December 18, 2012 - The Rezidor Hotel Group today announced the appointment of Elie Younes as Senior Vice President, Head of Group Development effective 1st January 2013. Younes joined Rezidor’s regional office in Dubai in April 2010 as Vice President, Business Development Middle East & Africa, and took over the interim leadership of Rezidor’s corporate development department in October 2012. In his new role Younes will be based at the corporate support office in Brussels, Belgium. He will also be a member of Rezidor’s Executive Committee chaired by President & CEO Wolfgang M. Neumann who will take over from Kurt Ritter as from 1st January 2013.

“Rezidor is known for its excellent people development programmes and enhanced performance culture. We are delighted that we are able to promote a strong internal candidate to this role” said Wolfgang M. Neumann, Rezidor’s incoming President & CEO. “Building on his strong knowledge of Rezidor, our owners and business partners, Elie Younes will further drive our asset-light, profitable growth with a focus on the young and emerging markets of Russia/CIS and Africa”, continued Neumann. Rezidor is the leading international hotel operator in Russia/CIS & Baltics, and has the largest pipeline of hotels under development in sub-Saharan Africa. The group has a total development pipeline of around 100 hotels with over 22,000 rooms in EMEA.

“I am delighted to have been selected for this role and to lead our growth strategy and its execution. Rezidor possesses all the ingredients to achieve outstanding success through our strong leadership, great talents and Route 2015 strategy. I look forward to working with the management team and our business development executives across the regions to achieve such a success”, said Elie Younes.

Younes, a Lebanese national and English Citizen, began his career in managerial roles in Lebanon before joining HVS International in London in 2001. During his 5 years with HVS International Younes quickly progressed to the position of Director, overseeing a number of projects, investment counselling, feasibility studies and contract negotiations as well as advising on over US$8 billion worth of hotel real estate. In 2007, Younes joined Starwood Hotels as Director of Acquisitions and Development EMEA, before being promoted to Senior Director of Acquisitions and Development in 2008. Younes joined Hilton Hotels Worldwide as Vice President Development for the Middle East in 2009 before moving to Rezidor. He has conducted studies across continents in universities such as Notre Dame in Beirut, Insead in France, Cornell University in the USA, IMHI/Essec in Paris and City University in London. Elie Younes enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures, he is also a sportsman; specifically, he practices martial arts.

About the Rezidor Hotel Group
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s ten largest hotel groups. Rezidor features a portfolio of more than 430 hotels in operation and under development with 95,000 rooms in 70 countries. Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, along with the Club Carlson loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the luxury lifestyle brand Hotel Missoni. Following a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Regent Hotels & Resorts, Rezidor will develop and operate new Regent properties in EMEA.

In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, based in Minneapolis (USA), is the majority shareholder.

The Corporate office of The Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium. For more information, visit www.rezidor.com and www.carlsonrezidor.com