Olivier Bihel Promoted to Senior Vice President Design & Project Development at Oetker Collection

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Olivier Bihel has been promoted from Vice President Project Development to Senior Vice President Design & Project Development at Oetker Collection, joining the Senior Leadership Team and reporting to Chief Operating Officer Duarte Bon de Sousa. In his expanded role, Bihel will lead design across the company’s development projects, with particular responsibility for interior design alongside his existing project development duties. Collaboration with Oetker Collection’s creative partners will be undertaken to ensure that current and future hotels maintain distinctive identities and a strong sense of place. The expanded responsibilities will also include ensuring that projects meet Oetker Hotels’ standards for design, craftsmanship and quality. The promotion strengthens design leadership within the development structure as the Collection continues to develop its portfolio of luxury hotels and villas. Bihel’s responsibilities will connect project development with creative direction, allowing design considerations to be incorporated throughout the development process. The Senior Vice President role will place him within the company’s senior leadership structure, with direct reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. Oetker Collection operates a portfolio of Masterpiece Hotels and villas across Europe, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the Caribbean, with properties positioned in prominent destinations and associated with a long-standing luxury hospitality heritage.

What position has Olivier Bihel taken?

Olivier Bihel has been promoted to Senior Vice President Design & Project Development at Oetker Collection. He previously served as Vice President Project Development.

The expanded role will place him on the Senior Leadership Team, with reporting responsibility to Chief Operating Officer Duarte Bon de Sousa.

What will be Bihel’s new responsibilities?

Bihel will lead design across the company’s development projects, with a particular focus on interior design. His existing project development responsibilities will also be retained.

The combined remit will connect design leadership with the development process across current and future hotel projects.

How will design be managed?

Collaboration with the Group’s creative partners will form an important part of Bihel’s expanded role. Design concepts will be developed with the objective of giving each hotel a distinctive identity and strong sense of place.

The approach will be applied across both existing development projects and future properties.

What standards will be maintained?

Oetker Hotels’ standards for design, craftsmanship and quality will remain central to project development. Bihel will work to ensure that the design and development process reflects these standards across the company’s hotel portfolio.

Particular attention will be directed towards interior design and the relationship between a property’s physical character and its destination.

Why is the promotion significant?

The promotion strengthens senior design leadership within Oetker Collection’s development structure. By combining project development responsibilities with design leadership, the role creates a broader remit covering both the development process and the creative direction of future properties.

Which areas will be covered?

How will each hotel retain its identity?

Each current and future hotel will be developed with a distinct identity and strong sense of place. Collaboration with creative partners will support the development of individual design concepts while maintaining the standards associated with Oetker Collection.

This approach allows the character of individual destinations to be reflected within the design of each property.

What is Oetker Collection’s portfolio?

Oetker Collection operates a portfolio of Masterpiece Hotels and villas across Europe, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the Caribbean.

The properties are located in prominent destinations and are positioned around luxury hospitality, distinctive design and individual identities.

What is the wider development focus?

The expanded role comes as Oetker Collection continues developing its portfolio. Design, project development, craftsmanship and quality will be integrated through the development process.

Bihel’s responsibilities will therefore extend beyond project delivery to include the creative direction and design principles applied to new properties.

How will the leadership structure change?

Bihel will join the Senior Leadership Team and report directly to Chief Operating Officer Duarte Bon de Sousa. The reporting structure places design and project development within the company’s senior management framework.

The expanded position will provide responsibility across both existing development activities and the design of future projects.

What happens next?

Bihel will lead design across Oetker Collection’s development projects while continuing to oversee project development responsibilities. Interior design will receive particular attention, supported by collaboration with the Group’s creative partners.

The objective will be to deliver hotels with distinctive identities while maintaining Oetker Hotels’ standards for design, craftsmanship and quality.