Arild Hovland receives RHIC 2010 Leadership Award

Arild Hovland, Senior Vice President Business Development at Rezidor, has received the RHIC 2010 Leadership Award on the occasion of the Russian Hotel Investment Conference in Moscow. Hovland, who heads Rezidor’s business development in Russia/CIS out of the company’s full fledge branch office in Moscow, was awarded for his “significant contribution to the development of the Russian hospitality industry”, said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and organizer of RHIC.

The Norwegian-born Arild Hovland is a graduate of Ecole Hôtelière Lausanne in Switzerland and joined Rezidor in 1988 after a 13-year career in Asia. He is the driving force behind Rezidor’s ambitious business development in Russia and the further CIS countries. The group which was one of the first international hotel operators to enter Russia is today the leading international player on the market – with 36 hotels with 9,600 rooms in operation and further 27 properties with 6,000 rooms under development. Rezidor’s Russian flagship is the outstanding Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow – the former “Hotel Ukraina” which belongs to Stalin’s famous skyscrapers “Seven Sisters” re-opened its doors in early 2010 after a gigantic three-years-renovation. Rezidor also develops the young and dynamic mid-market brand Park Inn in Russia/CIS – under Arild Hovland’s leadership, the group signed a strategic agreement with Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) for the development of at least 20 Park Inns across the region; mainly located near railway stations.

“All these projects require a deep understanding and excellent knowledge of the local and national markets – something which Arild Hovland has brought to perfection. We are delighted and proud that he has won this prestigious prize which also reflects our commitment to Russia/CIS”, commented Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. The Rezidor Hotel Group has identified the emerging markets of Russia/CIS as one of their key focus areas for future growth. Within the next five years, the company will have 10 hotels in operation in greater Moscow, 5 in St. Petersburg, and a considerable Park Inn network across the region.