“As distinguished hoteliers, our decades of expertise and global prominence stem from our strategic focus on building robust, lasting relationships.
We excel as specialists in the professional development of HOTEL REAL ESTATE, demonstrating mastery in BRAND DEVELOPMENT, and establishing our mark as proven authorities in the creation and value augmentation of MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.”
Martin R. Smura
Chairman of the Board
President
Management Team
Walter C. Neumann, the former Chief Executive Director of Seetelhotels, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Castlewood Hotels & Resorts Group and Grand Metropolitan Hotels since January 2024. Neumann, a trained hotelier, has an extensive professional career in the hotel industry. In the early years of his career, he worked in various specialized areas and held leadership positions both domestically and internationally. He was part of renowned hotel groups such as Lindner Hotels and Rocco Forte. In 2006, he assumed the role of Managing Director at Travel Charme. His career eventually led him to Azimut Hotels, where he served as CEO from 2013 to 2018, contributing significantly to the company's growth and development.
WALTER C. NEUMANN
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Peter Fiedler brings with him more than 40 years of experience in Finance and Controlling and has been focusing on business consulting, investment and board assignments on various hotel development and management projects in the last decade. He was CFO and Member of the Management Board for Kempinski Hotels. In this position he oversaw the financial function and performance of the luxury hotel group and was, among others, in charge for Corporate and Hotel Finance, Managing of Financial Resources, Loss Prevention, Compliance as well as Internal Audit.
Dr. Fiedler holds a Doctorate Degree in Law and has an extensive corporate legal background.
DR. PETER FIEDLER
Chief Financial Officer & Associated Board Member
An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.
PATRICK A. WILD
Group Legal Councel
International experienced Hospitality Executive with a strong focus on Digital Transformation and Revenue Management. Wilhelm K. Weber is a business leader and motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience in the fields of business development and distribution. Weber has worked with a wide range of clients, including major multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups. The prestigious list includes Kempinski, Melia, Dorint, Steigenberger as well as iconic hotels such as the Kulm Hotel St Moritz, Cinnamon Grand Colombo and the Omnia Zermatt. In addition to his work as a consultant, the Cornell and Luzern Alumnus, is also a highly sought-after speaker and lecturer.
WILHELM K. WEBER
Chief Strategy &
Digital Officer
Janin Blaser, certified business economics graduate, was formerly working in the field of brand development for Kempinski and Dorint. Initially coming from business consulting, she focussed on the sector of e-commerce for several years before managing a content manufactory in Bremen, the biggest fashion photography and film studio of Europe. Having filled the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Castlewood Hotels & Resorts previously, she has extensive expertise in the hotel industry's commercial sector.
JANIN BLASER
Chief Commercial Officer
Corinna Saur brings many years of experience in the field of human resources and administration from numerous international hotel companies such as InterContinental, Robinson, and Kameha Grand Zurich to Grand Metropolitan. As VP Human Resources for Kempinski Corinna Saur acted as HR Business Partner to implement the HR vision and strategy.
CORINNA SAUR
Chief Human Resources Officer
Alexey Slesar is a senior international hospitality and real estate executive who brings over twenty years of executive experience in hotel and real estate development, acquisitions and project financing. Alex started his career in the international hospitality sector as Vice President for Development and Acquisitions in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe with Hyatt where he was instrumental for Hyatt in expanding the company’s footprint in the region and was responsible for Hyatt’s highly successful entry to the Russian market with its top brand – Park Hyatt. Alex has been working in key development roles for the Fortune 500 companies, he held key positions in major international public and private equity companies in the hospitality sector with direct reporting to companies’ shareholders and the global management leadership.
ALEXEY SLESAR
Chief Development Officer
Sebastian Kraemer, formerly Chief Executive Officer of the international hotel group Azimut Hotels, started his career in the hospitality industry in 1983. Since 1997 he had various leading positions, with being in charge of budgeting- & human resource matters, in hotels of famous groups like the Dorint-Sofitel, Kempinski, Starwood, Rocco Forte Hotels and The Three Sisters Hotel inne. Before joining Azimut Hotels he was working for the Reikartz Hotel Group, where he established an Ukrainian hotel group in the position of chief operating officer.
