General manager for Corinthia's London hotel

Corinthia Hotels have appointed Matthew Dixon as general manager of the Corinthia Hotel in London, which is scheduled to open late 2010.

The property will be Corinthia Hotels' latest 5-Star deluxe flagship with 300 hotel bedrooms and suites, three distinctive restaurants, a large central courtyard foyer, tea lounge, destination bar, a ballroom restored to its original splendour, the finest conference and boardroom facilities and London's largest luxury hotel Spa complex.

Matthew Dixon is a well regarded international hotelier with a strong 5-star pedigree developed in Europe and Asia. Originally Savoy trained, he gained a sound knowledge of hotel marketing and operations at group level and at the Claridges Hotel London. In his early career he gained deluxe international experience in various senior executive roles with Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and Manila.

He then spent a successful period with Rocco Forte hotels as general manager of the Hotel de Russie Rome and general manager of the Brown's Hotel London. Shortly after the opening of the Grove, the UK's most luxurious hotel leisure and golf complex, Mr Dixon joined the operation as general manager and until recently developed and operated this 5-star international hotel destination as one of the world's most unique and inspirational hotel conference and golf centres. Mr Dixon is a graduate of Cornell University, Westminster College London and the University of Pau in France. He is a member of the Institute of Hospitality and speaks Italian, French and Swedish. He will be reporting directly to CHI Hotels & Resorts CEO and managing director Tony Potter and will commence his duties on September 21.

Alfred Pisani, Corinthia's Chairman and founder commented: "Corinthia Hotels have great pleasure at joining the 5-Star deluxe London hotel scene and are proud to have this opportunity to develop one of London's premier properties. Consequently we welcome on board such a distinguished and experienced hotelier as Matthew Dixon to lead the Hotel Team."

The Corinthia Hotel London is presently being totally transformed from the original Metropole building on Northumberland Avenue, together with the adjoining 10, Whitehall Place.