1st December 2014 – Kempinski Hotels announces the appointment of Noel Attard as CEO of Kempinski Trading JLT, based in Dubai, effective November 27, 2014. Kempinski Hotels’ Management Board have appointed Mr Attard, a long serving Kempinski General Manager whose deep operational and preopening knowledge, and strong financial background make him ideal to lead Kempinski Trading JLT.

Markus Semer, Deputy CEO of Kempinski Hotels, says “Noel Attard has strong operational experience, especially in pre-opening, and is known for his business acumen. Both will be key as he takes on his responsibilities for developing Kempinski Trading’s activities. Mr Attard’s focus will be on providing effective purchasing and procurement solutions to both Kempinski hotels and other hospitality groups, who wish to benefit from Kempinski’s long-term relationships with high quality, luxury standard suppliers around the world.”

Attard joined Kempinski in 2001, originally as Financial Controller at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Malta, and later as Executive Assistant Manager. He then transferred as Executive Assistant Manager to Kempinski Hotel Adriatic in Croatia to support the hotel during its pre-opening phase, and in 2008 returned to Malta as General Manager. In 2012, he was appointed General Manager at the Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square in Vilnius where he oversaw the property’s successful opening, and the first awards have already been received, including Condé Nast Traveler USA’s 2013 Hot List. Throughout his career at Kempinski Hotels, Attard has taken on Task Force assignments to deliver his operational and financial expertise to hotels, including Djibouti Palace Kempinski and Kempinski Palace Portorož in Slovenia, which was in pre-opening. Attard has a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta, and an MBA from Reims Management School in France.

Kempinski Trading JLT and Kempinski Handelsgesellschaft mbH, which was originally incorporated in 1914 and is the group’s oldest business unit, are the world’s leading procurement management companies, with offices in Dubai and Hamburg respectively. The companies provide comprehensive corporate purchasing services to Kempinski hotels, and professional procurement services for new hotel projects and major refurbishments to Kempinski and other companies.