Hospitality Net

Raffles International announces the appointment of five general managers in Singapore and Europe. The move is in line with Raffles International's commitment to provide career development for its employees, and to nurture a talent pool of general managers who are exposed to managing different cultures in various geographical locations

In Singapore, Mr. Thomas B. Meier is named General Manager, Raffles The Plaza while Mr. Richard Ong, formerly from Swissôtel Merchant Court, has taken the rein at Swissôtel The Stamford. Previously General Manager at Swissôtel The Grand Hotel Efes, Izmir, Turkey, Mr. Andre Mühlemann is now General Manager at Swissôtel Merchant Court.

Following Raffles International's first management contract in Eastern Europe, Mr. Klaus Kartmann has been transferred from Swissôtel Düsseldorf/ Neuss, Germany to Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy Moscow, Russia, to prepare for the hotel's opening in May 2005. Mr. Rainer Tenius replaces Mr. Kartmann in Swissôtel Düsseldorf/ Neuss.

Mr. Thomas B. Meier first joined Raffles International in February 2000 as Resident Manager of the then Hotel Le Royal. He was subsequently appointed General Manager, Swissôtel The Stamford in 2002. He was conferred the "Young Hotelier of the World Award" by the International Hotel & Restaurant Association.

Mr. Richard Ong has been in the hospitality industry for the past 20 years. Prior to his position as General Manager, Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore, Mr. Ong held various senior positions within the group, in Raffles Hotel, and in the corporate office of Raffles International.

Mr. Andre Mühlemann joined Raffles International in 2001 as General Manager, Swissôtel Sharm El Sheikh. He was involved in the preliminary development work of the two hotels due for opening in 2007, namely Swissôtel The Çelik Palas, Bursa and Swissôtel The Grand Hotel Efes, Izmir.

Mr Klaus Kartmann has been in the hospitality industry since 1975. Before his new appointment, he was formerly the General Manager at Swissôtel Düsselfdorf/ Neuss and had held various key positions in leading hotels in Germany, Canada, Kuwait and South Africa.

Mr. Rainer Tenius has been with the Group since 1990 and had previously held senior positions in various Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts in Germany, Egypt and Switzerland.

About Raffles Holdings Limited & Raffles International Limited (www.rafflesholdings.com and www.rafflesinternational.com) - Raffles Holdings Limited is a hospitality company listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. It is headquartered in Singapore and has an approximate 12,000-room portfolio comprising hotels and resorts in 32 destinations across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

Raffles International Limited is the hotel management arm of Raffles Holdings Limited. Formed in 1989, Raffles International Limited is a name well respected in the industry for its standards of quality, award-winning concepts and innovative approach towards hotel management. Raffles International markets its hotels and resorts under two brands -- Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts (www.raffles.com) is a collection of 13 luxury hotels located in major cities around the globe and distinguishes itself by the highest standards of products and services. Each hotel is a landmark in its respective city and most are positioned at the top of their local markets. The collection of award-winning hotels includes Raffles Hotel and Raffles The Plaza in Singapore, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills in the US, Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg, Germany and Raffles Le Montreux Palace, Montreux, Switzerland.

About CapitaLand Limited (www.capitaland.com) - CapitaLand is one of the largest listed property companies in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, the multinational company's core businesses in property, hospitality, property services and real estate financial services are focused in key cities in Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.

The company's property and hospitality portfolio spans more than 70 cities around the world. CapitaLand also leverages on its significant real estate asset base and market knowledge to develop fee-based products and services in Singapore and the region. The listed subsidiaries and associates of CapitaLand include Raffles Holdings, The Ascott Group, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust and Australand Property Group, which is listed both in Singapore and Australia.