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Stephen Darling, regional vice president, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced the first members of the Vancouver executive team. These key individuals, from luxury hotels around the world, will lead the team in opening Shangri-La’s first hotel in North America. The Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, a 119-room luxury hotel, will open in January 2009.
Hani El-Sharkawi has been named hotel manager. El-Sharkawi joins Shangri-La from Vienna , Austria where he was Operations Manager, Radisson SAS Palais Hotel. A graduate of the University of Alexandria, Egypt, Hani has worked in hotels throughout Austria, France, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan, including Hotel Sacher Wien and the Four Seasons Hotel George V. In 2004, he was named “Young Hotelier of the Year” by the General Managers’ Council of Viennese Deluxe Hotels.
Kimberlee LoCicero is the new director of human resources, bringing more than 25 years of international experience to her role. LoCicero joins SLV after 17 years at Vancouver ’s Pan Pacific Hotel where she took a leading management role in both operations and human resources, most recently as director, people innovation and education.
Jeff Froehlich has been appointed director of sales & marketing. Froehlich’s sales career has covered publishing, tour & travel, and the hotel industry. A native of Vancouver, Jeff has worked for Sheraton and Westin, most recently as sales manager for the Westin Grand Vancouver.
Frank Schuetzendorf is the hotel’s first director of food & beverage. He joins Shangri-La from the Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris where he was assistant director of food & beverage. From 1999 – 2005, Schuetzendorf held progressive food and beverage roles with Four Seasons, working at their hotels in Paris, Santa Barbara and New York.
Jill Killeen is director of communications. Killeen brings 20 years of international communications experience both in broadcasting and public relations to her new role, most recently as regional director of public relations, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. From 1991 – 1995, she lived and worked in Asia, first for the New World Hotel Group and then Holiday Inn, Asia Pacific.
Brenda Serena is the administration manager for Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. For more than 20 years, Serena has served in an executive assistant capacity to Vancouver ’s tourism and business leaders, including roles with Westin, Magnolia Capital Corporation and Davis & Company.
