Engagement in the hotel and tourism industry

After a hotel apprenticeship and further positions in all areas of F&B in Switzerland, France, England und Germany, 1970 start in the international hotel industry with various positions in event and conference management and in the administration of leading hotels, such as Intercontinental, Penta Airline Group, Mövenpick, Ramada, Hilton as well as in private 4 and 5-star hotels. 1977 graduated from the Swiss Federal Hotel Management School in Lucerne.

1979 - at that time as sales manager of Switzerland largest hotel - honoured with the industry award of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association HSMA. Then studied tourism at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Further practical training over three years in the classic media sector led to print media consulting for international LSA advertising agencies and large companies.

After working as Marketing Manager for Europe, USA and the Middle East, he took on his first challenge as a hotel manager in the Bernese Oberland. One of the highlights of these activities was the development of the Swiss-Ski-Safari for the American market in 1984.

Regular participation as an exhibitor at international trade fairs in London, Berlin, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Geneva and at the STM, the leading Swiss incoming trade fair, promoted important relationships for work in tourism. This also included joint campaigns and promotional tours in Europe and overseas with the Swiss Confederation's umbrella marketing organisation SVZ (Switzerland Tourism, ST).

Then in 1985, with the founding of PROFITEL Hotel & Tourism Management AG, he took the step into self-employment. The first few years were characterised by the special needs of the 1980s, in particular consulting and training in the field of IT and computer-aided reservation systems. This was followed later by the realisation and support of the first projects in the then new medium of the Internet. International mandates in the four- and five-star hotel industry in the area of marketing and management in Europe and Africa then became a central task.

The intensive cooperation with globally active groups also resulted in specialised event activities in the corporate segment. This led to leisure products in the incentive and employee motivation sector.

His involvement as president of the tourist office and on the board of the cantonal tourism authority have influenced his sustainable orientation in favour of nature, sport and the environment.

The last personal commitment before official retirement took place during 5 years of the management of a 4plus-star game lodge in the north of South Africa, Limpopo province.

Since then, he has been in a continuous state of rest with consulting tasks.

 

Cham/Zug, 2024