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Park Hyatt London River Thames has announced a series of appointments ahead of its opening in Q4 2024.
Hyatt announced that veteran Rike Erdbink will lead the opening team as general manager. Joining London’s growing list of female GM’s, Erdbrink has a wealth of global experience; originally hailing from Germany, Erdbrink first joined Hyatt as an apprentice at Park Hyatt Hamburg in 2001.
Following an illustrious career which includes posts in various continents at properties including Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Park Hyatt Chicago, Erdbrink has returned to Europe to lead the opening of the first Park Hyatt in the United Kingdom.
Overlooking the Thames and offering sweeping views of London, the 203-key Park Hyatt London River Thames is set to launch later in 2024 with a range of amenities and wellness facilities still to be announced.
Further appointments include Gonzalo de Estefanía Morales, director of Rooms who joins the team from France’s Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, where he worked for 17 years following the hotel’s launch in 2006.
The hotel has also appointed John Sutherland as director of Sales and Marketing, who joins from The NoMad Hotel in London. Other notable positions include Bart Eissens as director of Food and Beverage. Eissens joins with a wealth of London experience, with previous roles including Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square and Hotel Cafe Royal.
The leadership team is completed by Edyta Osiej who joins as director of Finance from The Westin London City; Tina Harder Larsen Bartle who joins from St Ermin’s Hotel as director of Revenue; Guy Lwin who joins from The Peninsula London as director of Engineering; Fabrice Lasnon as executive chef, who was previously executive chef at Pan Pacific London and The Savoy; and Mélissa Brette Ogée as director of Human Resources, who began her career with Hyatt in 2013 as HR Trainee at Hotel Du Louvre Paris and is currently co-chair of the women@hyatt chapter in the UK.
Erdbrink said: “It is an honour to lead the launch of the much awaited Park Hyatt in London. Our new neighbourhood of Nine Elms is one of the most rapidly evolving in central London, one which carries a great legacy but has its vision firmly focussed on the future. With the launch of Park Hyatt London River Thames, we look forward to introducing London and its wealth of international guests to the refined luxury of Park Hyatt.”
