Katja Henke began her new post at The Peninsula Paris on 27 June 2016. Prior to joining The Peninsula Paris, Ms Henke was General Manager at The Peninsula Bangkok for three and a half years.
Katja, a native of Hamburg, Germany, started her hospitality career in Switzerland, where at age 18 she embarked on a two-year apprenticeship at the Bernerhof in Gstaad and attended the Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern. Katja’s international career has also taken her to France, England and the United States, where she worked as General Manager of Blantyre, a Relais & Châteaux property in Lenox, Massachusetts. She also worked for the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C. and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Katja joined The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (HSH) in 2011 as Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Shanghai.
From an early age, Katja was fascinated with different countries, cultures and languages. After studying at the Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern, Katja completed internships at the Michelin-starred Santabbondio in Lugano, as well as the Palace Hotel Lucerne.
Katja is not a new face to Paris, and this is a return for her. Early in her career, Katja worked at the prestigious Le Bristol in Paris before moving on to England.
Hospitality is in Katja’s blood, and her passion for the profession is undeniable. In her personal life, she is deeply involved in charitable activities which work to improve the welfare of the community, such as offering support to breast cancer projects, underprivileged students, and welfare of animals, especially elephants which are very close to her heart. Katja has significant interest in diverse cultures, as well as cultural discovery. Working in Europe, the US and Asia has given Katja broad cultural experience, helping her to understand desires of high-end travellers from around the world, as well as colleagues from various backgrounds.
