Ian D. Hurst has been named General Manager of Grand Pacific Suites-Shanghai China which is scheduled to open in September 2004.

Mr. Hurst has over 30 years of luxury hotel industry experience including a 25-year career  with Hilton International Group, serving in various management positions with the company.  He is an Australian and married with one child.

Mr. Hurst brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having recently serving as General Manager of Sahid Jaya – Jakarta, a five star 700 room hotel with extensive convention facilities with upwards of five thousand persons.  Prior to this position, Mr. Hurst was Area General Manager of Stamford Hotesl and Resorts properties in Sydney Australian and was reponsible for opening their all suite flag ship property, the Stamford Plaza, in time for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. 

Ian has an outstanding track record of profitable hotel operations within Hilton International Group throughout United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Australia and China and has extensive experience in Front Office, Sales and Marketing, Convention Sales and Rooms Division operations.  He began forming the pre-opening team of Grand Pacific Suites – Shanghai in February 2004 and is reponsible for strategic direction and organizational planning of the hotel opening.  With the opening of the hotel, he will be responsible for managing Grand Pacific Suites – Shanghai on a daily basis and ensure that the hotel's impeccable quality of service and standards are maintained at the highest level.