Los Angeles, CA, May 17, 2016 – The award-winning SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is pleased to announce the appointment of Christophe Thomas to the position of General Manager. Thomas brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the property, where he will oversee operations for the 297-room hotel with 500 associates.
Thomas initially joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2008 as General Manager of the W New York Union Square where he earned the hotel the second highest Guest Experience Index score and sustained it thereafter for several years. In 2013, Thomas moved west to lead the team at San Francisco's landmark The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, to oversee its multi-million dollar renovation and repositioning. During his tenure with the four star and four diamond property, he was a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement – Hotel Executive honor at the 11th Annual Hotel Hero Awards; his extensive renovation efforts were also recognized in the 2015 Forbes list of the 23 Most Anticipated Hotel Renovations in the world.
In entering his new position with the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Thomas states, "It is with great pleasure and excitement that I embark on this journey with the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills and continue to lead another exceptional The Luxury Collection property. I look forward to building upon the foundation of service and innovation alongside the fantastic team in place here."
Thomas' hospitality career first began in 1990 in the front office at Le Meridien Etoile in Paris. Quickly graduating to a role with Hilton Worldwide in Paris led him to gain global expertise through corporate positions in Jamaica, Brazil, and Morocco, among other international destinations. In 2000, he joined the team at The Drake in Chicago as the Director of Revenue Management and was promoted in 2003 to Director of Rooms.
In August 2005, his considerable experience allowed Thomas to support and assist safety efforts in the New Orleans community during Hurricane Katrina at the Windsor Court Hotel as Director of Rooms. Thomas then joined the Ian Schrager Hotel Group to open one of the most lauded and unique hotels in New York City – The Gramercy Park Hotel – as Hotel Manager, where his training and operational expertise aided in developing the cultural ethos of the group's first luxury property.
In his role as General Manager of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Thomas will be responsible for overseeing all hotel operations – inclusive of the property's food & beverage program, such as The Bazaar by José Andrés – as well as sales and community & guest relations.
A native of France, Thomas earned his degree in Hotel Management from the Hospitality School of Strasbourg, after which he set off to explore the world and share his passion for hospitality and attention to detail.
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is located at 465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
