In addition to managing The Fairmont San Francisco, he will oversee all Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in California; including The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, The Fairmont San Jose, The Fairmont Newport Beach and The Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica.

In his previous leadership roles with international hotel companies, including Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts and Raffles International Limited, he developed operational standards for these brands and was pivotal in the acquisition of new properties and management contracts.  Having operated premier hotels around the world, Klein brings keen insight into the services and amenities most prized by the global traveler.  

�I am delighted to join Fairmont Hotels & Resort during this exciting time as the company expands its presence in key destinations throughout the world.  I am especially pleased to oversee the iconic Fairmont San Francisco, which has defined hospitality for more than a century, and to guide the landmark hotel to new heights of luxury and guest satisfaction,� states Regional Vice President and General Manager Thomas Klein.

Most recently, Klein functioned as regional vice president, The Americas for Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts.  While serving as general manager of Swissôtel Chicago, he oversaw properties in Lima, Peru and Quito, Ecuador.  During his tenure in this position, he was appointed Chicago�s �Hotelier of the Year� by the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association and a property within his region, Swissôtel Quito, was named the second best hotel in South America by Travel & Leisure in 2006.
 
As senior vice president, The Americas for Raffles International Limited from 2001 to 2003, he oversaw the operations of six hotels (Swissôtel/Raffles) in North America and two hotels in South America totaling 2,800 guest rooms and 3,000 employees.  In this capacity, he was actively involved in the successful purchase of Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts by Raffles Holdings.

From 1998 through 2001, Klein served as senior vice president, Africa for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts which operates premium hotels throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  At the same time, he acted as chief executive officer and managing director for Karos Hotels Limited, which was publicly listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and of which Movenpick was a majority shareholder.  

Previously, he held general manager positions at The Ritz Carlton Sydney (1989-1992); Hayman Resort (1992-1995), a private island resort nestled between the Great Barrier Reef and North Queensland in Australia; and The Palace Hotel (1995-1996) in Sun City, South Africa; before being appointed chief executive officer of Simola Golf & Country Estate in Knysna, South Africa in 1996.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Boston University, Klein embarked on a hospitality career with Hyatt Hotel Corporation where he worked in positions of increasing responsibility from 1981 to 1988, when he joined the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC.

Klein was born in Bonn, Germany and lived there until the age of three, at which time, he and his family moved to Australia.  He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and will soon be joined by his wife and two children.  When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family.  He also likes to golf and play tennis.

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels which includes iconic landmarks like The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Monte Carlo and New York's The Plaza. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travellers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont's portfolio includes 55 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Beijing, Abu Dhabi and South Africa.Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with over 85 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.  For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com. 

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
www.fairmont.com