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Neil Jacobs CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER , SIX SENSES HOTELS RESORTS SPAS
SINGAPORE
Prior to joining Six Senses , Jacobs spent five years at Starwood Capital Group as president of global hotel operations , where he led the group responsible for development of two new brands , Baccarat Hotels and 1 Hotels . Today , Six Senses operates 11 resorts and 29 spas in 20 countries
He previously spent 14 years at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts serving as senior vice president operations for Asia Pacific until 2008 . He was responsible for the operation of 16 hotels throughout the region and new properties under development in China , India and Indian Ocean .
Jacobs ’ passions include wellness , sustainability , innovative design , food and experiential travel . Having studied hotel management at Westminster Hotel School in London , French civilization at La Sorbonne University and Italian culture and art in Florence , Neil is fluent in five languages .
Michael Levie CO-FOUNDER , CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER , CITIZENM
AMSTERDAM
Over the past 30 years , Levie has gained extensive experience in hotel operations . He has worked in the United States , South America , Caribbean , Europe and the Middle East , starting by managing single units that varied from corporate , group and convention , to leisure and resorts hotels and later multi-property responsibilities . He co-founded CitizenM in 2005 and now focuses on operations of the 10-hotel portfolio .
For 18 years Levie was with Sonesta International Hotels Corp ., focuseing on guest satisfaction through motivated and well-trained employees . In 1999 , he joined Golden Tulip and Krasnapolsky Hotels , and led the operational side of the merger .
After a stint with software company SynXis , from 2002 to 2004 Levie headed up the 65-hotel portfolio of Spain ’ s NH Hoteles ( formerly Golden Tulip and Krasnapolsky Hotels ), and then started his own company investing in single asset turnarounds .
Now in its 37th year , HOTELS presents its nominees for the 2017 Hotelier of the World awards . Readers are encouraged to vote online for one candidate in each category at HOTELSMag . com / HOW2017 . The awards recognize individuals and their careers with criteria including how the nominees have defined standards of service ; overall operational excellence and performance ; creativity in management ; and what they have done for the greater good of the global hotel business . The winners will be profiled in a November cover story and feted during a formal presentation in New York .
April 2017 hotelsmag . com 11