Martin Rinck

Beverly Hills, California and Singapore | Hilton Hotels Corporation today announced the appointment of Martin Rinck as President Hilton Hotels - Asia Pacific, based at the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore. Mr Rinck will commence his duties on 17 November 2008.

Mr Rinck joins Hilton Hotels Corporation from Carlson Hotels where he has been President and Managing Director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific since 2007, based in Singapore with regional offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai and Sydney.

Prior to this role, Mr Rinck was the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for The Rezidor Hotel Group based in Brussels, where he drove significant growth of the group’s hotel portfolio in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to this, he was CEO of Movenpick Gastronomy International based in Switzerland, responsible for 150 restaurants worldwide. Mr Rinck also had an impressive international hotel career, holding various executive management positions with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and InterContinental Hotels, working in Indonesia, Germany, Portugal, France, the UK and the USA.

Ian Carter, President Global Operations, Hilton Hotels Corporation, commented, “Martin’s extensive international experience in hotel operations, as well as hotel development, coupled with his great leadership qualities and his insight into luxury brands are all excellent credentials to help deliver our ambitious growth and successfully execute our development strategy in the Asia Pacific region. We are confident that Martin’s proven track record across international markets will position him well to build on Hilton’s success achieved in this key growth region to date.”

In his new capacity, Mr Rinck will oversee operations of a portfolio of 50 Hilton Family-branded hotels currently under management, lease and franchise in Asia Pacific, including the Hilton Sydney, which is the only company-owned asset in the region. With plans to open another 300 hotels in the next 9 years across the various market segments, the company is gearing up for unprecedented growth and entry into the economy and mid-market segments as well as an enhanced luxury and upscale hotel portfolio.

Hilton has identified India, China, Japan and Australia as priority markets where the group will significantly strengthen its presence. Mr. Rinck and his team will ensure Hilton’s famous guest experience and service standards are adhered to, with the goal of increasing brand loyalty among Asian guests. He will also spearhead Hilton’s efforts to identify and develop the future managers of the company’s Asia Pacific operations.

Martin Rinck succeeds Koos Klein who successfully led Hilton’s operations in the region over the past ten years. Since his appointment in 1997, Mr Klein established a profitable enterprise throughout Asia Pacific and the Middle East, and was recognized earlier this year as ”Asia Pacific Hotelier of the Year 2007” .

“On behalf of Hilton Hotels Corporation, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our outgoing Area President, Koos Klein, for his valuable contributions to our business”, said Ian Carter.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Martin Rinck holds a Masters Degree of Business Administration from Brunel University, London, and attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His hotel industry experience includes over 10 years with the InterContinental Group in Hamburg, Paris, San Francisco, Chicago, Lisbon and London and service with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia. He is married and has two daughters.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation | Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 76 countries and territories, including 100,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises a hotel portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded brands, including Hiltonâ, Conradâ Hotels & Resorts, Doubletreeâ, Embassy Suites Hotelsâ, Hampton Innâ, Hampton Inn & Suitesâ, Hilton Garden Innâ, Hilton Grand Vacationsâ, Homewood Suites by Hiltonâ and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection.

Faith Thoms
Director PR & Communication - Asia Pacific
(65) 6833 9762
Hilton