 PHNOM PENH (15 July 2011) — Charles-Henri Chevet,
a seasoned Sofitel hand whose 16-year career includes a ten-year run in
Asia,
takes over as general manager of the new Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra
this
month.
His appointment follows the departure of Didier Lamoot, who is moving
on to
manage Sofitel's property on Bora Bora. Like Lamoot, Chevet cut his
teeth in
Cambodia at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort in Siem
Reap.
"Siem Reap is the great proving ground in Cambodia," said Chevet.
"It's the best thing, for my money, not only in Cambodia but all
Southeast
Asia. Phnom Penh is a great attraction for entirely another reason —
because
we've only laid the foundation of the destination it's yet to become,
both for
leisure and corporate travelers."
The Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra celebrated its grand opening in March
2011
and immediately assumed a reputation as one of Southeast Asia's most
compelling
new properties.
The South China Morning Post hailed the hotel's arrival as a "boom in
the
city for luxury development." One of North America's premier travel
publications, Luxury Travel Advisor, echoed the sentiment:
"The Sofitel Phokeethra, with all its swank trappings, is helping to
raise
the bar considerably on the city's luxury hotellerie," wrote LTA.
 More than 450 employees serve guests in the 201-room
property on the banks of a
city canal, commanding views of both the Mekong and the Bassac. Its
eight
restaurants and bars, expansive meetings facilities, spa and sports
club have
sparked a resurgence of sorts for hospitality in a city that has not
enjoyed a
five-star debut since the 1990s.
Prior to his work in Cambodia, Chevet spent two and a half years in
China,
where he served as hotel manager at Sofitel properties in both Shanghai
and
Beijing.
For nearly four years, he was resident manager at the Sofitel Metropole
Hanoi,
now the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Travel + Leisure, the world's
highest
circulating travel magazine, called out that hotel this month as one of
the top
3 City Hotels in Asia.
Chevet hails from Rennes in France and graduated with a degree in
accounting
from the French business school, ESSCA. |
