MICHAEL O. NAGEL NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HILTON PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA

Also new managerial appointments in Seoul and Chongqing

Michael Nagel has been named general manager of the Hilton Petaling Jaya, Malaysia according to Koos Klein, President of Hilton International Asia Pacific. He most recently served as general manager of the Seoul Hilton, Korea, a position he held since September 1994. Other new appointments in the region include Brian Connelly, who replaced Michael Nagel in Seoul and Peter Forsyth, as the pre-opening general manager of the new Hilton Chongqing.

A 25-year Hilton veteran, Nagel has extensive experience in hotel management and operation. He began his hospitality career in the areas of food and beverage, and worked his way up working in various hotels in Europe. From 1986 to 1989, he held an executive assistant manager position at Hilton hotels located in Nagoya and Osaka. Nagel was promoted to resident manager of Hilton Singapore and later, as general manager of the Taipei Hilton.

Replacing him in Seoul is Brian Connelly, a hotelier who has extensive experience working with international hotel chains in the USA. Meanwhile, Peter Forsyth has assumed the role of pre-opening general manager for the new 420-room Hilton Chongqing , China. The hotel is scheduled to open end 2001.

Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton International, a subsidiary of Hilton Group plc, have a worldwide alliance to market Hilton, the world's best-known hotel brand. Collectively offering approximately 2,000 hotels in more than 50 countries worldwide, both companies are recognised as leaders in the hospitality industry. Hilton International currently operates more than 220 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide.