SPECIAL REPORT : HOTELIERS OF THE WORLD
Spoils for the unspoiled
Peter Borer ’ s respectful , understated approach has served him well during 32 years with Peninsula and earned him the Corporate Hotelier of the World award .
by JEFF WEINSTEIN , EDITOR IN CHIEF
Corporate Hotelier of the World Peter Borer
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER , THE PENINSULA HOTELS , HONG KONG
The defining moment in Peter Borer ’ s career came early — even before his career began . He convinced the dean at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne to admit him to the program , even though he feared he wouldn ’ t pass his final prep exam . “ I promised Mr . Gerber I would become a good hotelier ,” Borer recalls . “ When I was named GM of The Peninsula in Hong Kong I wrote him a note and said , ‘ I kept my promise .’”
Likely , what Borer was able to show Mr . Gerber on that fateful day in 1972 was his sincerity , humility and his love and respect for the business — qualities that remain these 41 years later , and traits that surely charged the readers of HOTELS to choose him as 2013 Corporate Hotelier of the World .
“ It is said that an excellent hotelier requires the ability to work in different environments , cultures and cities ,” says the Honorable Sir Michael Kadoorie , chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels , Borer ’ s employer for the past 32 years . “ Peter has not only successfully navigated these environments but has forged the strong brand profile and quality services we see today .”
With a career that has spanned the globe and kept him loyal to Hong Kong-based The Peninsula Hotels , Borer ’ s roots are firmly entrenched in the hotel business , as he grew up watching and helping both of his
26 HOTELS November 2013 www . hotelsmag . com