Read about the four nominees for HOTELS 2018 Independent Hotelier of the World below and cast your vote here:
Laurent Carrasset, regional managing director, Peru, Belmond
Laurent Carrasset has over 25 years of experience and in his current role of regional director for Belmond he is focused on expanding the company’s footprint in Peru, maintaining the financial performance and raising global awareness of one of the brand’s most prominent product clusters.
Carrasset launched South America’s first luxury sleeper, the Belmond Andean Explorer, which has won awards for its design and helped attract new travelers to Peru. At the same time, he negotiated the acquisition of Belmond Las Casitas, Colca Canyon, which offers a natural extension to the sleeper train itineraries. He is also responsible for overseeing six hotels in Southern Peru.
Carrasset joined the company in 1998 and has held various positions, including GM of the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa and Orient-Express Hotels in Peru.
His duties also extend to the operation of PeruRail’s tourist trains from Cusco to Machu Picchu and Cusco to Arequipa. Previous to Belmond he worked in London at Grosvenor House Hotel.
Carrasset is a Spanish-speaking French national and was educated in Paris at École hôtelière Jean Drouant.
While working at Belmond he has committed to further developing his skill set and graduated with an MBA in business administration at Piura University in Lima, an IESE associated school in December 2017.
Philippe Leboeuf, general manager, area vice president of operations, Mandarin Oriental, Paris
Philippe Leboeuf likes to describe himself as a self-made man who has gained his experience in the field. With over 25 years of experience, the Paris GM was also in charge of the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech until the opening in October 2015, and just took over regional responsibility of the Mandarin Oriental, Geneva.
Leboeuf joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group from Claridge’s in London where he held the position of GM since 2007. From 1995 to 2001, he was managing director of the Crillon Hotel in Paris, and then became executive vice president of the Concorde Hotels Group. In 2004 he was appointed executive vice president of Louvre Hotels with responsibility for operations, sales, marketing and development. In 2006, Leboeuf moved to Dallas as vice president, operations for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. He was also a Board Director of The Leading Hotels of the World from 1999 to 2006.
In July 2014 in Paris, he is awarded Knight of the Legion of Honour. He enjoys exploring Paris by bicycle or on foot with Archie, his border terrier.
Wilhelm Luxem, general manager, Baur au Lac, Zurich
Since January 2013, Wilhelm Luxem has been general manager of the iconic, family-owned hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Swiss Deluxe Hotels. During his tenure, the hotel has won accolades from Condé Nast, Robb Report and Travel + Leisure. He also received the happy guest award by The Leading Hotels of the world in 2015.
Following training in culinary arts and completion of the Heidelberg Hotel Management School, Luxem began his career in 1982 as assistant director at Schlosshotel Kronberg in Taunus, Germany. He went on to hold senior management positions at Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden and Australia’s Hayman Island Resort.
Luxem was appointed to lead the opening teams at the Anassa Resort in Cyprus and then The Oberoi in Mauritius. Starting in 2004, he ran the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne, the Baur au Lac’s sister establishment. During his tenure, the hotel won the 2011 Leaders Club Guest Recognition Award of Excellence by The Leading Hotels of the World.
Antonio Sersale, owner and manager, Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Truly a family-operated business since Le Sirenuse opened in 1951, current day hotel manager and owner Antonio Sersale took the reins of the hotel from his father, Franco, and uncle Marchesi Sersale in 1994 and continues the tradition that has transformed his family’s home into one of the world’s most personal properties.
Having studied at Switzerland’s École hôtelière de Lausanne, Sersale started his hotel career in New York as a trainee at The Leading Hotels of the World, then at the Hilton International in Puerto Rico, Mayfair Regent New York, and later the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., as director of guest services. He also worked as assistant manager of Cala Di Volpe Hotel in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, from 1991 until 1992.
Today, the luxury Le Sirenuse has 58 majolica-tiled rooms with Carla, Sersale’s wife, looking after the boutique; brother Paolo’s collects furnishing; Paulo’s daughter Giulia is responsible for all terraces and plants; and daughter Marina created Le Sirenuse’s signature fragrance.
Most recently, he began a collaboration with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts to create Le Sirenuse restaurant and Champagne bar at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in the Surfside enclave of North Beach in Miami.
Sersale is married and lives with his wife between Positano and Rome. His oldest son, Aldo, is following in his footsteps and is a student at the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne.