Chicago, IL (October 15, 2012) -- Langham Hospitality Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Schofield as Managing Director of The Langham, Chicago.  Bob, age 64, will oversee the mid-2013 opening of the 316-room hotel, located in one of the city’s most famous downtown riverfront landmarks – a Mies van der Rohe-designed building located at 330 North Wabash Avenue.

With more than 30 years of national and international hospitality experience, Bob is a seasoned veteran, who has held positions as both hotel General Manager and Vice President of Finance for major hotel companies.  Most recently, Bob was the General Manager of The American Club Resort in Kohler, Wisconsin.  Prior to this, he was the Managing Director of the Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row in Washington DC and The Umstad Hotel and Spa in Raleigh, North Carolina.  He has also served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer for L’Ermitage Hotels in Los Angeles.  In addition, he has held Vice President level finance positions with The Sheraton Corporation and Inter-Continental Hotel Corporation.

“Throughout Bob’s career, his hotels have continually been recognized for achieving some of the highest accolades in the industry,” said Katie Benson, Regional Vice President for Langham Hospitality Group - Europe and North America and Managing Director of The Langham, London.  “His extensive experience and dedication to operating five-star hotels will be a tremendous asset as we prepare to open The Langham, Chicago in 2013.”

A native of London, England, Bob graduated from Foulkes Lynch College in London with a degree in finance and accounting.

Bob and his wife, Helen, will reside in Chicago.  He is an avid sports fan and looks forward to watching the local teams.

About The Langham, Chicago
The Langham, Chicago, located in the heart of downtown Chicago at 330 North Wabash Avenue, will be housed in the 52-story IBM building.  As the last building to be designed by Mies van der Rohe, it was declared a Chicago Landmark in 2008 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in March 2010.  The hotel’s 316 rooms, situated on floors 2-13, will be among the largest in the city starting at 520 sq ft and offering views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.  The property will feature all the amenities and services the brand is known for, including a daily afternoon tea, inspired by its sister property, The Langham, London, which opened in 1865, and is regarded as the first hotel to serve afternoon tea.   Other services include a club level and lounge, a designated specialty restaurant to follow in the footsteps of Langham’s other Michelin star winning restaurants, and a summer time alfresco restaurant on the plaza.  The Langham, Chicago will showcase 20,000 sq ft of elegant and sophisticated meeting facilities, and the group’s award-winning  Chuan Spa, a 9,000 sq ft facility featuring a fitness center, lap pool, and a full range of wellness treatments,  based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

About Langham Hospitality Group
Langham Hospitality Group encompasses a family of distinctive hospitality brands which include hotels, resorts, residential serviced apartments, restaurants and spas, located on four continents.

It takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was opened in 1865 as Europe's first Grand Hotel. For almost 150 years, this flagship hotel has represented sophisticated and gracious hospitality, a philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses across all properties.

The brands include the luxurious Langham and Langham Place, the upscale Eaton Luxe, midscale Eaton Smart and the award-winning Chuan Spa.

The Langham is where guests can enjoy service with poise and be enchanted by our innovation and traditions while Langham Place, the fun sibling of The Langham, is about living the 21st century through design, technology and attitude, epitomising stimulating hospitality.

Eaton, a premium member brand, aims to surprise and delight our guests with a value-for-money proposition that delivers a stylish, modern level of comfort with spirited, can-do service.

Currently 29 member hotels are open or in the pipeline across four continents.

Langham Hospitality Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings (Stock Code: 0041) which was founded in 1963 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.

Reservations for either Langham or Eaton properties can be made by logging onto langhamhospitalitygroup.com