Damir Raab

Ready to conquer the next winter season in one of the Alps Ski Resorts in Oesterreich, Switzerland or France.

Hospitality Executive

Senior business leader skilled at driving global profits and expanding in diverse territories

Award-winning international hotelier, Austrian born and educated with enhanced hospitality industry education in Switzerland, USA, and UK. Direct and improve diverse hospitality operations throughout multiple geographic regions and spearhead international business expansion throughout Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Asia. Manage hotel branding activities and enhance existing brand development plans.

Leverage advanced expertise in the food & beverage industry to drive customer experiences and exceed profit objectives. Effectively deliver high-caliber innovation to deficient business operations and position high-profile companies as preeminent industry leaders. Demonstrate advanced proficiency and fluency in various languages to drive global collaboration and strengthen multicultural relationships.

Maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and sustain positive employee survey scores.

Highlights of Expertise

• Strategic Business Analysis
• Strong Professional Communication
• Multicultural Relationship Building
• International Business Leadership
• Multiple Special Project Executions
• Winning-Teams Nurturing
• Hotel Pre-opening Operations
• Ultra-Luxury Hotel Experience/Butler Service
• Private Members Club Management 

• Hotel and Hospitality Management
• Senior Business Leadership
• Professional Process Redevelopment
• Operational Program Management
• Branding and Advertising 
• Strong Analytical and Financial Skills
• Advanced Profit and Loss Acumen
• Passion for Luxury Fitness and Spa Brands 
• F&B Expert 

Radisson Collection Yangtze, Shanghai, China

Rebranding of the iconic 530 rooms hotel in the heart of CBD HongQiao

General Manager (June 2021 – August 2022) 

• Re-branding and de-flagging from Marriott Group while repositioning business strategy towards luxury hotel brand 
• Major Hotel Renovation planning 
• Benchmarking with newly opened Radisson Collection Hotels (Nanjing, Wuxi, Hyland SH) 
• Pandemic and Business recovery crisis management 

Managing a high-profile ultra-luxury hotel day-to-day operation within the 72-story building, leading the Shenzhen luxury hotel market 

Mission General Manager (August 2020 – May 2021) 

• Covid-19 strategy alignment and business recovery: positioned as leading ultra-luxury hotel in Shenzhen market
• 2020 achieved 79% of full year budget, and Q4 achieved 114.5% of revenue budget 
• Hotel was honored 8 high-end awards 
• Certified National 5-Leave Green Hotel and LEED Silver Label 
• YunJing Cantonese Restaurant honored as Black Perl Restaurant (aiming for Micheline Star Restaurant the year after) 
• Exclusive cooperation and partnerships with various luxury brands 
• High-end award-winning health club and spa 
• YTD (end May) both revenue and GOP 30% over budget, STR RGI 175 

On-boarding date postponement due to COVID-19 safety impact 

General Manager, Area General Manager Pullman brand South China (Feb. 2020 planned starting date) 

• Working from home in Beijing awaiting green light to on-board due to SOE airport authorities’ internal policies impacted by COVID-19
• South China AGM for operation of several Pullman hotels 

• Taking a break to pursue higher education by completing Master’s in International Business at UOC, UK. 
• Confined to 18 months post-resignation agreement restraining to work for competition due to HNA policy on competitions and trade conflict of interest 

Manage and optimize business operations for extensive hospitality business spanning multiple regions with prominent locations throughout China.

Vice President (2014 to 2018)

Consistently boosted business revenue and engaged with senior leadership to roll out innovative improvement plans and drive high-volume profits. Executed year-over-year fiscal assessments and charted revenue trends to ensure regular growth. Serve as acting COO for NH China in support of CEO and contributed to first Tangla Hotel development outside China.

