Washington, DC (August 23, 2017)—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced today the appointment of Markus Platzer as General Manager of the historic Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. hotel. Platzer comes to Washington with nearly 30 years of experience managing dynamic, award-winning hotels around the world.
Platzer is an Austrian native who has set a standard of excellence throughout his career, developing programs and personnel across major metropolitan areas in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He began as front office staff at the Park Hilton in Munich, Germany, and eventually earned a role as Sales Manager at Hilton’s International hotel in Vienna, Austria. In 1992, he joined the IHG team at the InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, and in a few short years became the Regional Manager – Travel Trade Development for the United Arab Emirates, working from the company’s hotel in Dubai. He returned to Europe in 2001 as Director of Sales & Marketing for InterContinental Hotel Prague – the hotel where he first led operations as Resident Manager – before launching a seven-year stint in Bangkok, Thailand, overseeing four hotels in the country. Since leaving Thailand, Platzer has served as Area General Manager for IHG in Japan, based at the InterContinental Tokyo. His position at The Willard will be his first in the United States.
“The Willard’s reputation is known around the world, among the most discerning travelers, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the hotel’s impressive team as we continue to refine our renowned service,” Platzer said.
Markus Platzer earned Bachelor degrees in International Tourism and Hotel Management at the Tourism School Bad Gleichenberg and Business & Commerce at Handelsakademie Feldbach, both in Austria. He brings a wealth of experience leading distinguished, award-winning hotels from around the world to The Willard. In Washington, he will be joined by his wife and two children.
Platzer will replace Patrick Birchall, who recently accepted a position in IHG as Vice President of New Hotel Openings and Operations for Corporate Managed Hotels Americas. Birchall had served as General Manager of the Willard InterContinental Washington and Regional Director of Operations for IHG’s portfolio of hotels in the mid-Atlantic since 2013. During that time, he achieved the hotel’s highest ever scores in guest satisfaction and won the IHG Torch Bearer Award each of the four years.
Birchall said of his time in Washington, “Working at the Willard and in the world's most powerful city has been the experience of a lifetime. The hotel's history, colleagues and ownership are golden – a hotelier's dream.” Platzer will begin welcoming guests to the Willard effective immediately.
