LVMH's Belmond names Karl Bieberach as head of global development

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Feb 22, 2021

Belmond, LVMH’s luxury hotel and resorts group, has named Karl Bieberach to be its new head of global development.

Bieberach takes up his new post on March 22. He will be responsible for the global expansion of Belmond’s portfolio, which spans hotels, trains, river barges and safaris.

Bieberach brings a quarter century of experience to Belmond following a successful career in a variety of senior roles at well-renowned hospitality brands including Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Marriott International and HVS International. Having worked extensively worldwide, he has evaluated or transacted nearly 500 deals globally, Belmond said in a release.

LVMH acquired Belmond in April 2019 for $3.2 billion, and the French luxury group’s changes in management and strategy are being closely watched by the fashion and luxury industry, as a signpost of how consumers may gradually shift their high-end consumption of products to experiential moments.

“Karl has an excellent track record and proven ability to grow well-respected hospitality brands. With his wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, he will play an instrumental role in strategically growing the company’s footprint through property acquisitions and new management agreements,” said Belmond President and CEO Roeland Vos.

Belmond has expanded from its early acquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976 to create a  portfolio extending across 24 countries with 46 high-profile properties that include the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla; Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, or prestige gateways to natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguazu National Park.

“It is a great pleasure to join Belmond, a pioneer in the world of luxury travel. As a brand that sees its role as a custodian of timeless heritage, I will continue to be guided by this philosophy, selectively expanding the footprint where not only can we offer authentic experiences but also play a role in celebrating the  legendary art of travel,” said the trilingual Bieberach.