Peter Bierwirth Elected President Of EHMA

During the 37th Annual General Meeting of EHMA (European Hotel Managers Association) held in April in Biarritz, France, Peter Bierwirth, National Delegate Germany, was elected President of the Association. The new Management Council for the term 2010/2013 also includes Michel Fernet, National Delegate France & Monaco (First Vice President) and Manuel Otero Alvarado, National Delegate Spain (Vice President). Past President Johanna Fragano was appointed Treasurer. The award “Hotel Manager of the Year” was conferred to Thomas Noll, former General Manager of the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg.

The other members of the Management Council are: Juha Mähönen (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russian Federation), Michael John Gray (Great Britain and Ireland), Ezio Indiani (Italy), Hans Koch (Switzerland), Ernst Mayer (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia), Francisco J. Pereira da Silva (Portugal), Chris Tzianos (Greece and Cyprus), William Van Der Zee (Belgium and Luxembourg), Didi Whitlau (The Netherlands).

“Globalisation and ease of travel has opened new markets, allowing people from all four corners of the earth to come to our hotels” – commented Mr. Bierwirth. “New challenges will be met and global trends will have to be faced. Our association is a perfect platform to exchange ideas, learn about our neighbours and foster friendship. The new elected Management Council members consist of highly esteemed professionals in their respective areas of Europe – our aim is to keep the European tradition and standards of hospitality and service leading in the world.”

After a diploma from the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Peter Bierwirth took over the position of General Manager Holiday Inn Hotels in Luxembourg and Frankfurt/Main. After some years’ experience in the Far East as Assistant Vice President of the Peninsula Group in Hong Kong, he came back to Germany in the position of Director of Operations of Novotel/Pullman Hotels. From 1990 to 1997 he was appointed Chairman of Dorint Hotels & Resorts and since 1998 he is Managing Partner B&P Hotel Management Services GmbH in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

EHMA is an association of hotel managers operating first class and luxury hotels of international repute, concerned with safeguarding the ethical foundation of their profession. Its members are committed to fostering fellowship and respect, as well as their own professional improvement to better serve the industry. EHMA’s next General Meeting will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia in April 2012.

Biarritz 2010
The 37th Annual EHMA General Meeting was held from 8 to 11 April in Biarritz, France. The theme of the conference was “Wellness”. Working sessions were held at the historic “Le Bellevue”. Participants were accommodated in the Hotel du Palais and the Sofitel Thalassa Miramar. The Gala Dinner took place at the “Casino Municipal”. The University Day was organized in cooperation with Institut Paul Bocuse, the famous “École de Management Hôtellerie Restauration & Arts Culinaires” of Lyon. Among the speakers Hervé Fleury, Director of Institut Paul Bocuse; Christian Beek, Director of the Glion Institute of Higher Education; Inge Moore about the latest trends in hotel design; the chef and entrepreneur Michel Guérard, owner of Prés d’Eugénie, in Eugénie Les Bains, comprising a sophisticated restaurant and a spa. The Stenden University of Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, presented the 2010 edition of the book “Profiles and Dimensions in Hospitality”.

The history of EHMA | EHMA was established in Rome in 1974, when a few general managers of prestigious hotels in Rome decided to found the EHMA (European Hotel Managers Association), an organization committed to the improvement of professional skills in order to enhance the quality of the services provided to guests. The membership currently includes some 450 executives managing the most prestigious European hotels in 27 different countries. In real terms, they represent 360 hotels, 92,000 rooms and 72,000 employees. The members meet once a year to discuss matters of common interest, new technologies, trends, problems, human relations and market research within the sphere of the European hotel industry. Members are required to have at least 10 years of experience in the hotel industry and to have worked as General Manager of luxury hotels of international repute for at least three years.