Barbara Muckermann has been appointed chief executive of Kempinski Hotels, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group.
Switzerland-headquartered Kempinski has more than 80 5-Star hotels and properties across 36 countries and is one of the world’s foremost luxury tourism and hospitality brands, having been in business for 127 years.
Ms Muckermann is a legendary name in the cruise industry; having worked with Royal Caribbean International for 20 years – during which time she built the brand into the leading cruise line in China.
She joins Kempinski from Royal Caribbean’s ultra-luxury and expedition brand, Silversea Cruises, where she was CEO for the past 14 years. She announced her departure from Silversea just last month, with Bert Hernandez succeeding her.
On her new role, Ms Muckermann said: “I could not be more thrilled to be joining Kempinski Hotels as CEO during such a pivotal time for the brand. I am delighted to play an integral role in this incredibly iconic brand’s next chapter while honouring its rich history, and very much look forward to working in tandem with amazing colleagues globally to continue to make the Kempinski name synonymous with individual luxury.”
“Barbara has always been at the forefront of luxury, and her proven ability to elevate the guest experience while simultaneously maximising profitability for leading travel brands made her the ideal choice to lead Kempinski Hotels,” said René Nijhof, Chairman of the Board of Directors Kempinski Hotels S.A. “Her dynamic, forward-thinking approach will be vital as we continue to usher in a new era of luxury for our brand. As Barbara takes the helm, she will be the first woman in the company’s 127 years of history to lead this iconic brand.”
