Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the portfolio exchange of two General Managers within the group. Mr Riaz Mahmood, presently Area General Manager, Indo-China, has been appointed as General Manager of Raffles Beijing Hotel from 18th February 2008, while Mr Peter Wynne who is currently General Manager of Raffles Beijing Hotel, will undertake his new position as General Manager of Cambodia on 3rd March 2008, and oversee both Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap.

Mr Mahmood has been a General Manager with Raffles Hotels & Resorts for eight years and was appointed General Manager of Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in 2003 before assuming the role of Area General Manager, Indo-China, in 2006.

Under his leadership, both Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal have consistently enjoyed recognition from leading travel publications as Cambodia’s best hotels. In 2007, both hotels were distinguished as the only hotels in Cambodia among Asia’s Top 50 Hotels, as voted by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. In addition, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor was voted among the world’s top 50 hotels in Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s Best of the Best list, in its 2007 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Mr Mahmood’s new appointment as General Manager of Raffles Beijing Hotel will see him lead the hotel through the highly anticipated Summer Olympics this year where Raffles Beijing Hotel has been designated as one of the official hotels to house members of the Olympic family, such as delegates from the International Olympic Committee. This will be the second time Mr Mahmood will experience the boisterous energy of the Olympics as he was also significantly involved with preparing the group’s hotel in Sydney for the Summer Olympics 2000.

Mr Wynne joined Raffles Hotels & Resorts as General Manager of Raffles Beijing Hotel, where he led the hotel through its grand opening in 2006. Within the first year of Raffles Beijing’s opening, the hotel has been conferred numerous awards and accolades from prestigious publications such as Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Special Awards (Best New City Hotel 2007), both the US and UK editions of Conde Nast Traveler (Hot List 2007). Its elegant French restaurant, Jaan, has also been recognized as one of the best new restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler (Hot Table 2007). Today, Raffles Beijing Hotel is popularly recognized as the residence of choice for discerning travellers to Beijing, having welcomed members of royalty, world renowned artists and travellers from both the corporate and leisure segments.

Said Diana Ee-Tan, Managing Director, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, “With Riaz Mahmood and Peter Wynne’s wealth of experience and excellent track record in upholding the high standards of hospitality that Raffles is renowned for, residents at Raffles Beijing, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal will continue to enjoy the gracious service and enchanting experiences that are synonymous with the Raffles name, while in residency at our hotels in Beijing and Cambodia.”