Thomas Willms

Thomas Willms joined Steigenberger Hotels AG, one of Europe’s leading hotel companies, as Chief Operating Officer in June 2017. Since January 2018, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer.

In his capacity as a Board Member, he assumes overall operational responsibility for all hotel brands. Strategy, Future Openings & Franchise, Corporate Communications, Sales & Marketing, E-Business, Revenue Management and Corporate Social Responsibility also fall within his remit.

Steigenberger Hotels AG encompasses 130 hotels which are either already operational or at the planning stage in 18 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. The company’s umbrella brand “Deutsche Hospitality” covers the four brands of Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts, MAXX by Steigenberger, Jaz in the City and IntercityHotel.

Thomas Willms worked over 20 years for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, most recently as Senior Vice President Central & Eastern Europe, prior to this at the company’s Brussels office as Vice President Development and Brands. Previously he was employed by ArabellaStarwood Hotelmanagement GmbH as Managing Director and worked also for Maritim Hotels and the Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Mr. Willms was born in Jever in 1961. He holds an executive master’s degree in business administration in Tourism Management at Chur University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland) and Delaware (USA).

The many years of expertise he has acquired at various prestigious hotel companies have earned him a reputation as an acknowledged authority within the industry. During his professional career, Mr. Willms has been appointed to a range of specialist and executive roles in the fields of food & beverage, development, marketing, hotel opening and franchising. He has worked in the USA, the UK, Belgium and Austria.