Shangri-La Hotel Toronto GM Appointed
June 21, 2011 - Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited announces the appointment of Richard Cooke as general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto with simultaneous oversight of Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver effective 27 June 2011. Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto is due to open in the summer of 2012.
Currently general manager at Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Mr Cooke brings over 20 years of hospitality experience on four continents to his new posting. Born in London, his career started as a 14-year old in the family run hotel in rural Cheshire followed by the Midland Hotel Holiday Inn in Manchester. His next positions took him to London and subsequently to The Regent in Auckland, New Zealand and Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood Hotels in USA.
He joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts as Executive Assistant Manager in 2000 in Singapore before becoming Corporate Director for Food and Beverage in the company's head office. Moving back into hotel operations at Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai he was promoted to general manager at Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur in 2009. Mr. Cooke's expertise covers all aspects of hospitality, notably in food and beverage but also in catering, events management and rooms operations.
“Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto is poised to become a flagship property for the brand and I am excited to be leading the team there as we establish our second hotel in North America. It will be a challenge and a thrill to bring our Shangri-La type of hospitality to one of the most vibrant and multicultural cities on the continent, a city that is well known for superior hotels and brands,” said Mr. Cooke on his appointment.
Greg Dogan, president and chief executive officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, said, “Richard has a well established passion for perfection. He delivers high standards of service and sound financial results, and has a proven track record in hospitality management, which make him the ideal candidate for this challenging position. We are confident that he will establish and advance our brand well within North America as he also will be in overall charge of our hotel in Vancouver, which opened in 2009.”
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages 72 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 30,000. In over four decades, the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.' The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom.
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