Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific has appointed Nigel Grocock as Managing Director of both the The Regent Beijing and Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing.

Grocock will be responsible for managing all aspects of the 499-room Regent Beijing, encompassing 442 guest rooms, 57 suites, four restaurants, two ballrooms, a health club, boardroom and eight meeting rooms. Scheduled to open in July 2006, the hotel will be located in the heart of Beijing's commercial centre to serve business and leisure travellers. Forming part of the same development, the 216-room Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing is scheduled to open in November 2005.

Grocock, who will manage over 1,000 employees across both hotels, brings to the position almost 30 years experience in the hotel industry, with 20 years spent in Asia Pacific. He has widespread pre-opening, development and operational management experience, having been previously responsible for the expansion of the Traders Hotel in Beijing from 298 rooms to 564 rooms and overseeing two Shangri-La Hotels in Manila from pre-opening to operational stage.

Mr Grocock also has extensive knowledge of the hotel market in Beijing, having been General Manager of the China World Hotel in Beijing from 1996 to 1999, overseeing 738 guest rooms, eight food and beverage outlets, 18 function rooms, comprehensive recreational facilities and 1,150 staff members.

Prior to joining Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, Mr. Grocock held the position of general manager for Laguna Beach Resort in Thailand. He has also held senior positions with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Mr. Grocock holds a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Administration from the Westminster Hotel School, London.