A hotel veteran with over 30 years of international hotel experience, Mr. Gerd Knaust has extensive hotel management experience in Asia and Europe, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Germany.
Prior to joining in Hilton Shanghai, Knaust joined Hilton International as the Cluster General Manager of Conrad and Doubletree by Hilton Sanya Haitang Bay in 2010. Over the past few years, he has been instrumental in the successful development of Conrad and Doubletree by Hilton Sanya, the first Conrad hotel and the sixth Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Mainland China, overseeing the luxury resort project development throughout its pre-opening phase, from the architectural and interior design concept.
With the passion for culinary art, Knaust started his hotel career as a chef in Germany where he obtained his Master Diploma in Business and Kitchen Management. In 1988, he worked in Asia for the first time as Executive Sous Chef of a 5-star resort in Penang, Malaysia. Then, he took up various management positions in other Asian cities, namely Singapore, Indonesia, Beijing, Hong Kong and China.
His first General Manager position was in Indonesia at Mandarin Oriental, Surabaya, a 5-star heritage resort, where he led the team on property for over three years. In 2006, Knaust moved to Mandarin Oriental, Sanya as pre opening General Manager.
He is also heavily involved in recruitment, as well as sales and marketing strategies. Drawing on his past skills as a chef, he also worked closely with the Food and Beverage team to develop the hotel’s restaurant concepts and menus.
Knaust previously worked for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Shangri-La International and Hyatt International, and his first job in China dated back in 1991 when he was the Executive Sous Chef of China World Hotel Beijing.
A keen sportsman, Knaust is also an enthusiastic student of international cultures and has a passion for golf, Chinese Arts Culture and Travelling.
General Management Asia Pacific China Shanghai