Tianjin, China, January 22, 2016–Accomplished hotelier, Mr. Hugo Montanari, has joined The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin as its new General Manager, bringing over 12 years of highly respected operational excellence, strong leadership skills, international and brand experience to this iconic hotel at Tianjin.

General Manager Mr. Hugo Montanari

"I am thrilled to be in this metropolis in northern China. It is an absolute honor and pleasure to serve as General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin" said Mr. Montanari "As one of the most important cities in China, Tianjin is rich in history and culture with a variety of attractions, and is poised to become one of China's foremost business and leisure destinations. I feel privileged to play a part in this development."

A French and Italian dual-national, Mr. Montanari was fortunate to grow up in a multi-cultural environment living in several countries including Bangladesh, India and Papua New Guinea, among others. He graduated from the prestigious EcoleHôtelière de Lausanne with internships in the famous Michelin One-Star Restaurant Des Trois Tours in Switzerland and Aramark Catering in London. Mr. Montnarai then built his career for 6 years with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in Dubai and at the world-famous The Plaza Hotel in New York, before moving to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where he has spent the past 4 years.

Prior to The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, Mr. Montanari spent two years as the Director of Operations at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore where he played an integral part in opening India’s first Ritz-Carlton hotel. He then moved to The Ritz-CarltonSanya,Yalong Bay and worked as Hotel Manager for the past two years. His achievement was recognized by China Hotelier Magazine when he was nominated as Hotel Manager of the Year in 2015.

Mr. Montanari was also instrumental in the successful openings of four high profile hotels including The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, and Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton, Reserve.

As the General Manager, Mr. Montanari’s wealth of operational and managerial experience, and strong leadership skills, will be important assets to further develop the hotel products and services and enhance the prestigious image of The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin.In the meanwhile, Mr. Montanari will oversee all pre-opening efforts for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company’s second residences in the China portfolio, The Ritz-Carlton Executive Residences, Tianjin which will be opening soon in 2016.

As an outdoor enthusiast, Mr. Montanari enjoys competing in marathons and also extends his passion for sports to charity by participating in Charity runs and walks to raise funds for the less fortunate. In his new role, Mr. Montanari will also be paying close attention to the community in Tianjin and leading efforts to implement the commitment to Community Footprints, a focus ofThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company globally.

Outside of work, spending time with family is one of the great loves for Mr. Montanari. He enjoys travelling with his wife and two children, discovering different destinations and is a keen amateur travel photographer to record many memorable moments with the family. Mr. Montanari says “Tianjin is an increasingly popular destination with a long history and rich culture heritage where my family and I are very excited to explore and learn the interesting local customs”.