Movenpick President and CEO Jean Gabriel PérèsThe award is recognised as one of the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry in Asia and Mr Pérès was selected for his “outstanding achievement in transforming Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts into an inspiring success story”.When Mr Pérès joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in 1999 he inherited a portfolio of 36 hotels. Now there are 76. By 2015 he aims to have 100 properties open worldwide with more than half of the company’s 30 new hotels in development opening in Asia. The Swiss upscale hospitality company currently manages two properties in Thailand, two in Vietnam and one each in the Philippines, India and Singapore, but in 2013 alone it will open new resorts in Pattaya, Thailand; Sanya, China; and the private island resort Huma Island Palawan in the Philippines. The renovated Mövenpick Resort & Spa Cebu and the historic Heritage Wing with 62 suites at the Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa are to open later this year.