• As Regional General Manager responsible for the operation and targets of 5 hotels. 
• Achieved formal recognition for driving revenue by 24% in 2015 and 17% in 2016.
• Distinguished with Fortune 500 Chairman Award in 2015 and Top 100 Hospitality Leader Award for Greater China in 2017 from World Hotel Association.
• Integrated complex new KPI dashboard and integrated cluster F&B committee to drive F&B revenue.
• Effectively exceeded revenue and NOP budget by 10% in 2015 and drove 2016 GOP by 16% with subsequent year improvement by 10%. 
• Achieved delivery of revenue growth by 10% YOY and improved GOP by 13% YOY (2015 – 2018). 
• Collaborated closely with elite team to implement new tools and systems and execute projects with Landor and HNA Committee.
• Contributed to operations integration of NH Hotels Group and Red Lion Group post-acquisition. 
• Representing owning company (owner representative) as well as bridging between NH JV and NH Headquarters in Spain. 

Improved and led all business operations for extensive hotel operation with 300 rooms and 390 employees.

General Manager (2011 to 2014)

Personally developed and mentored extensive teams of professionals to facilitate 12 external promotions and 21 internal promotions. Coordinated efforts to acquire new staff members and served as Hualuxe Brand SOP committee member.

• Boosted GOP from 20% to 39.5% from 2010 to 2014. 
• Earned 38 domestic and international awards within recent three years and directed Beijing Olympic Charity Walk that raised over $55K for “IHG Shelter In A Storm fund”. 
• Achieved formal recognition as a mentor and assessor for revolutionizing existing business and training processes. 
• Served as the Beijing and Tianjin cluster hotels champion on GM level for all F&B projects, initiatives, and programs.
• IHG Corporate Office F&B Board member roll out initiatives and F&B strategies for over 500 hotels and 9 brands in Greater China. 

Executed hotel development activities for high-profile hotel operation servicing 402 rooms with over 500 employees. 

General Manager (2009 to 2010)

Headed organization of 10 charity events and coordinated new event development. Spearheaded development of first-ever Heart of House standard implemented as global benchmark.

• Formally recognized with 2010 Jiangsu Tourism Board Star-Rating honorary committee member and executed special projects as part of IHG Greater China F&B Board.
• Implemented quality planning system and served as leader development of Career Insight Assessment Center.
• Successfully opened the flagship hotel in 2009 and led the Suzhou market by beating competition with an RGI of 220 amongst all luxury and upscale hotel brands.
• Honorable IHG Shanghai Corporate office F&B Board Member chaired by IHG GC COO.

Executive Assistant Manager, Director F&B (2002 to 2009) § Holiday Inn Central Plaza, Beijing, China

Director, F&B (1998 to 2001) § Harbour Plaza Kunming, China 

Associate General Manager (1997 to 1998) § CCA Chang An Club Beijing, China

Taskforce GM (1997) § CCA Kowloon Club, Hong Kong

Multi-Unit Manager (1995 to 1997) § Sheraton Hotel Tianjin, China

Restaurants Manager (1993 to 1995) § Moevenpick Resort Hotel Beijing, China

MMT (1988 to 1993) § Moevenpick Radisson Resort Ouchy Lausanne, Switzerland

Front Office (1987 – 1988) § Holiday Inn Danbury, Connecticut, USA

Maitre d’Hotel (1986 – 1988) § Moevenpick Hotel Geneva, Switzerland

Taskforce F&B (1989) § Moevenpick Cairo Heliopolis, Egypt

Education & Credentials

Master of Business Administration - University of Cumbria, United Kingdom 

Professional Development

• Harvard Courses, Tangla China 
• E-Cornell Courses, IHG China 
• Management Training, Movenpick International Hotels, Lausanne, Switzerland
• L’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland, Summer Leadership Course
• International Hotel Management College, Bad Gleichenberg

Nationality: Austria, Europe (EU)

Interests / Hobby: Languages, Culture, Traveling, Nature, Reading, Sports, Meditation

Voluntarily Work

• Founder and chairman of Mövenpick International Hotels pioneering CSR hotel initiatives, establishing “La Moutte Verte” environmental protection committee representing Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Switzerland in par with Nestle, Swissair and Graubünden Tourism Bureau (1991 – 1993)

• IHG Founder and Chairman for 10 years consecutive of “IHG Cluster Cooking Competition – Cuisine for A Cause” annual events with hundreds of participants, from clients, sponsors, government officials, hotel talents and professional judges, sponsoring one newly built school for “Project Hope” every single year (2004 – 2014) 

• IHG Charity Great Wall Walk raising funds for underprivileged children from the US “Last Wish” to attend the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (2008). 

