done in phases so that guests will still be able to check in and disruptions will be minized.


The New York Palace blends the historic landmark Villard Mansion with a modern 55-story tower. Located at the center of Manhattan in Midtown at the corner of 50th Street and Madison Avenue, it is directly across the street from St Patrick's Cathedral, and a short walk from Rockefeller Center and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The hotel is featured prominently on the CW series Gossip Girl.