The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, owner and operator of the Peninsula Hotels, announced the retirement of Mr. Donald J. Harrington, General Manager of The Peninsula Beijing, who will be replaced by Mr. Joseph Sampermans, currently Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong. Mr. Sampermans will assume his new role on 15 October 2012.

On Mr. Harrington’s retirement, HSH’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Clement K.M. Kwok said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for his leadership of The Peninsula Beijing over the last 12 years. Don and his team led the hotel through some significant challenges and dynamic times, including SARS, a major renovation, a hotel rebranding and the 2008 Olympic Games. Through it all, The Peninsula Beijing has been able to retain its premier position in the Chinese capital. We wish him well in his retirement.”

On Mr. Sampermans’ promotion, Mr. Kwok said: “We are very pleased that Joseph is taking on this position, eight years after joining HSH as Director of Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Bangkok. We wish him every success in his new position.”

Mr. Joseph Sampermans

Mr. Sampermans joined the Company in 2004 as Director of Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Bangkok. In 2007, he was promoted to be the pre-opening Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage for The Peninsula Tokyo and a year later, he was promoted again to be the Resident Manager. In mid 2010, he was transferred to Hong Kong to become Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong, HSH’s flagship hotel property.

Aged 42, Mr. Sampermans is a Dutch national and a graduate of the Limburg Zuyd in The Netherlands with a Bachelor degree in Finance. His career path has taken him to Thailand, Germany and Cambodia.