Lindner Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Martin Rinck as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Management Board, effective October 1, 2024. Rinck will succeed Arno Schwalie, who will be leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.
Martin Rinck brings extensive experience to the role, having spent over 25 years in senior management positions within the hospitality industry. Most recently, Rinck served as Chief Brand Officer at Hilton, where he managed the strategic direction of Hilton’s 18 brands across a global network of more than 6,500 hotels. Prior to this, he was President Asia Pacific, overseeing the expansion of over 500 hotels in the region. Rinck has also held executive roles at Radisson Hotel Group and Mövenpick Gastronomy International. He returned to Europe in late 2022 and is now transitioning into his new role at Lindner Hotel Group.
‘With Martin Rinck, we have gained a heavyweight in the hotel industry. I am convinced that with his expertise, his international experience and his versatility, he is exactly the right person for the company and that he will take the company to the next level together with his fellow board member and CFO, Dr Christoph Scherk. We are very much looking forward to his arrival,’ - Jörg Lindner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Lindner Hotel Group.
In addition to his previous roles, Rinck founded Cervo Advisory AG in 2022, providing consultancy services to various high-profile clients. He is also a Director on the Board of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and serves on the Swiss Board of the NGO Room to Read.
Arno Schwalie, who has been with Lindner Hotel Group for the past two and a half years, will step down on August 31, 2024. During his tenure, Schwalie led the company through a restructuring, including the repositioning of the Lindner Hotels & Resorts and me and all hotels brands. His efforts also included expanding the brand portfolio through the merger with the 12.18. Group, adding 7Pines Hotels & Resorts and L-Collection to the company’s offerings. Schwalie also worked to enhance the company’s partnership with Hyatt.
‘With his expertise, entrepreneurial courage and drive, Arno Schwalie has shaped the further development of the Lindner Hotel Group after the Covid pandemic. We have created the basis for establishing ourselves as a leading internationally oriented hotel group from the German-speaking world in the long term. I would like to thank him for the excellent cooperation and wish him all the best for his future challenges,’ - Jörg Lindner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Lindner Hotel Group.
Moreover, Frank Lindner, the current Chief Technology Officer (CTO), will shift from his operational role to join the Supervisory Board, where he will focus on strategic matters and the expansion of Lindner Hotel Group’s brands.
‘I am very much looking forward to the new role and to returning to the industry for which I have an incredible passion. Together with the Lindner family and the leadership team of the Lindner Hotel Group, our goal will be to further develop the portfolio, position the respective brands as ‘best-in-class’ and also expand internationally,’ - Martin Rinck, future CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lindner Hotel Group
