June 4, 2012 - Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver announces the appointment of Vito Romeo to the position of general manager.  Mr. Romeo joins the hotel from the 670 room Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing in China’s capital city, where he served as resident manager from 2009 to March 2012.  During this tenure, he also studied at Cornell and graduated in the general managers’ program in 2011.

Mr. Romeo joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in 2008 as the executive assistant manager, food and beverage at the company’s Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong where he was in charge of extensive recreation and meeting facilities.

Mr. Romeo brings with him a comprehensive resume that covers all aspects of hotel operations, with a particular passion for food and beverage.   Immediately prior to joining Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, he served as resident manager of the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, a Leading Hotel of the World, where he worked closely with Chef Joel Robuchon.

From 1998 to 2006, Mr. Romeo honed his senior management skills at some of the world’s leading luxury hotels, including Hotel Conrad Brussels and Hotel Principe di Savoia – Milano.  He also worked in managerial roles with the Alain Ducasse Group:  general manager for the opening of Bar & Boeuf in Monaco, assistant food & beverage director at the Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris and ultimately, director of operations and development in New York for both, Alain Ducasse at the Essex House and Mix in New York.

It was in 1998 that Mr. Romeo received his degree in Hospitality Management from the Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France.  This degree was realized while working both in the kitchen and food and beverage management roles of leading luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants in Monaco, Paris and London.

The native-born Italian who is fluent in three languages, began his hospitality career 1987 working as an apprentice chef at La Coupole Hotel Mirabeau in Monte Carlo.

Mr. Romeo replaces Richard Cooke, who served as interim general manager in Vancouver, before relocating to Toronto to oversee the August opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto.

About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages 72 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 30,000. In over four decades, the group has established its brand hallmark of ‘hospitality from the heart.’ The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.