SEBASTIAN KRÄMER
Chief Operations Officer
A seasoned senior executive, he has demonstrated robust leadership over 15 years in wealth and asset management businesses. A strategic business expert, he holds an honors B.B.A and M.B.A from the University of Miami. Off the business field, he enjoys playing polo in Miami, where he is based.
JONATHAN HEW
VP Development North &
South America
Martin is a seasoned industry leader with extensive experience around the globe with industry-leading companies such as Kempinski Hotels and the Intercontinental Hotel Group. He utilises his vast knowledge to develop the companies portfolio in Africa and the Middle East.
MARTIN KOLB
VP Development Africa & Middle East
Richard Eder joins us having previously worked in different capacities with the Hyatt group and IHG in controlling and finances. Initially staring his career working in different fields of operations including time on the ship MS Astor, Richard soon started focusing on the field of finance in which he worked for several top addresses including Crowne Plaza Hamburg, Crowne Plaza Heidelberg and at Hotel Park Hyatt in Hamburg.
RICHARD EDER
VP Finance
Julia Massey has 15 years of experience in managing sustainability and climate change issues for some of the world's largest companies (both publicly traded and private) in the oil and gas, petrochemical, utilities, transportation and hospitality sectors, where she worked for Kempinski. She is an expert in assessing current sustainability and ESG performance of companies, developing medium- and long-term strategic goals, and communicating sustainability performance as part of the global reporting initiative (GRI).
JULIA MASSEY
VP Sustainability
After completing her international Hospitality & Tourism studies at IU Bad Honnef, Germany, Stephanie began her career with Kempinski Hotels. She gained experience in Human Resources while working in various locations such as Berlin, Geneva, Bahrain, and Rwanda. In 2015, Stephanie returned to Germany and became the Director of Human Resources for Althoff Hotels at Lake Tegernsee. Prior to joining us, she led the HR & Training department at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof from 2019 to June 2022.
STEPHANIE BLINKEN
VP Human Resources
After training and working as a distiller, Markus initially became self-employed in the early 1990s, running a trendy cocktail bar and a club in Berlin, until he turned his hobby into a profession. He then worked for 20 years as a professional photographer with his own studio, specializing in fashion, advertising, and PR. In 2016, Markus transitioned to the hospitality industry with MRP and subsequently became the Corporate Director for F&B Brand Development at Kempinski. He specializes in developing new brands, brand stories and concepts.
MARKUS M. MEY
Corp. Director Brand Development
Branka holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Belgrade, where she built a strong foundation in design and urban development. With over 15 years of experience in hotel projects, she has worked as FF&E Manager and Design & Project Manager for Hyatt International at the EMEA headquarters in Zurich and Dubai, overseeing dozens of Hyatt-branded projects in various development stages. She also served as Development Manager for Belgrade Waterfront, a USD 3 billion urban initiative, responsible for over 250,000 sqm of mixed-use development. Branka brings practical knowledge and hands-on experience to all phases of hotel design management – from concept to execution and operation.
BRANKA JOVANOVIC
Director of Technical Services
Madlen began her career in revenue management in a renowned
5-star hotel in the Swiss Alps after completing her studies in tourism management.
degree in tourism management. This was followed by a move to Kempinski
Hotels, where she worked as Director of Revenue & Reservation in Switzerland,
Egypt and China. She gained further valuable experience in the
Maldives, both in revenue management and front of house. From
2019, Madlen took over the position of Hotel Director at the Seetelhotels
Usedom and later managed the central reservation department for 16 hotels and
residences.
MADLEN RIESNER
Director of Revenue
Lilla brings a wealth of experience in the F&B field, with a specific focus on wines. She attained her Sommelier Certificate in USA where she did spend over 12 Years. One of Lillas strengths lies in the education field. She served as an academic lecturer for Wine & Beverage and Fine Dining at César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland, she is a visiting lecturer at the Intl. Management Institute Luzern and conducted wine curses for students in her role as a Certified Wine Educator of WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust). In 2023 she co-founded WineEducation, a start-up that embodies her passion for teaching about wines. In her role, she will be responsible all wine matters across all hotels and restaurants of Grand Met. This position enables her to combine her enthusiasm for teaching with her extensive knowledge and passion for wines.
