OREANDA-NEWS. According to “System Capital” (SCM) press-service, last week SCM’s officials introduced the of Donbass Palace and Opera hotels staff to their new Managing Director, Bernard Micallef, a famous hotel business professional from Switzerland. He replaced Udo Heine who left on September 1, 2007 by mutual consent of both parties. Mr Micallef will start work in his new role after obtaining all the necessary Ukrainian foreign resident employment permits. From  September 1 until Mr Micallef takes office, Maya Lobanova is working as Acting Managing Director of the hotels.

“SCM views hospitality as a strategic business and we will devote our special attention to its development because we have everything we need for its further growth: high quality infrastructure and excellent staff,” SCM’s Senior Manager, Nikolay Nesterenko, said. He also added, “We would like to thank Mr. Heine for his work. During his time in office Donbass Palace was twice voted the best business hotel in Ukraine. At the same time, Mr Micallef has previously been part of the management team of Donbass Palace and was directly involved in its launch. He has considerable experience of managing hotels in different countries including Ukraine, and is a professional of the highest level. I am confident that after the return of Mr Micallef to the team we can meet new and interesting challenges working together.”
“It is always good to return to the place where you have left a part of your heart. I have already worked in Donbass Palace hotel before and I am happy to be returning to Donetsk. I believe that Opera and Donbass Palace hotels have great potential and I am grateful to SCM as their owner for an opportunity of such cooperation,” Mr Micallef said.

Donbass Palace Hotel is a 5-star hotel in the centre of Donetsk. In 2005 and 2006, the hotel was recognized as the leading business hotel of Ukraine and in 2006 – the leading hotel of Ukraine. Opera Hotel – is the first deluxe boutique hotel in Ukraine and was opened on  December 20, 2006 in the very heart of Kiev. Both hotels are members of the international association “The Leading Hotels of the World”. The hotels are owned by System Capital Management.