ans Koch, the new President who will remain in office for three years from 2013 to 2015, has been elected during the 40° General Meeting of Ehma (European Hotel Managers Association) at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, at the conclusion of a series of seminars and celebrations for Ehma's 40th anniversary.

The new Executive Committee, presided over by Hans Koch, is composed by Kurt Dohnal (First Vice President), Manuel Otero Alvarado (Second Vice President) and Johanna Fragano (EHMA Treasurer).

Hans Koch, 62 years, Swiss from Lucerne, is presently National Delegate for Ehma's Swiss Chapter and CEO of the Culture and Congress Centre KKL in Lucerne after a thirty-year experience alternating his own country and Asian destinations, where he has managed prestigious and complex properties of large dimensions.

After terminating his studies in hotel management, Hans Koch started his career in Switzerland but he soon moved to Asia first at the Hilton and then at the Peninsula in Hong Kong. In 1983 he moved to Tokyo for the opening of the Hilton Hotel in the position of Food & Beverage Manager, and quickly was promoted Executive Assistant Manager at the Hilton Tokyo Bay, opened in 1988 next to Tokyo Disneyland. After a brief intermission in 1991 as General Manager ad interim of the Zurich Hilton, Koch goes back to Asia as General Manager of the Hilton di Shanghai, luxury property of 775 rooms with six restaurants, two bars and vast banqueting and meeting areas, winner of the Hilton International Award "Hotel of the Year 1993". From 1995 to 1998 Koch becomes General Manager of the Osaka Hilton, where he successfully carried out important innovations. In 1999 his career continues to rise in India with the position of Vice President & General Manager of Sheraton Mumbai of the Group ITC Hotels/Welcomgroup , India.

In 2001 Koch returns to Switzerland in order to manage the Grand Hotels Bad Ragaz – Health, Spa & Golf Resort, the only resort in Switzerland that offers the unique combination of two luxury hotels, its own thermal water, an 18-hole golf course, a medical health center and vast public and private wellness facilities. From 2004 to 2007 Koch is in Mauritius as General Manager of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, winner of numerous international awards.

In 2007 Koch goes back to Switzerland as General Manager of the Lucerne's Palace, prestigious 5-star boutique hotel with a Spa and three restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star.

For the last two years Koch has been CEO of the KKL Luzern Management AG (Culture and Congress Centre), magnificent contemporary property designed by Jean Nouvel that comprises concert halls, bars, restaurants and congress areas.

About EHMA

The Association was founded in Rome in 1974 with the aim of safeguarding the ethical principles of the profession and developing tourism with a top quality standards. The membership currently includes 426 hotel executives who manage 4 and 5 star prestigious international hotels, in 27 European countries for a total of 350 hotels, 92,000 rooms and 72,000 employees with an estimated overall turnover of about 6 billion Euros. For more information, visit www.ehma.com .

EHMA Secretariat
+39 - 06 481 8888
EHMA

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