LILLA FÜLÖP
Head Sommelier
Joy Fischer's passion for the hospitality industry developed at an early age in the family business of her parents. Her career in the hotel industry began at the Ameron Swiss Mountain Hotel Davos, before she worked as Event & Group Coordinator and F&B Assistant Manager at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. After further positions at Kempinski, Swiss Post and the Waldhaus Flims Wellness Resort, Joy most recently worked at NZZ Connect, where she held various positions: Project Manager Hospitality Management and F&B, Project Manager and Lead Food & Beverage and finally Teamlead Hospitality & Ticketing.
JOY FISCHER
Director of Affiliations
Rasmus Bildtoft, a native of Denmark, chose to leave his home country to pursue his studies in Switzerland. He completed his Bachelor of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management at the prestigious César Ritz Colleges Switzerland and Washington State University, earning the distinguished "Outstanding Leadership Award." During his studies, Rasmus gained valuable practical experience at the Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort, where he initially worked as a sommelier and later in Room Division Management. Since October 1, Rasmus has been strengthening our team as Group Food & Beverage Manager.
RASMUS G. BILDTOFT
Group Food & Beverage Manager
With extensive experience in procurement management and strategic supplier partnerships, Björn C. Lösch is a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry. Before joining Grand Metropolitan Hotels, he served as Group Director Procurement at HRG Hotels GmbH, where he successfully developed scalable procurement structures, consolidated operations across multiple entities, and drove significant cost and efficiency optimizations.
Björn’s expertise spans operational and strategic procurement, team leadership, and process optimization, making him a perfect fit for our commitment to excellence and innovation in hotel management. He is passionate about creating sustainable 360-degree solutions that foster trust, enhance profitability, and elevate guest satisfaction.
BJÖRN LÖSCH
Group Procurement Manager
With a background in Psychological Brain Sciences from George Washington University and ongoing studies in Hospitality Management at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Irena combines academic insight with hands-on industry experience. She has worked across various roles in F&B service, developing a strong foundation in food safety, guest relations, waste management, and POS systems. Her leadership skills were further sharpened during her time as Front Desk Manager at AC Hotel by Marriott in downtown Washington, DC, where she led a team of eight. At Brand Development, she contributes a versatile and well-rounded perspective to the team.
IRENA PANCHENKOVA
Brand Development Manager
Since early 2024, Lara Beiler leads the Marketing & E-Commerce division of Grand Metropolitan Hotels as Head of Marketing & E-Commerce, overseeing brand development, digital positioning, and the execution of integrated marketing strategies across the group’s upscale and luxury portfolio. Her work is shaped by several years of experience at Castlewood Hotels & Resorts, where she has been active since 2017 and played a key role in the evolution of the brand’s marketing and e-commerce presence. She holds a degree in International Management (M.A.) with a focus on Marketing & Sales, and brings additional international expertise from her time in South Africa, where she gained hands-on experience in the luxury hospitality sector at the 5-star Plattner Golf resort.
LARA BEILER
Head of Marketing & E-Commerce
Susanne brings strong expertise in premium hospitality and event management. Most recently, she worked as an Executive Assistant at the Europa-Park Erlebnis-Resort, supporting senior leadership and key strategic projects. Before that, she was a Project Manager at the same company, overseeing flagship events such as the German Hotel Congress in cooperation with ahgz and the dfv Conference Group. She began her career in Convention Sales at the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt on Lake Tegernsee and Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden. Susanne holds a degree in Hotel Management with a focus on Sales & Marketing from the International University in Bad Honnef.
SUSANNE HEYL
Sales
With a Bachelor's degree in Media Economics and a Master's degree in Digital Media Management from Wilhelmshaven, Haroon Ahmed brings a blend of academic prowess and practical experience to the team. Prior to joining Grand Metropolitan Hotels in mid-2023, he honed his skills as a freelance Marketing Manager in tourism, notably with Center Parcs. Since then, he's been leveraging his expertise to enhance the brand's online presence and engagement through various channels.
