Shangri-La appoints Britta Ripke-Stoll as Director of Sales - Germany, Austria an Switzerland

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has appointed Britta Ripke-Stoll as director of sales – Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Ms Ripke-Stoll replaces Lore Koenig, who has moved to the Gulf as director of sales for the new Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, due to open March 2003.

Reporting to Austin Frost, Shangri-La’s regional director of sales and marketing, Ms Ripke-Stoll will be based in Cologne. The position will continue to be supported by Dagmar Ehle, who has been promoted to senior sales co-ordinator, based in London at Shangri-La’s European regional sales office. In addition, Brittawill be appointing a sales manager in Hamburg.

These developments mark an expansion of Shangri-La’s German sales force and the physical presence of a team in Germany also underlines the increasing significance of the German market.

Ms Ripke-Stoll worked for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts between 1994 and 1998, starting as a reservationist before becoming reservations manager and then sales manager for the German market. She returns to the company after four years as sales manager, Germany, Austria and Switzerland for Concorde Hotels, based in Germany.

Commented Ms Ripke-Stoll, "I am delighted to be back with Shangri-La and to have returned at such a significant time. Shangri-La is undergoing considerable expansion, which presents us with even more opportunities through which to develop the German speaking market. By expanding our team and having a presence in Germany, we can generate increased awareness, strengthen corporate and industry relationships and develop the market still further. Our aim is to be the number one choice of accommodation for German visitors to Asia and the Gulf when our hotels in Dubai open next year."

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages 38 hotels in the Chinese mainland, Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, with a rooms inventory of almost 20,000.