Kai Speth, General Manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Vietnam), won the award for the Most Outstanding Hotel General Manager (upscale and luxury hotels) at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2009, organized by the French trade magazine HTR.

A graduate from the Heidelberg School of Management (Germany), 44-year-old Kai Speth has 28 years of experience working with luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. Forthright and in tune with his employees, Speth’s management style is one of determination with the prime objective of guaranteeing customer satisfaction.

Extremely active and energetic, Kai Speth had the daunting task of conducting the necessary renovation work and the implementation of new standards in less than 12 months to make the Metropole the number one Sofitel Legend address.

“I am very touched by this award, which I dedicate to the whole Metropole team for their unfailing commitment in recent months,” said Speth. “But more than any personal recognition, it is an exceptional reward for the Sofitel and Sofitel Legend brands.”

This award adds to the 70 international and national awards already won by Sofitel since the beginning of the year, and is the perfect illustration of the brand’s successful move upscale as part of its new positioning in the luxury segment. The Metropole Hanoi is the first hotel to join this collection. As soon as their refurbishment is completed, other hotels will become part of Sofitel Legend including the Grand Amsterdam (The Netherlands), the Old Cataract Assouan (Egypt), the Santa Clara (Colombia), the Winter Palace Luxor (Egypt), the Palais Jamaï (Morocco), and the Cecil Alexandria (Egypt).

Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, www.sofitel.com