HAROON AHMED
Digital Marketing Manager
After training and working as a distiller, Markus initially became self-employed in the early 1990s, running a trendy cocktail bar and a club in Berlin, until he turned his hobby into a profession. He then worked for 20 years as a professional photographer with his own studio, specializing in fashion, advertising, and PR. In 2016, Markus transitioned to the hospitality industry with MRP and subsequently became the Corporate Director for F&B Brand Development at Kempinski. He specializes in developing new brands, brand stories and concepts.
MARKUS MEY
Corp. Director Brand Development
Revenue Analyst
MARIA YANKOVA
Revenue Analyst
Marketing Manager
DEBORA VECCHIO
Marketing Manager
Reservation Supervisor
CHRISTIN SOMMER
Group Reservation Supervisor
Reservations Team
MARA KIEFEL
Group Reservations
Reservations Team
ANNALENA SCHLICHTMANN
Group Reservations
Reservations Team
SYBILLE SCHMIDT
Group Reservations
Mario Kalbfleisch has been the IT Group Administrator at CWHR since October 2020. Already during his electrical engineering studies in the early 1990s at the FH Gießen-Friedberg, he gained experience in the IT sector and subsequently worked as an independent IT consultant for medium-sized corporate clients for over 23 years. In addition to his diverse responsibilities in the IT department of the Castlewood Hotels and Resorts Group and its eight hotels, he is also the data protection officer for the group.
MARIO KALBFLEISCH
IT
HR Business Partner
IVONA TOPIC
HR Business Partner
Head of Payroll Accounting
CLAUDIA HEIDEN
Head of Payroll Accounting
Reservations Team
SYBILLE SCHMIDT
Group Reservations
Mario Kalbfleisch has been the IT Group Administrator at CWHR since October 2020. Already during his electrical engineering studies in the early 1990s at the FH Gießen-Friedberg, he gained experience in the IT sector and subsequently worked as an independent IT consultant for medium-sized corporate clients for over 23 years. In addition to his diverse responsibilities in the IT department of the Castlewood Hotels and Resorts Group and its eight hotels, he is also the data protection officer for the group.
MARIO KALBFLEISCH
IT
Walter C. Neumann, the former Chief Executive Director of Seetelhotels, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Castlewood Hotels & Resorts Group and Grand Metropolitan Hotels since January 2024. Neumann, a trained hotelier, has an extensive professional career in the hotel industry. In the early years of his career, he worked in various specialized areas and held leadership positions both domestically and internationally. He was part of renowned hotel groups such as Lindner Hotels and Rocco Forte. In 2006, he assumed the role of Managing Director at Travel Charme. His career eventually led him to Azimut Hotels, where he served as CEO from 2013 to 2018, contributing significantly to the company's growth and development.
WALTER C. NEUMANN
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Peter Fiedler brings with him more than 40 years of experience in Finance and Controlling and has been focusing on business consulting, investment and board assignments on various hotel development and management projects in the last decade. He was CFO and Member of the Management Board for Kempinski Hotels. In this position he oversaw the financial function and performance of the luxury hotel group and was, among others, in charge for Corporate and Hotel Finance, Managing of Financial Resources, Loss Prevention, Compliance as well as Internal Audit.
Dr. Fiedler holds a Doctorate Degree in Law and has an extensive corporate legal background.
DR. PETER FIEDLER
Chief Financial Officer & Associated Board Member
An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.
PATRICK A. WILD
Group Legal Councel
International experienced Hospitality Executive with a strong focus on Digital Transformation and Revenue Management. Wilhelm K. Weber is a business leader and motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience in the fields of business development and distribution. Weber has worked with a wide range of clients, including major multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups. The prestigious list includes Kempinski, Melia, Dorint, Steigenberger as well as iconic hotels such as the Kulm Hotel St Moritz, Cinnamon Grand Colombo and the Omnia Zermatt. In addition to his work as a consultant, the Cornell and Luzern Alumnus, is also a highly sought-after speaker and lecturer.
WILHELM K. WEBER
Chief Strategy & Digital Officer
Janin Blaser, certified business economics graduate, was formerly working in the field of brand development for Kempinski and Dorint. Initially coming from business consulting, she focussed on the sector of e-commerce for several years before managing a content manufactory in Bremen, the biggest fashion photography and film studio of Europe. Having filled the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Castlewood Hotels & Resorts previously, she has extensive expertise in the hotel industry's commercial sector.
