Christopher Cowdray

Christopher Cowdray (born 1955) is a Zimbabwean-born British hotel manager. He is the chief executive officer of the Dorchester Collection, a hotel operator in Europe and the US.

Christopher Cowdray
Born	1955 Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)[1]
Nationality	British
Education	Falcon College
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	CEO of The Dorchester Collection[2]
Years active	2007– present

Early life

Christopher Cowdray was born in 1955 in Zimbabwe.^[3]

He was educated at Falcon College in Zimbabwe.^[3] He received a degree in hotel management in his home country before attending Columbia University in New York City.^[4][5] After graduating from the Columbia Business School's Executive Program.^[6]

Career

Cowdray managed hotels in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.^[7] In the United Kingdom, Cowdray was previously the managing director at London's Claridge's.^[8] In 2004, Cowdray became the general manager at The Dorchester Hotel.^[9] Cowdray was appointed to chief executive officer of The Dorchester Collection in November 2007.^[10]

The Dorchester Collection is owned by the Dorchester Group Ltd.^[11] After managing The Dorchester, one of the ten hotels included in the Dorchester Collection, Cowdray became the CEO of the luxury hotel operation in 2007. In 2008, following his appointment to CEO, Cowdray added Hotel Bel-Air to the Dorchester Collection.^[12] Since then, the New York Palace Hotel was sold off, but the Dorchester Collection has expanded with additions such as Le Richemond in Geneva, Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane in England, and Hotel Eden in Rome.^[13]

In 2013, Cowdray was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Hospitality Awards for his achievements in the hotel community with the Dorchester collection.^[14]

References

1. Barbara DeLollis (22 October 2012). "Ultra-luxury Dorchester Collection looks to grow in N.Y., elsewhere". USA Today. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
2. Kitty Bean Yancey (19 October 2011). "Stars bring Glitz, but Hotel Bel-Air adds Glamour; Hotspot reopens after its face lift". USA Today.
3. Christopher Charles Blanshard COWDRAY, Debrett's
4. "Hotels that Speak to History". LEADERS Magazine. January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
5. Mary Winston Nicklin (20 November 2012). "The Fashionable Dorchester Collection". Travel Agent Central. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
6. Megan Brickwood (November 2013). "Cowdray Wins Lifetime Achievement Award". TravelAge West.
7. "A Clear Vision". LEADERS Magazine. January 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
8. Samantha McClary (6 May 2004). "Cowdray moves from Claridge's to Dorchester". Caterer & Hotelkeeper. 193 (4322).
9. "New GM for London's Dorchester". Conference and Incentive Travel Magazine. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
10. Kerstin Kühn (9 November 2007). "Christopher Cowdray becomes CEO for the Dorchester Collection". Caterer & Hotelkeeper. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
11. Patti Pietschmann (6 June 2012). "Tasty treats spice up summer at Dorchester Collection hotels from London to LA". Examiner.
12. Walsh, Dominic (28 July 2008). "Bel-Air and New York Palace join Dorchester stable". The Times (London). p. 39.
13. Doug Gollan (10 May 2013). "In Conversation With Christopher Cowdray, CEO, Dorchester Collection". Luxury Society. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
14. Emma Eversham (4 November 2013). "Brown's Hotel GM Stuart P Johnson named Hotelier of the Year at European Hospitality Awards 2013". Big Hospitality. Retrieved 12 July 2014.