Noel Attard Appointed Chief Development Officer at Kempinski as Luxury Hotel Group Targets Global Expansion

Kempinski Hotels has appointed Noel Attard as Chief Development Officer at Kempinski AG, placing a veteran executive with two decades of experience across operations, finance and corporate strategy at the centre of the group’s next phase of international growth.

Attard moves into the development role after serving as Chief Transformation Officer, where he was responsible for shaping Kempinski’s business transformation strategy. His new mandate will focus on expanding the group’s global portfolio while building on the operational and strategic foundations established during his previous position.

What Will Noel Attard Oversee at Kempinski?

Attard will be responsible for advancing Kempinski’s global development strategy, with growth opportunities expected to span targeted acquisitions, management contracts, branded residences and new brand launches.

The appointment represents an internal transition designed to maintain continuity while giving Kempinski greater focus on opportunities across priority and emerging markets.

His experience combines corporate strategy with direct operational knowledge, allowing development decisions to be informed by how hotel assets function in real-world operating environments.

How Has Noel Attard Contributed to Kempinski?

Attard has spent 20 years with Kempinski, holding positions across trading entity management, finance, strategic planning and hotel openings.

His career has included involvement with several notable Kempinski properties, including Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Gozo and Kempinski Hotel Adriatic in Croatia.

Before becoming Chief Transformation Officer in early 2025, Attard also spent more than a decade as Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Trading DMCC in Dubai.

His progression through the organisation has provided experience across both hotel operations and corporate functions.

Why Is Operational Experience Important to Kempinski’s Development Strategy?

Attard’s approach to hotel development is built around more than identifying potential transactions. His experience in operating businesses and hotels means that asset performance and practical hotel operations form an important part of his development perspective.

Before becoming CEO of Kempinski Trading DMCC, he served as Financial Controller and General Manager within the business.

This cross-functional background provides exposure to financial management, operational leadership and strategic decision-making, areas that can influence the long-term performance of new hotel developments.

Kempinski’s latest leadership move therefore places development responsibility with an executive who has worked across several stages of the hotel business.

What Is Kempinski’s Global Development Pipeline?

Kempinski continues to expand its international presence through new hotel and residence projects in established and emerging destinations.

Kempinski currently operates 74 properties in 33 countries around the world, with more than 21 prestigious projects under development

A separate current operating figure in the announcement states that Kempinski operates 73 properties in 33 countries, with more than 21 projects under development, indicating that the figures refer to different reporting points or portfolio definitions.

The broader development strategy includes management contracts, acquisitions, branded residences and potential brand debuts, giving the group several routes through which to expand its luxury hospitality portfolio.

How Does the Appointment Fit Kempinski’s Heritage?

Founded in 1897, Kempinski describes itself as Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, with a heritage centred on personalised service and individual properties.

The group operates across the luxury hospitality sector, with hotels and residences positioned around distinctive destinations and individual property identities.

Attard’s appointment comes as the company seeks to combine this heritage with a broader development strategy targeting new markets and opportunities.

His previous transformation role and extensive operational background provide continuity between Kempinski’s internal business development and its external portfolio expansion.

What Could Come Next for Kempinski?

Under Attard’s new mandate, Kempinski will continue examining opportunities involving acquisitions, management agreements, branded residences and new brands.

The focus on priority and emerging markets suggests that future growth will involve both strengthening the existing international network and entering selected new destinations.

For a luxury hotel group with a long-established European heritage, the challenge is to expand while retaining the operational standards and individual character associated with its properties.

Attard’s move from transformation leadership to development therefore represents a shift from reshaping the existing business towards identifying and delivering the next generation of Kempinski properties.