IH&RA Annual Congress 2005 | Luxury Hotel Trends: Simon Cooper, President & COO, Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Simon Cooper is president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. In this position he oversees the operations, development and strategic positioning of one of the world's most powerful brands. Mr. Cooper is also responsible for the development of Bulgari Hotels, a joint venture between Marriott International, Inc. and Bulgari S.P.A. The Ritz-Carlton portfolio currently includes 57 ho-tels in 19 countries.
IH&RA – the International Hotel & Restaurant Association – is the only global business organization representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Officially recognized by the United Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employ 60 million people and contribute 950 billion USD annually to the global economy. The IH&RA is run on a not-for-profit basis with a team led by a Chief Executive. It is governed by a General Assembly and a Board of Directors.