Kempinski Hotels has announced the appointment of Frank Winstra as Chief Development Officer, tasked with helping shape the next phase of the brand's development as Kempinski continues to move into the ultra-luxury segment.
"Winstra will lead the development of Kempinski's growth strategy, focusing on shaping the portfolio to resonate with a new generation of high-end travelers while honoring Kempinski's heritage as Europe's oldest luxury hotel chain. As Chief Development Officer, Winstra will be responsible for driving and refining the organization's growth strategy, selectively identifying hotel assets for investment while targeting further growth through management agreements, and developing and strengthening the larger development team to drive long-term success.
"The luxury hospitality sector is undergoing important changes in terms of guest expectations and demand for authentic local connections, and Frank understands exactly how to turn these changes into opportunities," said Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Group. "With his deep experience in luxury hospitality and strategic growth, Frank will work closely with our dedicated development teams and senior management to refine our global development strategy, expand our project portfolio and strengthen our development organization. At the same time, we extend our deepest gratitude to Christophe Piffaretti for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment. His contribution has left an indelible mark on our company and we wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life."
Since her appointment in 2024, Muckermann has led efforts to transform Kempinski's portfolio of hotels, collaborating with owners to maximize guest experiences and announcing more renovation plans in a single year than in the past decade combined. Winstra, who has led major development projects around the world in senior roles at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, NH Hotels and Corinthia Hotels, said he is energized by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of Kempinski's development.
"Kempinski symbolizes timeless luxury, but the definition of luxury is constantly changing. Our ambition is to deliver a higher level of sophistication - personalized, culturally and contextually relevant, and forward-thinking - to a new generation of travelers," he said.
