Peter Kienast has been appointed the position of General Manager of Hotel de Rome, the Rocco Forte hotel located on the illustrious Bebelplatz in Berlin. German-born Mr Kienast has an impressive 25 years’ experience in some of the most exclusive five star hotels across the world.
Overseeing all aspects of the Berlin award winning hotel, Mr Kienast will be responsible for day to day operations and strategic direction of the hotel, including the 140 rooms and suites, the newly launched La Banca restaurant and bar, the Opera Court, the seasonal roof terrace as well as the Hotel de Rome Spa and meeting and conferencing offerings.
Mr Kienast has been with Rocco Forte Hotels for the past five years, joining the team as General Manager to The Lowry in Manchester. Under his leadership, the 165 room hotel maintained its number one ranking in STR Global as market leader in terms of yield. Mr Kienast was fully responsible for the hotel’s financial and operational and strategic performance, reporting to the regional manager for UK and Eastern Europe. The hotel also received awards from Conde Nast Traveller and Visit England under Mr Kienast’s leadership.
In September 2014, the hotel was sold by the group owing to a shift in strategy to focus on more international destinations. Rocco Forte Hotels has now asked the well respected General Manager to rejoin the team, taking over the position from his fellow long-standing Rocco Forte Hotels General Manager, Thies Sponholz, who has been at the Berlin hotel for 8 years.
Of Mr Kienast’s 25 years of experience in the industry, 13 years of these have been in General Manager roles. He began his career with the Kempinski Group with roles in Dallas, Munich, Budapest and Istanbul, focusing mainly on Food and Beverage. This was followed by several senior roles across Western Europe including Food and Beverage Manager at The Langham in London, Resident Manager at the renowned Reid’s Palace Hotel in Madeira and Executive Assistant of Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St Moritz, where he oversaw a major renovation of the hotel and the food and beverage operation.
In 2002, Mr Kienast took up his first General Manager position at the Grand Hotel Park, Gstaad where he repositioned the hotel in the Swiss market securing an award for best hotel in Switzerland in the Conde Nast Traveller Gold list. After the hotel was sold, Peter moved to Portugal to manage the Le Meridien Hotel Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Golf Course.
In 2006 Peter was appointed General Manager of the luxurious and innovative Schloss Elmau in Germany. He led the pre-opening strategy and development of the hotel including planning, interior design and marketing. During his tenure at the hotel it won numerous awards and accolades including the Best Resort Hotel in Germany and winner of the best Spa in Europe.
On his appointment at Hotel de Rome, Mr Kienast comments: “I am looking forward to rejoining the family run company of Rocco Forte Hotels which I have been a part for the most part of five years. I am excited to head up this very successful team at Hotel De Rome and of course about moving to Berlin with its international clientele, fashionable and cultural lifestyle."
