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Starwood Hotels New Leader is Probably Running Wherever, Whenever

Where: United States

6/23/2008 at 5:00 PM
Tags: Starwood Hotels, Frits Paasschen, Hot Hotelier News

Ed. Note: Yes, we know that W Hotels concierge service is called Whatever/Whenever, but we are trying to lighten up a Monday.

Today's USATODAY wrote about Starwood Hotels & Resort's new CEO, Frits Van Paasschen who likes to "break the ice" with journalists & developers by going on a brisk 5 mile run.

He did it a few weeks ago at the NYU Hospitality Conference, and earlier this year at another conference but was asked to slow down a bit because the hotel industry types apparently can't keep up with him.

Hmm...Hear that Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, etc, etc? No pressure now!

When he was first hired last September, Frits was one of 60 candidates for the job, but according to Starwood's Chairman of the Board, Frits

stood out because of his intellectual firepower, success shaping global strategies for consumer products at Disney, Nike and Coors, his likable personality and the aggressive way he promised to tackle the job.

In the past Frits has worked for a few companies you may have heard of like, Disney, Nike, and Coors Brewing which gave him a lot of corporate and brand building experience--yet not much in the global hospitality industry.

But speaking 5 languages fluently, and currently learning Czech with his chauffeur each morning allows him the ability to wheel and deal Starwood's brands throughout the world.

So like everything else in his life, he dove in head first and visited 132 hotels in 20 countries and 46 cities. He did not specify how many times the airlines lost his luggage, but we're sure the concierge at the hotels he stayed at were more than eager to track it down for him.

And to answer the question we know is on everyone's mind--how do you say Paasschen? It's pronounced "passion," so really, it all just makes sense.

[Photo: USAToday]

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