Kempinski Hotels appoints new CEO

European luxury hotel company Kempinski Hotels this week named cruise industry veteran Barbara Muckermann as its new CEO, effective immediately.

Muckermann joins Kempinski from Royal Caribbean division Silversea Cruises, where she served as president and CEO. Her more than 25 years of industry experience includes stints with MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. 

“Barbara has always been at the forefront of luxury, and her proven ability to elevate the guest experience while simultaneously maximising profitability for leading travel brands made her the ideal choice to lead Kempinski Hotels,” said Kempinski board chairman René Nijhof in a statement. 

Muckermann is the first woman in Kempinski’s 127-year history to serve as CEO, according to the company.

Muckermann replaces former CEO Bernold Schroeder, who had led the company since December 2020. Schroeder in a LinkedIn post said he was “moving on to explore new career opportunities beyond Kempinski.”

Kempinski operates 82 luxury properties in 36 countries, mostly in Europe, the Middle East and China.

The company in a statement said it “intends to add another 34 hotels and residences to its portfolio in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa in the coming years.”