 |
|
|
Dear Alumni, |
| We thought that you might like to hear
occasionally from someone other than Steve Rushmore, so for this
edition of HVS Alumni News it's my turn. I have had the pleasure
of leading the London office since 1995 when Steve Mendell, who
founded the office at the tail end of 1990, decided it was time
to return with his family to the USA and ensure that they were
again able to experience American culture – baseball, "football"
and "hockey" being three of these items. (Those with knowledge
of European culture will realise why there are quotation marks
around two out of the three!) In addition to leading the London
office, I also sit on the Board of HVS which helps to ensure
that there is a worldwide perspective to each of the individual
services and offices which combine to form the global HVS
family. |
| Both the London office and the wider HVS family
have benefited from the involvement of an impressive number of
alumni who have distinguished themselves by making a significant
mark on the hospitality sector in their post-HVS career, many
often paying HVS the ultimate tribute by becoming clients in
your own right. It would be invidious to single anyone out –
hopefully you all know who you are anyway – but it would be
remiss of me not to pay tribute to the way each of you has "worn
your HVS heart on your sleeve" as you make your way further up
the corporate ladder in your respective organisation. |
| At the same time as recognising the benefits of
the training and experience which a few years at HVS can bring
to an individual, we also don't want to lose sight of the
increasing number of our team members who wish to develop a
long-term career within the HVS family. Some of them are now
actively engaged in our Partnership Track programme, which
prepares our aspiring managing directors for their future roles
as leaders of new HVS services and/or new HVS offices around the
world, as well as ensuring there is an effective succession plan
in place for each HVS entity, thereby achieving the longevity of
our firm and the longer-term career opportunities for those who
aspire to this. |
| As we all move towards the latter months of 2009,
and the ravages of the global economic recession continue to
affect the hospitality sector to a greater – or even greater –
extent, depending where in the world you are reading this, HVS
is looking forward with eager anticipation to the opportunities
which will arise from a gradual unblocking of the hotel
transaction market, the most significant catalyst for this being
the unblocking of the debt financing markets. |
| We are also looking ahead to next year when we
will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Steve founding the
firm in 1980 – and for those in London we will be marking 20
years. Watch this space for details of how these important
milestones will be celebrated – together with our existing
colleagues you have been responsible for making this happen, so
we'd like the opportunity to include you wherever possible. |
Russell Kett
rkett@hvs.com
|
|
|
|
 |
New HVS Websites Launched
HVS is proud to announce the launch of a new and improved
HVS.com
website. The new website design has several fresh features
that make it easier for industry professionals to connect with
HVS associates worldwide. We look forward to your feedback,
comments and questions. Do write to us at hvs@hvs.com |
|
|
 |
| |
HVS is also pleased to share the launch of
JoinHVS.com – a website
dedicated to providing HVS job applicants around the globe with
the resources necessary to determine if HVS is the place to
jumpstart one’s career. Applicants will learn about our history,
services, office locations and upcoming events in addition to
personal insights from current employees, and glimpses into our
“typical” HVS workweek. For more information on JoinHVS.com
please contact Whitney Harper at
wharper@hvs.com. |
|
A Changed World - An HVS Executive Search Round Table
Event with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
HVS Executive Search London recently launched its series of
Round Table events at the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de
Lausanne. Chris Mumford and Lorenza Alessie co-hosted the
event with the school's Master in Hospitality Administration
(MHA) programme. |
| |
The focus of this symposium was the Human
Resources response to the current economic environment in the
worldwide hotel industry. HVS' esteemed panel of speakers
included: |
|
|
|
1. |
Sary Arab, Chief Operating Officer – Nikki Beach Hotels
& Resorts EMEA |
|
2. |
Martin Franck, SVP Human Resources EMEA – Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. |
|
3. |
Yves Givel, Director of Human Resources & Recruitment –
Hyatt International |
|
4. |
Steve Rushmore, President & Founder – HVS |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
At the heart of the discussion were strategies and tactics
implemented by hotel groups to best tackle the current
environment and how successful these tactics have been. The
discussion explored the lessons that can be learned from
this recession and took a look at how tomorrow's hotel
corporation, and its executives' profiles, will look. The
panel also imparted useful advice to the Masters students on
plotting their future careers. |
| |
For more information on future HVS Executive
Search Round Table Events please contact Lorenza Alessie,
Director – HVS Executive Search London at lalessie@hvs.com. |
|
|
|
 |
Joining the Ranks of Alumni
An 11-year veteran of HVS Hotel Management, Matthew Kent has
left the HVS family after accepting the position of Managing
Director of Peter Island Resort & Spa (http://www.peterisland.com/)
in the British Virgin Islands.
The good news is that Peter Island, with whom we have worked
with for over two years, will continue to be one of HVS Hotel
Management’s valued Asset Management clients.
Matt joined HVS Hotel Management back when it was American
Hospitality Management Company as General Manager of a hotel in
Boynton Beach, Florida, where he also had regional
responsibilities over hotels in Daytona Beach. He was
instrumental in developing and opening a hotel in Sebastian,
Florida, shortly after joining the company. Within a few years,
Matt was promoted to Senior Vice President Operations with
responsibility for overseeing the company’s entire portfolio.
Matt helped HVS Hotel Management develop an excellent team
approach to working with first class and luxury hotels, resorts
and lifestyle/boutique hotels. In addition to Peter Island
Resort & Spa, HVS’ current Asset Management clients include the
Sagamore Hotel, Fisher Island Resort & Spa, Carolina Inn, and a
Courtyard by Marriott adjacent to the U. S. Capitol.
We’d like to wish Matt the very best and want him to know that
he will be sorely missed by all. Matt will be succeeded by Terry
Bickhardt, formerly Co-President of Waterford Hotel Group.
For more information on HVS Hotel Management please contact
Kirby Payne at KPayne@HVSHotelManagement.com.
|
| |
|
 |
Hooked, Booked and Soon to be Cooked
HVS New York alumni Gustav C. Bjoern and
fiancé Alexandra, a doctor in general medicine working in
Copenhagen, have known each other since play school. Romance
finally bloomed over New Year’s Eve champers in 2006 when he
returned from Boston for Christmas with the family. Gustav and
Alexandra have spent much of their courtship in two different
cities but all that is set to change after their wedding in May
2010 when Alexandra will move to Wiesbaden where Gustav is
currently VP Property Finance with Aareal Bank. |
| |
|
 |
New York Nuptials
HVS New York alumni Susanne Frey and Sunil Hariani tied the
knot on July 11, 2009. They are now back in New York after a
honeymoon filled with bicycle rides in Maine. The happy couple
is looking forward to Honeymoon Part Deux in Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam over the forthcoming Christmas holidays. |
| |
|
 |
Welcome Baby Hugo!
HVS London alumni Carine Bonnejean and
husband Guillaume Thevenot are delighted to share the arrival of
their son Hugo who was born on 3rd July. Mummy and baby are
doing very well! |
|
|
|
We appreciate your help in keeping HVS alumni connected, and
we welcome you to share new information from your personal
and professional lives through the site. Please send your
comments and updates to
alumni@hvs.com. We value your feedback and look forward
to your assistance in connecting with HVS colleagues around
the globe.
We’d love to hear from you if there are any upcoming alumni
events or gatherings in your city that you know of or are
participating in. Please send us details, and we will post
them on our website to reach our fellow HVS alumni from the
world. |
|
|
|
| Copyright
HVS 2009. All rights reserved. |
