GM of the Hotel Adriatic (opening August 1st) is German, Michael Sorgenfrey. Interestingly, he did not start out in management but as a cook in two Hamburg Kempinski hotels, then in the Marriott, Zurich, and Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg. After that he began to branch out as Assistant F&B Controller in the Steigenberger Hamburg hotel. From there he held several positions over five years, eventually becoming Director of Convention and Sales. From there he went to Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin as Banquet Manager and then F&B Manager, involved in opening and positioning the new hotel (97-99). Thailand was his next stop, as Director of F&B, then Executive Assistant Manager at the legendary Oriental, Bangkok. He was there for three years before the Hotel Adlon asked him to return to Germany in 2002, as Hotel manager. Facing the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel has an impressive site. Whilst there he was responsible for many high-profile visits, including that of Queen Elizabeth. He opened the Courthouse Hotel in London and became GM of the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay in Bodrum. After three years he went on his travels around the world, finally to come to the Hotel Adriatic.

• Kempinski Hotel Adriatic