Helmut Knipp is Senior Vice President - Development worldwide of Langham Hotels International (LHI). Prior to joining LHI, Mr. Knipp was Managing Director of CCA International Ltd., Hong Kong, managing 28 clubs and resorts in 14 countries in Asia and Europe and handling business development in China and the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Knipp achieved his diploma in hotel management and administration in Germany and also attended summer courses at Cornell. He started his career with Canadian Pacific Hotels in Canada, moving on to sales positions at Hilton Hotels in Chicago, Cleveland and New York and General Manager positions in Dallas and Washington, DC. He also held Senior Regional and Corporate positions, including Vice President and Senior Vice President with Marriott and Lincoln as well as President and COO of Peabody Hotels and Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, North America and Caribbean. During his career, he successfully led individual hotel properties and hotel and club groups through development, new construction, acquisitions and openings, major rehabilitation of existing properties, economic downturns and re-structurings. He also conceptualized and opened new bars and restaurants and implemented results-oriented sales, advertising and marketing strategies for hotels and clubs.

Company Profile

Langham Hotels International (LHI) which enjoys a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 is pursuing aggressive growth using its distinctive brands - The Langham, Langham Place and Eaton with 15 hotels open or under construction, with many more in the pipeline. Six hotels branded The Langham are located in Auckland, Boston, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne and Pasadena. The Langham, Yangtze Boutique, Shanghai has just opened in May 2009. Langham Place, the modern, edgy sibling of The Langham, which epitomises stimulating, artistic hospitality is open in Hong Kong. Addition Langham Place Hotels will open in Samui at Lamai Beach at year end 2009, Beijing Capital Airport in June 2010. Others are under construction, Phuket, Thailand 2010, Pune, India in 2011, Waiheke Island, New Zealand 2011. Eaton is a premium four star property that surprises and delights guests with a value-for-money proposition, delivering a stylish, modern comforts and spirited, can-do service. LHI is wholly-owned by Great Eagle Holdings which was founded in 1963 and is listed on the HK Stock Exchange.