Ian Alexandre appointed vice president of Sofitel Luxury Hotels Pacific

　　T.Markland Blaiklock, Senior Vice President of Sofitel Luxury Hotels Asia Pacific, has appointed Ian Alexandre to the newly created position of Vice President Sofitel Pacific, and General Manager of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

　　The new Vice President role oversees Sofitel’s network of nine luxury hotels and resorts across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia. The dual role will also see Ian take direct responsibility for the brand’s flagship hotel in the region, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, where he is currently based.

　　Ian has tremendous international hotel and hospitality experience having worked in the industry for more than 26 years. Prior to his Pacific appointment, Ian was based in Asia where he was Area General Manager for Sofitel’s Wanda Hotels in China, and General Manager for the Sofitel Wanda Beijing (a role he took on in January 2009).

　　He first commenced his career in Australia and then Shanghai with Sheraton Hotels before moving across to the Four Seasons and Hong Kong in 1997. This was followed by further assignments in Washington, Kuala Lumpur and a return to Shanghai.

　　The Sofitel ethos is to connect the world to French elegance with a collection of locations, each offering its customers and partners a service cousu main that creates emotions, performance and excellence.

　　Mr Alexandre says, “It’s great to be back in Sydney and working with the Pacific team. Sofitel has certainly grown in recognition and prestige since its global repositioning in 2007, which is now deemed a great success, and nowhere is that more evident than this region.

　　"It was amazing to be on the ground as Beijing and China came of age, and now, as I arrive back in Australia, I feel I"ve again come at a significant time for the Sofitel brand as we commence a new chapter in the Pacific. Both worldwide and locally it"s a time of consolidation and focus on our brand values. The aim is to better assert and define our position and performance in the luxury segment, and it"s a challenge I look forward to."

　　Sofitel is the flagship brand of the Accor group around the world as well as a separate business unit with its own organization. It encompasses 120 hotels and 30,000 room and suites in 40 countries around the world.

　　In 2010, Sofitel Luxury Hotels was named ‘Best Hotel Brand’ by Hotel Management Magazine, and continues to be one of the most awarded networks in the region.

　　In addition, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is one of the region’s premier hotels, and was recently awarded Best Five-Star Hotel at the inaugural Accommodation Association of Australia (AAA) Awards held this June (2011) .