Multi-brand hotel operator CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) announced the appointment of leading marketing and IT expert Brian Pratt as its senior vice president for distribution, loyalty programs, partnerships, and management information systems, based at the company’s headquarters in Malta.

Brian has over 25 years experience in the hospitality business and was most recently vice president for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he was responsible for all marketing initiatives, customer-facing technology, business development, strategic planning, online advertising, and customer acquisition for the entire brand portfolio of St. Regis, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, Four Points Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and Le Meridien Hotels. He was also vice president e-commerce, e-business, and customer technology for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In his earlier career, Brian gained valuable hands-on experience as a software consultant overseeing projects for Bank of Boston and Ford Motor.

In his new appointment at CHI, Brian will administer the company’s distribution of rooms, Internet presence, ;oyalty program, partnerships, and technology.

Welcoming Brian Pratt to the company, CHI chief executive officer and managing director Tony Potter said: “Brian brings a real global perspective to the company, having lived and operated from Brussels, Boston, New York, and Hong Kong amongst others. I am confident that he will add a new dimension and capability to our business and feel that he is joining the team at a most interesting time in terms of our rapid development and brand focus. Brian’s expertise is a considerable addition to our online marketing resources, and together with his dedicated team, he will no doubt help us achieve a quantum leap in our progress.”

A US national, Brian Pratt is a member of the Marketing Board of Directors, the Information Technology Board of Directors, and the Internet Marketing Association. He is married, has three boys, and in his free time is a rugby coach.

ABOUT CHI HOTELS & RESORTS (CHI)

Based in Malta, CHI Hotels & Resorts is a hotel management company that provides the full range of technical assistance and management services to hotel owners worldwide. CHI is the exclusive operator of the luxury Corinthia Hotels brand, as well as the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. CHI draws on a heritage of over 48 years in delivering high-quality services to hotel guests and an optimum rate of return to owners and investors in diverse business environments. CHI’s experience extends to management of luxury and upscale properties in city and resort locations and products ranging from boutique to conference and spa hotels. CHI is owned by International Hotel Investments plc (70 percent) and the Wyndham Hotel Group (30 percent).

ABOUT CORINTHIA HOTELS

Corinthia Hotels is an internationally-cclaimed brand of luxury hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta in the 1960s. The Corinthia brand is true to its roots as a family business, fired by a determination to succeed, an infinite devotion to detail,and a boundless passion for understanding and serving its customers. All Corinthia hotels feature extensive leisure and business traveler facilities and are renowned for their uniqueness of character. Corinthia Hotels’ portfolio includes the award-winning Corinthia Hotel Budapest in Hungary, Corinthia Hotel Prague in the Czech Republic, Corinthia Hotel St. Petersburg in Russia, and Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in Malta. The portfolio also features the splendid Corinthia Hotel St. George’s Bay in Malta, the superior five-star Corinthia Hotel Tripoli in Libya, and the modern Corinthia Hotel Lisbon in Portugal. The latest additions to the Corinthia Hotels portfolio are the Corinthia Hotel London – due to open in early 2011 – and the Corinthia Taormina Golf Resort in Sicily, Italy – due to open in 2012.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

I am confident that he will add a new dimension and capability to our business and feel that he is joining the team at a most interesting time in terms of our rapid development and brand focus.
CHI draws on a heritage of over 48 years in delivering high-quality services to hotel guests and an optimum rate of return to owners and investors in diverse business environments.
The Corinthia brand is true to its roots as a family business, fired by a determination to succeed, an infinite devotion to detail,and a boundless passion for understanding and serving its customers.