OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2009. Intourist, the largest vertically integrated tourist holding of Russia, announced the appointment of Lisandro Platzer as General Director of OJSC Intourist Hotel Group, reported the press-centre of Intourist.

Mr. Platzer previously held the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at Korston Group. The candidature of Lisandro Platzer was confirmed by the Board of Directors of Intourist Hotel Group in connection with transfer of the previous General Director Alexander Bochurov to another job.

Intourist President Alexander Arutyunov commented: "Lisandro Platzer is one of the most effective top managers in Russian hotel market with an extensive experience in managing hotels both in Russia and abroad. Mr. Platzer has a wide knowledge of the best world practices in hotel management and at the same time is very experienced in Russian hotel business with good understanding of its specificity".

Lisandro Platzer noted: "My major goals on the new position are to improve the efficiency of hotel management and achieve the company’s leadership in our segment of hotel market. I hope my knowledge and experience will help me to achieve the goals set by the shareholders".

Lisandro Platzer was born in Argentina in 1971. He graduated from Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in 1998 and Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration (New York, USA), General Managers Program for Hospitality Industry Executives in 2005. In 2009 Mr. Platzer received MBA degrees from London Business School (London, UK) and Columbia Business School (New York, USA).

From 1996 to 1998 Mr. Platzer opened Art Hotel (Moscow, Russia). From 1998 to 1999 he held the position of General Manger of Atrium Palace Hotel (Yekaterinburg, Russia), from 1999 to 2000 – General Manger of Miritim Hotel (Riga, Latvia). In 2001 Lisandro Platzer started his career in Korston Group, working as General Manager of Korston Hotel & Casino and then Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the group.

Intourist Group of companies - vertically integrated tourist holding, representing the managing company VAO Intourist and 4 business divisions - tour operating (NTK Intourist), hotel business (Intourist Hotel Group), retail sales (Intourist Travel Shop) and transportation services (Intourist Transportation Services). Group of companies trade turnover in 2007 reached \\$517 million, earnings - \\$374 million. Geography of presence – 80 regions of Russian Federation. Company cooperates with 7000 partners in 168 countries of the world. Majority interest strategic stake of Intourist is controlled by JSFC Sistema.

OJSC Intourist Hotel Group - hotel operating company of Intourist holding. The company manages the hotels in Russia (Moscow, Ufa, Nizhny Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Uglich, Rostov the Great, Elets, Gorno-Altaisk) and abroad (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic).