Michael Wale Appointed SVP, Le Meridien Operations
To Expand and Enhance Brand Around the World
LONDON, UK, January 31, 2006. Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Wale as Senior Vice President, Le M'eridien Operations. In his new position, Wale will be responsible for expanding and enhancing the Le M'eridien brand around the world, with particular emphasis on the United States, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific Region.
"We see great potential for Le M'eridien, and I am delighted to be leading the integration of the hotel brand into Starwood," said Wale. "With its European heritage, international footprint and unique guest culture, Le M'eridien is a perfect compliment to Starwood's portfolio. With locations in many markets where Starwood doesn't already enjoy a strong presence, coupled with the brand's excellent reputation and strong European DNA, Le M'eridien is a very attractive proposition for Starwood."
Wale's promotion to Senior Vice President, Le M'eridien Operations caps almost three decades of experience in the luxury hotel and resort industry. Wale began his hospitality career in 1978 at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at Heathrow, where he was Sheraton's first management trainee in the United Kingdom. By 1989, he had risen to General Manager at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh, becoming the youngest General Manager in Europe at age 32; under his tenure, the Grand won Sheraton Hotel of the Year in 1990 and 1991. In 1995, Wale was appointed Area Manager, UK and Ireland, and General Manager of the Sheraton Park Tower Hotel. In 1996, he became Managing Director of the Park Lane Hotel PLC, as well as Vice President, Sheraton Europe.
Two years later, Wale joined Starwood as Area Director in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Turkey, as well as General Manager of the group's first European complexed hotels. In 2000, he became Senior Vice President, Area Director - Northern Europe, and in 2002 Senior Vice President, Regional Director Operations Northwest Europe. Even in his new position, Wale will continue to oversee Starwood's 21 existing hotels in Northwest Europe.
Wale is based at Le M'eridien's UK corporate offices in central London.
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