• Key organizer of IHG Shelter in a Storm cluster olympic run. 

• Champion for JiangSu province IHG cluster charity event in 2010. 

• Raffles Shenzhen organized owning company “Parkland Foundation Charity Night 2020” with over 800 honorary guests and dignitaries (2020) raising millions for philanthropic purposes. 

• Accor Chairing Charity Committee for Cluster Hotels (2021) 

• IHG Greater China F&B Board Member for 3 consecutive years (2011 – 2014)
• IHG Crowne Plaza Brand committee member (2011 – 2014)
• Tangla Brand Refresh and Innovation Projects team member (2015 – 2016)
• Tangla Pioneer First Overseas Tangla Opening in Brussels (2016)
• HNA Tangla F&B Board Member (2016 – 2018)
• HNA – Honorary Professor at various universities: Nan Kai Tianjin University, Harbin University, 

• Accor Raffles Butler and VIP Service P&P change (2020 – 2021)
• RHG Corporate Performance Management System Set-up (2022)
• RHG Pilot program for RHG APAC with Hotel Kit, PMI and OTA Onsight (2021 - 2022) 
• RHG Host-Hotel as National Emergency and Pandemic Recovery Center accommodating several medical 

Education 

Master of Business Administration - University of Cumbria, United Kingdom 

Professional Development

• Harvard Courses, Tangla China 
• E-Cornell Courses, IHG China 
• Management Training, Movenpick International Hotels, Lausanne, Switzerland
• L’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland, Summer Leadership Course
• International Hotel Management College, Bad Gleichenberg

1981 Bachelor Certificate Hotelfachschule Bad Gleichenberg Austria

1991 – 1993 MMT Movenpick Management Training Program Switzerland

2000 Franklin Covery Co. “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Hongkong

2006 E-Cornell “Executive Decision Making” IHG US

2006 Compass 21 Assessor Workshop IHG China

2006 Train the Trainer Certification IHG China

2007 1 Week TQM Masters Workshop by Ray Alcocer and Soo Hin IHG APAC

2007 RMH Central Revenue Management Course IHG China

2008 China Green Hotel 5 Star (Second Hotel in all of China) IHG China

2009 Coaching Certification Program IHG Greater China IHG Singapore

2009 BMR Corporate Audit Team Member for IHG GC top 20 CTP Hotels IHG China

2011 IHG Long Service Award 10 years IHG China

2012 Career Insight Nr. 2 Potential Assessor Certification IHG China

2012 One Step Ahead “Crowne Plaza Brand Service Behavior” IHG US

2014 Career Insight No. 2 Potential Assessment Certification IHG China

2015 IDEAS Revenue Management System Workshop HNA China

2015 Associate Professor “Second Institute of Foreign Languages in Beijing”

2015 Associate Professor “Tangla Hotel Management Institute (3 years)” HNA China

2015 Industry Advisor “Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (3 years)”

2015 Industy Advisor “College of tourism and Service Management of Nankai Uniersity (2 years)

2015 Visiting Professor “School of Economics and Management of Harbin University”

2015 Senior Employment Advisor “Tianjin Foreign Studies University (5 years)”

2016 Extracurricular Tutor “Sichuan International Studies University (5 years)”

2016 Management Talent Award HNA HNA China

2018 Professor for a Day “School of Hotel and Tourism Management The Hong Kong Polytech University” Hong Kong

2020 Master of Business Administration – University of Cumbria Great Britain