JANIN BLASER
Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer
Corinna Saur brings many years of experience in the field of human resources and administration from numerous international hotel companies such as InterContinental, Robinson, and Kameha Grand Zurich to Grand Metropolitan. As VP Human Resources for Kempinski Corinna Saur acted as HR Business Partner to implement the HR vision and strategy.
CORINNA SAUR
Chief Human Resources Officer
Alex Slesar is a senior international hospitality and real estate executive who brings over twenty years of executive experience in hotel and real estate development, acquisitions and project financing. Alex started his career in the international hospitality sector as Vice President for Development and Acquisitions in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe with Hyatt where he was instrumental for Hyatt in expanding the company’s footprint in the region and was responsible for Hyatt’s highly successful entry to the Russian market with its top brand – Park Hyatt. Alex has been working in key development roles for the Fortune 500 companies, he held key positions in major international public and private equity companies in the hospitality sector with direct reporting to companies’ shareholders and the global management leadership.
ALEXEY SLESAR
Chief Development Officer
Sebastian Kraemer, formerly Chief Operations Officer of Castlewood Hotels & Resorts and Chief Executive Officer of the international hotel group Azimut Hotels, started his career in the hospitality industry in 1983. Since 1997 he had various leading positions, with being in charge of budgeting- & human resource matters, in hotels of famous groups like the Dorint-Sofitel, Kempinski, Starwood, Rocco Forte Hotels and The Three Sisters Hotel inne. Before joining Azimut Hotels he was working for the Reikartz Hotel Group, where he established an Ukrainian hotel group in the position of chief operating officer.
SEBASTIAN KRÄMER
Chief Operations Officer
A seasoned senior executive, he has demonstrated robust leadership over 15 years in wealth and asset management businesses. A strategic business expert, he holds an honors B.B.A and M.B.A from the University of Miami. Off the business field, he enjoys playing polo in Miami, where he is based.
JONATHAN HEW
VP Development North & South America
Martin is a seasoned industry leader with extensive experience around the globe with industry-leading companies such as Kempinski Hotels and the Intercontinental Hotel Group. He utilises his vast knowledge to develop the companies portfolio in Africa and the Middle East.
MARTIN KOLB
VP Development Africa & Middle East
Richard Eder joins us having previously worked in different capacities with the Hyatt group and IHG in controlling and finances. Initially staring his career working in different fields of operations including time on the ship MS Astor, Richard soon started focusing on the field of finance in which he worked for several top addresses including Crowne Plaza Hamburg, Crowne Plaza Heidelberg and at Hotel Park Hyatt in Hamburg.
RICHARD EDER
VP Finance
Julia Massey has 15 years of experience in managing sustainability and climate change issues for some of the world's largest companies (both publicly traded and private) in the oil and gas, petrochemical, utilities, transportation and hospitality sectors, where she worked for Kempinski. She is an expert in assessing current sustainability and ESG performance of companies, developing medium- and long-term strategic goals, and communicating sustainability performance as part of the global reporting initiative (GRI).Julia Massey has 15 years of experience in managing sustainability and climate change issues for some of the world's largest companies (both publicly traded and private) in the oil and gas, petrochemical, utilities, transportation and hospitality sectors, where she worked for Kempinski. She is an expert in assessing current sustainability and ESG performance of companies, developing medium- and long-term strategic goals, and communicating sustainability performance as part of the global reporting initiative (GRI).
JULIA MASSEY
VP Sustainability
After completing her international Hospitality & Tourism studies at IU Bad Honnef, Germany, Stephanie began her career with Kempinski Hotels. She gained experience in Human Resources while working in various locations such as Berlin, Geneva, Bahrain, and Rwanda. In 2015, Stephanie returned to Germany and became the Director of Human Resources for Althoff Hotels at Lake Tegernsee. Prior to joining CWHR, she led the HR & Training department at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof from 2019 to June 2022.
STEPHANIE BLINKEN
VP Human Resources
After training and working as a distiller, Markus initially became self-employed in the early 1990s, running a trendy cocktail bar and a club in Berlin, until he turned his hobby into a profession. He then worked for 20 years as a professional photographer with his own studio, specializing in fashion, advertising, and PR. In 2016, Markus transitioned to the hospitality industry with MRP and subsequently became the Corporate Director for F&B Brand Development at Kempinski. He specializes in developing new brands, brand stories and concepts.
