HotelsMag November 2015 | Page 27

Special RepoRt : Hotelier of tHe World
H a n S B r u land
A more introspective Solomons has spent the past five years at the helm of IHG during a 16-year career there , “ doing the right thing ” for his guests , associates and shareholders . Add shrewd business acumen and you have a hotelier who has helped engineer an asset-light strategy that return £ 10.4 billion ( US $ 16.1 billion ) to shareholders , all while launching new global lifestyle brands to grow one of the biggest hotel companies in the world .
Traditionalist Bruland ascended the ranks the old-fashioned way , through F & B and various operational roles before having that pivotal moment every great hotelier faces that launched his career managing great properties around the world . He landed in 1999 at The Hay-Adams in Washington , D . C ., where today he is recognized by his peers as the ultimate hotelier who inspires with his style and grace .
For these reasons , and no doubt many more , the readers of HOTELS have chosen Solomons and Bruland as this year ’ s Hotelier of the World award winners . For the 35th year , HOTELS celebrates its great leaders , and on the pages ahead shares thse two stories about decisions made and paths taken to reach professional goals and this moment .
www . hotelsmag . com November 2015 HOTELS 25