European hotel industry acknowledges Gabriel Escarrer, from Meliá Hotels International, as new CEO of the Year in the European Hospitality Awards 2014

World leading hotel group Meliá Hotels International has received a huge acknowledgement from the European Hotel Industry, winning CEO of The Year and Opening of The Year (new build) at The European Hospitality Awards.

Since his appointment as CEO, Gabriel Escarrer has lead an aggressive international expansion; the group now has over 360 hotels worldwide and is ranked amongst the top 20 hotel companies in the world. Significantly under his direction, the Company founded 58 years ago by his father, Gabriel Escarrer Julia, has kept on consolidating its leadership through an effective response to the international crisis and the management of unprecedented cultural and organisational change, increasing financial consolidation and a steady expansion of its brands both in its traditional markets and in new markets.

As CEO of a responsible family business, Escarrer has continued to promote the policy of corporate responsibility and sustainability in its social, economic and environmental dimensions and the ethics and corporate values that should underpin the actions of a Company that, as a leader and benchmark, assumes greater visibility and accountability.

Gabriel Escarrer said of his win "I deeply appreciate, on behalf of the Meliá tea, this award from the European hotel industry, for it signifies an acknowledgement of the effort that we have been driving in our Company during the last difficult years to undertake a strategic and cultural transformation, that has led us to become a global leading hotel operator".

Winner of the new build Opening of The Year award,the stylish Meliá Vienna is Meliá Hotels International's first property in Austria.

The award recognizes new projects that highlight innovative structural and interior design solutions in new build. Designed by the famous Parisian architect Dominique Perrault, the DC Tower is Austria's tallest skyscraper, rising at an impressive 250 metres over the New Danube River. The exterior offers a glazed, clearly structured, minimalistic monolith resembling a geometric waterfall. The LEED skyscraper boasts the first 'Green Building' credentials in Austria and combines modern construction and functionality with aesthetic architectural design.

Dorothea Schuster, General Manager at Meliá Vienna commented, "Dorothea Schuster, General Manager at Meliá Vienna commented, "Meliá Vienna has shown us a hotel's potential to create a socially accepted epicenter of town within a new urban development. We are pleased to set new standards of international lifestyle with the 57 restaurant & lounge at Meliá Vienna and to grant our guests a breathtaking stay across the board", adds Dorothea Schuster.

The European Hospitality Awards, now in its fifth year, was held at the Hurlingham Club, London and received entries from the UK and world's top architects, designers and hospitality operators. The judges consisted of some of the most influential personalities and professionals across the industry.

- See more at: http://meliahotelsinternational.com/en/press-room/11102014/european-hotel-industry-acknowledges-gabriel-escarrer-melia-hotels-international#sthash.YnZlL5bD.dpuf