MARKUS MEY
Corp. Director Brand Development
Branka holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Belgrade, where she built a strong foundation in design and urban development. With over 15 years of experience in hotel projects, she has worked as FF&E Manager and Design & Project Manager for Hyatt International at the EMEA headquarters in Zurich and Dubai, overseeing dozens of Hyatt-branded projects in various development stages. She also served as Development Manager for Belgrade Waterfront, a USD 3 billion urban initiative, responsible for over 250,000 sqm of mixed-use development. Branka brings practical knowledge and hands-on experience to all phases of hotel design management – from concept to execution and operation.
BRANKA JOVANOVIC
Director of Technical Services
Madlen began her career in revenue management in a renowned 5-star hotel in the Swiss Alps after completing her studies in tourism management. degree in tourism management. This was followed by a move to Kempinski Hotels, where she worked as Director of Revenue & Reservation in Switzerland, Egypt and China. She gained further valuable experience in the Maldives, both in revenue management and front of house. From 2019, Madlen took over the position of Hotel Director at the Seetelhotels Usedom and later managed the central reservation department for 16 hotels and residences.
MADLEN RIESNER
Director of Revenue
Joy Fischer's passion for the hospitality industry developed at an early age in the family business of her parents. Her career in the hotel industry began at the Ameron Swiss Mountain Hotel Davos, before she worked as Event & Group Coordinator and F&B Assistant Manager at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. After further positions at Kempinski, Swiss Post and the Waldhaus Flims Wellness Resort, Joy most recently worked at NZZ Connect, where she held various positions: Project Manager Hospitality Management and F&B, Project Manager and Lead Food & Beverage and finally Teamlead Hospitality & Ticketing.
JOY FISCHER
Director of Affiliations
Lilla brings a wealth of experience in the F&B field, with a specific focus on wines. She attained her Sommelier Certificate in USA where she did spend over 12 Years. One of Lillas strengths lies in the education field. She served as an academic lecturer for Wine & Beverage and Fine Dining at César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland, she is a visiting lecturer at the Intl. Management Institute Luzern and conducted wine curses for students in her role as a Certified Wine Educator of WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust). In 2023 she co-founded WineEducation, a start-up that embodies her passion for teaching about wines. In her role, she will be responsible all wine matters across all hotels and restaurants of Grand Met. This position enables her to combine her enthusiasm for teaching with her extensive knowledge and passion for wines.
LILLA FÜLÖP
Head Sommelier
Rasmus Bildtoft, a native of Denmark, chose to leave his home country to pursue his studies in Switzerland. He completed his Bachelor of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management at the prestigious César Ritz Colleges Switzerland and Washington State University, earning the distinguished "Outstanding Leadership Award." During his studies, Rasmus gained valuable practical experience at the Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort, where he initially worked as a sommelier and later in Room Division Management. Since October 1, Rasmus has been strengthening our team as Group Food & Beverage Manager.
RASMUS G. BILDTOFT
Group Food & Beverage Manager
With extensive experience in procurement management and strategic supplier partnerships, Björn C. Lösch is a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry. Before joining Grand Metropolitan Hotels, he served as Group Director Procurement at HRG Hotels GmbH, where he successfully developed scalable procurement structures, consolidated operations across multiple entities, and drove significant cost and efficiency optimizations. Björn’s expertise spans operational and strategic procurement, team leadership, and process optimization, making him a perfect fit for our commitment to excellence and innovation in hotel management. He is passionate about creating sustainable 360-degree solutions that foster trust, enhance profitability, and elevate guest satisfaction.
BJÖRN LÖSCH
Group Procurement Manager
With a background in Psychological Brain Sciences from George Washington University and ongoing studies in Hospitality Management at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Irena combines academic insight with hands-on industry experience. She has worked across various roles in F&B service, developing a strong foundation in food safety, guest relations, waste management, and POS systems. Her leadership skills were further sharpened during her time as Front Desk Manager at AC Hotel by Marriott in downtown Washington, DC, where she led a team of eight. At Brand Development, she contributes a versatile and well-rounded perspective to the team.
