STEFAN SOENNICHSEN TAKES CHARGE OF THE LANGHAM LONDON (United Kingdom)
After two years in Saudi Arabia with Edition Hotels, interspersed with a spell in Azerbaijan, Stefan Soennichsen has just been appointed General Manager Director of the Langham London. |
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STEFAN SOENNICHSEN TAKES CHARGE OF THE LANGHAM LONDON (United Kingdom)
After two years in Saudi Arabia with Edition Hotels, interspersed with a spell in Azerbaijan, Stefan Soennichsen has just been appointed General Manager Director of the Langham London. |
Category: Europe - United Kingdom - Careers -
Appointments
Article written by Christopher Buet on 2023-08-11
Movements continue at the top of Langham Hospitality Group. After announcing the promotion of Bob van den Oord, who will become CEO on September 1st, and the appointment of Lo Young as senior vice president of operations in China, responsible for managing the group's portfolio of hotels in the Middle Kingdom, the Hong Kong-based company has just made official the recruitment of Stefan Soennichsen as general manager of Langham, London.
The arrival of the German at the head of the London institution comes as no surprise, given his background and knowledge of the English capital. Indeed, from 2005 to 2015, he was able to familiarise himself with the local ecosystem, first as Hotel Manager of the Savoy, then as General Manager of One Aldwych, located a stone's throw away, before moving closer to Leicester Square by becoming General Manager of St Martins Lane and Area General Manager for Morgans Hotel Group.
A decade in London is not enough to define Stefan Soennichsen. Indeed, before moving to the banks of the Thames, he honed his skills in Singapore as General Manager of Elite Concepts, as well as Resident Manager at the InterContinental in Dubai and Executive Assistant Manager at the Fairmont, also in Dubai. "I learned from this industry that you have to be your own motivator, your own supporter," he told Destination of the World News in 2019. His time in the Middle East had such an impact on him that he decided to return there after his European interlude.
He returned to Dubai in 2015, where he became Vice-President of Damac Hotels & Resort. He decided to leave the adventure after just over a year to go to the neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi, to take up the challenge of Edition, the brand of the Marriott International group, dreamed up by the visionary Ian Schrager. He stayed on for almost five years as Opening General Manager, before being promoted to Multi Property General Manager.
This unblemished record convinced Langham Hospitality Group to entrust him with its London flagship. More than a manager, Stefan Soennichsen is a leader who advocates high standards through kindness. "I believe that if you treat your employees well, they will treat your customers well in return. A person who feels valued and respected will always give you more back than you imagine (...) There is nothing more important than the people around you," he maintained in an interview with Destination of the World News in 2019.
In addition to his management skills, this seasoned hotelier has also developed a modern vision of hospitality. He defends the idea that modern travellers and luxury hotel guests are increasingly looking for unique, slightly experimental stays. It remains to be seen how he will adapt this vision to his new hotel.
Subtlety and caution will be needed, because the Langham London is an institution. An old lady who took up residence in Regent Street in 1865 after it was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales himself. Since then, despite the vicissitudes of time, the Langham has always embodied a certain idea of British luxury. Today, the hotel has 380 rooms and suites. Since 1995, it has been owned by Great Eagle Holdings, a company founded in 1963 and based in Hong Kong, which has 28 hotels and more than 10,000 keys around the world.
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