Shangri-La has appointed Didier Le Calvez as executive vice president, Europe and North America and general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena, Paris, opening early 2009. Mr. Le Calvez will report directly to Shangri-La’s chief executive officer, Giovanni Angelini.

In this newly created,  Paris-based position,  Mr.  Le Calvez will be responsible for leading Shangri-La’s impending rapid expansion into the
West.  He will introduce and maintain Shangri-La’s signature standards of
Asian-style service excellence not only in Paris, but in new hotels opening over the next three years in Vancouver, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and London and projects soon to be announced in other gateway cities.  He is charged with positioning these hotels as market leaders in each location.

Didier Le Calvez joins Shangri-La from eight years as vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and a total of 18
years with Four Seasons.  His celebrated 30-year hospitality career has
included general manager positions at the Pierre and Plaza hotels in New York and The Regent Singapore.  Previously, he was vice president food and beverage worldwide for Westin Hotels.

“I have known Didier Le Calvez for 28 years and can say he is uniquely qualified to spearhead our expansion into Europe and North America,” said Giovanni Angelini,  Shangri-La’s chief executive officer and managing
director.  “He is one of the world’s great hoteliers - a visionary
strategist who is obsessed with quality.”

“He brings not only extensive experience in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, but demonstrated success in introducing an international luxury brand to Paris, which will be critical in the opening of our own first European hotel there.”

Didier Le Calvez was named 2006 Hotelier of the Year at the World Hospitality Awards and New York’s Best General manager by the New York
Hotel Association in 1995.  He was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre du
Merite by the French government in 2002.

The 110 year-old palais of Prince Roland Bonaparte,  grand nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte,  will open as the 104-room Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena,  Paris in early 2009.  Located at 10,  avenue d’Iena, near the Trocadero in Paris’  prestigious 16th arrondissement, the building offers some of the city’s finest views of the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower, with the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe within walking distance. Facilities will include two restaurants,  meeting facilities, library, indoor swimming pool, retail space, a business lounge and CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.
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