IRENA PANCHENKOVA
Brand Development Manager
Since early 2024, Lara Beiler leads the Marketing & E-Commerce division of Grand Metropolitan Hotels as Head of Marketing & E-Commerce, overseeing brand development, digital positioning, and the execution of integrated marketing strategies across the group’s upscale and luxury portfolio. Her work is shaped by several years of experience at Castlewood Hotels & Resorts, where she has been active since 2017 and played a key role in the evolution of the brand’s marketing and e-commerce presence. She holds a degree in International Management (M.A.) with a focus on Marketing & Sales, and brings additional international expertise from her time in South Africa, where she gained hands-on experience in the luxury hospitality sector at the 5-star Plattner Golf resort.
LARA BEILER
Head of Marketing & E-Commerce
Susanne brings strong expertise in premium hospitality and event management. Most recently, she worked as an Executive Assistant at the Europa-Park Erlebnis-Resort, supporting senior leadership and key strategic projects. Before that, she was a Project Manager at the same company, overseeing flagship events such as the German Hotel Congress in cooperation with ahgz and the dfv Conference Group. She began her career in Convention Sales at the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt on Lake Tegernsee and Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden. Susanne holds a degree in Hotel Management with a focus on Sales & Marketing from the International University in Bad Honnef.
SUSANNE HEYL
Sales
Group Reservation
MARA KIEFEL
Group Reservation
Marketing Manager
DEBORA VECCHIO
Marketing Manager
Mario Kalbfleisch has been the IT Group Administrator at CWHR since October 2020. Already during his electrical engineering studies in the early 1990s at the FH Gießen-Friedberg, he gained experience in the IT sector and subsequently worked as an independent IT consultant for medium-sized corporate clients for over 23 years. In addition to his diverse responsibilities in the IT department of the Castlewood Hotels and Resorts Group and its eight hotels, he is also the data protection officer for the group.
MARIO KALBFLEISCH
IT
Group Reservation
ANNALENA SCHLICHTMANN
Group Reservation
Group Reservation
SYBILLE SCHMIDT
Group Reservation
HR Business Partner
IVONA TOPIC
HR Business Partner
Head of Payroll Accounting
CLAUDIA HEIDEN
Head of Payroll Accounting
Supervisory Board
As an eminent leader in the hospitality industry, Martin steered top-tier institutions like Kempinski Hotels, Dorint Group, Intercontinental Group and the the legendary Adlon in Berlin, amplifying portfolios and multiplying profits. He is an Alumni of Cornell and California State University Carl Hayward.
MARTIN R. SMURA
Chairman of the Board
A high-caliber senior executive with extensive experience spanning over 35 years in the financial and real estate sectors. His leadership roles include Chairman of Supervisory Boards, Vice Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer in several key institutions. Demonstrated success in strategic oversight and business development, with a significant track record in Germany's banking and investment landscape.
DR. JÜRGEN A. F. ALLERKAMP
Deputy Chairman
Since 2004, Dr. Rellermeier has been a member of the Administrative Committee of the Dental Association Berlin Pension Fund (VZB). In 2007, he became Deputy Chairperson, and since 2013, he has led the committee as Chairperson. The VZB, a professional pension institution, manages assets worth over 2 billion euros, providing retirement benefits for dentists from Berlin, Brandenburg, and Bremen. He's also on the supervisory board of Hamburger Engel & Völkers Capital AG and the advisory board of the German Pharmacists' and Doctors' Bank in Düsseldorf.
DR. INGO RELLERMEIER
Chair of the Administrative Committee VZB
Kateryna Smura, a certified graduate in business economics from Humboldt University of Berlin, formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of Castlewood Hotels & Resorts until she passed the role on to Walter C. Neumann. Kateryna Smura has studied in Lausanne and specialised in the coordination of acquisitions and the subsequent configuration and implementation of transnational HR-, reporting- and controlling structures, during her time working in controlling and corporate development at the Capgemini Group in Central- and Eastern Europe. Since 2010 she has also been working as a self-employed entrepreneur in the real estate and hotel services sector.
KATERYNA SMURA
Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board
An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.
