text: MEININGER Hotels is pleased to announce two senior appointments to its leadership team focusing on the development of its operations into North America and looking to strengthen its Project Management team in order to cater for its expanding hotel portfolio.
  MEININGER has appointed Ben Cary to lead the company's expansion in North America and will join MEININGER effective 4 September 2017 as SVP, Development, North America, based in New York City. Ben has more than 15 years of hotel and real estate experience, most recently as Director of Real Estate & Development with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide where he focused on growing the business through new build and conversion projects. At Starwood, he was awarded Development of the Year on three occasions. Prior to this, Ben held positions with the investment firm Hotel Capital Advisers and The Carlyle Hotel in New York City.
  In his new role, Ben will oversee the Company's expansion into North America where his blend of skills will allow MEININGER to strengthen its international market presence and deliver its global vision of operating more than 30 hotels by 2020. Ben will target projects located in major city centres and suburbs near urban transportation centres.
  Georgios Kordelas joins MEININGER on 1 October 2017 as Project Director where he will be responsible for overseeing projects for all MEININGER hotels including refurbishment, renovation activity, new construction, prototypes and standards. Georgios is an experienced project and development professional with a strong track record in commercial and residential design, project management, procurement and managing third party relationships. Georgios leaves citizenM to join MEININGER.
  Both positions will report directly into Hannes Spanring, CEO.
  Commenting on the announcement: Hannes Spanring, CEO, MEININGER Hotels, 'We're delighted to welcome Ben and Georgios on board; both these appointments demonstrate the strength of ambition in terms of growth and expansion into new territories and consolidating our position in Europe. Each of these executives have a proven track record in their respective fields and are extremely talented, capable and highly motivated individuals who will help push our business strategy forward. Ben and Georgios will work with the MEININGER Board and broader leadership team to chart a growth strategy and to ensure that MEININGER continues to lead in the development and implementation of hybrid-hotels across the globe.'
  About MEININGER Hotels:
  MEININGER is a subsidiary of Holidaybreak Ltd, a travel group specialising in educational and activity holidays. Holidaybreak Ltd is a subsidiary of Prometheon Holdings (UK) Ltd, which is a part of Cox & Kings Ltd. Cox & Kings Ltd is listed on the National Stock Exchange, the BSE Ltd in Mumbai and also on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
  MEININGER is a unique hotel product that combines the service and comfort of an international budget hotel with extra facilities, such as a guest kitchen and a games zone. The central location, high quality furnishings and fair prices appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. With the right dose of MEININGER humour and an enthusiastic team, MEININGER hotels with their guests from all over the world become a real home away from home.
  The bedrooms range from traditional double rooms through private rooms with multiple beds right down to a bed in a dorm room. The hotels are tailored and adapted to the specific location and the market served by the hotel. The unique and flexible design of each hotel makes it possible to appeal to various target groups alike, such as school groups, families, individual travellers and corporate guests.
  MEININGER currently operates 17 hybrid hotels in Europe, with a total of 8,149 beds in 11 European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, London, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Contracts for 14 new hotels in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Heidelberg, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, Saint Petersburg, Zurich and Lyon have already been signed. MEININGER has ambitious plans for growth - in this regard, the focus is no longer only on Europe - possibilities for an expansion to North America and Asia are also being sounded out.
  In the 'TREUGAST Investment Ranking 2016', the MEININGER Group achieved an AA rating. The group is headquartered in Berlin.