Marco Polo Hotels has appointed seasoned luxury hotelier Duncan Palmer as Managing Director of its Hong Kong flagship property, the Murray Building, scheduled to open in October 2017.
With over 35 years of experience in many senior management roles for luxury hotel groups worldwide including Mandarin Oriental, The Savoy and Langham Hotel Groups, Mr. Palmer is the perfect fit for the iconic landmark Murray Building nestled between the vibrant districts of Central and Admiralty.
Originating from the United Kingdom, Mr. Palmer throughout his career has successfully spearheaded a number of global luxury hotel repositioning and redevelopment projects, mostly in historic and flagship properties. His earlier days with The Savoy Group saw him revitalise the heritage property The Savoy, London with a restoration programme, which resulted in the hotel’s performance significantly improving, and celebrating accolades of ‘Worldwide Hotel of the Year by Executive Travel Magazine. In addition, he also received the ‘One of the Top 10 Hotels in Europe for Service 2001’ award for The Connaught, London by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
Mr. Palmer is no stranger to Hong Kong: he spent four years in Asia’s world city during his tenure with Langham Hospitality Group, as Managing Director of The Langham, Hong Kong and was Vice President Design for the group worldwide.
In his new role, Mr. Palmer will be instrumental in setting a new benchmark for the luxury hotel sector. The transition from group level to Managing Director is a clear indication of his insatiable desire to transform this iconic landmark into a highly revered hotel.
“Duncan has built his formidable career on the foundations of the world’s iconic hotels,” said Dr. Jennifer Cronin, President of Marco Polo Hotels. “He is an inspiring hotelier and we are indeed proud to have Duncan join as Managing Director for our new Hong Kong flagship. We are confident that he will launch and establish the Murray Building as an iconic landmark hotel that will redefine the city’s luxury hotel landscape.”