PATRICK A. WILD
Dr. Philipp Rösler, former German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics, has joined the Supervisory Board of Grand Metropolitan Hotels. With significant international experience and a strong network in Asia, particularly in Vietnam, Dr. Rösler will support the hotel group’s global expansion. Previously a Board member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and a key figure in German politics with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), he brings valuable expertise to the company. His appointment highlights Grand Metropolitan Hotels’ commitment to enhancing its international presence and growth.
DR. PHILIPP RÖSLER
Since its founding in 1992, Mr. Wohltmann has been a part of the executive management of the Pension Fund of the Thuringian State Dental Association. In 2017, he was part of the supervisory board of Aves One AG. In 2000, Mr. Wohltmann took over his current role as Director of the Dental Association Berlin Pension Fund ("VZB"). In this capacity, he focuses, among other things, on institutional restructuring and oversees the Pension Fund's direct and indirect holdings in fintech companies. Besides his position as Director at VZB, he also holds board positions in several prominent financial services companies, including Engel & Völkers and NYALA.
RALF WOHLTMANN
Director VZB
As an eminent leader in the hospitality industry, Martin steered top-tier institutions like Kempinski Hotels, Dorint Group, Intercontinental Group and the the legendary Adlon in Berlin, amplifying portfolios and multiplying profits. He is an Alumni of Cornell and California State University Carl Hayward.
MARTIN R. SMURA
Chairman of the Board
A high-caliber senior executive with extensive experience spanning over 35 years in the financial and real estate sectors. His leadership roles include Chairman of Supervisory Boards, Vice Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer in several key institutions. Demonstrated success in strategic oversight and business development, with a significant track record in Germany's banking and investment landscape.
DR. JÜRGEN A. F. ALLERKAMP
Deputy Chairman
Since 2004, Dr. Rellermeier has been a member of the Administrative Committee of the Dental Association Berlin Pension Fund (VZB). In 2007, he became Deputy Chairperson, and since 2013, he has led the committee as Chairperson. The VZB, a professional pension institution, manages assets worth over 2 billion euros, providing retirement benefits for dentists from Berlin, Brandenburg, and Bremen. He's also on the supervisory board of Hamburger Engel & Völkers Capital AG and the advisory board of the German Pharmacists' and Doctors' Bank in Düsseldorf.
DR. INGO RELLERMEIER
Chair of the Administrative Committee VZB
Since its founding in 1992, Mr. Wohltmann has been a part of the executive management of the Pension Fund of the Thuringian State Dental Association. In 2017, he was part of the supervisory board of Aves One AG. In 2000, Mr. Wohltmann took over his current role as Director of the Dental Association Berlin Pension Fund ("VZB"). In this capacity, he focuses, among other things, on institutional restructuring and oversees the Pension Fund's direct and indirect holdings in fintech companies. Besides his position as Director at VZB, he also holds board positions in several prominent financial services companies, including Engel & Völkers and NYALA.
RALF WOHLTMANN
Director VZB
Kateryna Smura, a certified graduate in business economics from Humboldt University of Berlin, formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of Castlewood Hotels & Resorts until she passed the role on to Walter C. Neumann. Kateryna Smura has studied in Lausanne and specialised in the coordination of acquisitions and the subsequent configuration and implementation of transnational HR-, reporting- and controlling structures, during her time working in controlling and corporate development at the Capgemini Group in Central- and Eastern Europe. Since 2010 she has also been working as a self-employed entrepreneur in the real estate and hotel services sector.
KATERYNA SMURA
Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board
An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.
PATRICK A. WILD
Dr. Philipp Rösler, former German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics, has joined the Supervisory Board of Grand Metropolitan Hotels. With significant international experience and a strong network in Asia, particularly in Vietnam, Dr. Rösler will support the hotel group’s global expansion. Previously a Board member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and a key figure in German politics with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), he brings valuable expertise to the company. His appointment highlights Grand Metropolitan Hotels’ commitment to enhancing its international presence and growth.
DR. PHILIPP RÖSLER
An accomplished attorney and executive in financial services, with notable experience in bank and asset management company establishment across global markets. Over 30 years of leadership as a CEO, Chairman and senior executive including for notable institutions such as UBS, Julius Bär and EY.
