While the hotel has not yet opened its doors, the inauguration is planned for July 2022, its General Manager has already been appointed and he is Stefan Viard.

SO/, a lifestyle brand of the Ennismore group, has just announced the appointment of the future General Manager of its new Parisian flagship. Before taking up his new position at SO/, Stefan Viard acquired solid experience in both property management and the management of large teams. Let's take a look at his rich career in the hospitality sector.

Graduating with a Master's degree in Hospitality Administration/Management from Cornell University, Stefan Viard began his career within the Hyatt group and held various positions in several countries. He started as an apprentice to a chef in Cologne, before being in charge of the F&B department in Hamburg and finally Banquet Manager at Hyatt Regency Charles de Gaulle.

He then held various management positions at Deluxe Theme Restaurant, Signature Restaurant, Jumeirah Group and GHM Hotels. In 2008, he joined The Adress Hotels & Resorts as Executive Assistant Manager of the F&B sector, and later became Acting General Manager of the residences and hotels.

He was appointed General Manager of Vida Hotels & Resorts in 2012 and moved to the United Arab Emirates. In 2016, he still holds the same position but at Melia Hotels International in Dubai. During his career of more than 20 years, Stefan Viard has demonstrated his leadership skills in various large groups around the world. He also has a strong background in opening hotels, which will be a great asset for his next position.

After 20 years in Dubai, it was important for me to accept the stimulating challenge of launching a lifestyle brand in the midst of repositioning itself in a new market. Paris means reconnecting with my French roots, and it also corresponds to my sensibility for luxury hotels and the European sense of service. After having managed a hotel entirely designed by Zaha Hadid where architecture was at the centre of the project, joining SO/Paris, where art is omnipresent, was an obvious choice for me. [...] Contrary to the 'like at home' trend in the hotel industry, which has become more pronounced with the health crisis, my ambition is to make SO/Paris a destination where you can escape from your home, to enjoy a refined, unforgettable experience. In a word: inimitable. At SO/ Paris, guests will have a front row seat to the ultra-chic and avant-garde. We have just begun our recruitment process and are looking for more than 150 personalities, not necessarily from the hotel industry but who above all have an innate sense of hospitality, to bring this place to life and create strong connections with our clients.

Stefan Viard, General Manager SO/ Paris