David KatermopoulosVeteran hotelier David Katemopoulos has been appointed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE:HOT) as General Manager of the newest member of its Luxury Collection portfolio in China, Twelve at Hengshan in Shanghai. His appointment follows pre-opening responsibility for the 171-room villa-style ‘modern Chinoiserie’ retreat which opens in November 2012 on Hengshan Road, one of the most historic and romantic areas of Shanghai. Mr. Katemopoulos launched his hospitality career in 1984 in Hong Kong with the Shangri La Group as Director of Sales. From 1990-2001 he was with the Peninsula Group, rising to Director of Sales and Marketing. He joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2001 for the pre-opening of the St. Regis Hotel in Pudong (now The Hongta Hotel, Shanghai), and was subsequently appointed General Manager of Sheraton Haikou Resort, St. Regis Macao and Le Méridien Xiamen. Over the past decade with the group he has been applauded as Best Hotel General Manager 2006 in China’s coveted Golden-Pillow Awards, along with group recognition for best pre-opening hotel, and Starwood Asia Pacific’s Sales and Marketing Award. The new General Manager of Twelve at Hengshan, A Luxury Collection Hotel was educated at Lincoln University, with post-graduate studies including management development at the Poon Kam Kai Institute of Management with Hong Kong University, and Marketing Planning with Cornell University. Among professional associations, he is a member of SKAL Hong Kong and was formerly vice chairman of the Haikou Hotel Association. He also served as an instructor for the American Hotel and Motel Association.