Riko van Santen Promoted to CIO for Kempinski Hotels

Kempinski Hotels has promoted Riko van Santen to Chief Information Officer and Member of the Management Board. Since 2012 he headed a team of specialists as Vice President Digital Strategy & Distribution Kempinski Hotels and has been instrumental in the company’s digital transition over the past years.

In his new role, Riko van Santen will oversee the company’s global IT, Distribution, Guest Intelligence as well as the Digital technology. In order to optimize the delivery and integration of software applications and the exchange of data across multi-system environment for all commercial and operational enterprise solutions, his focus will be on architecting the strategic direction of the company’s technology and data infrastructure.

Prior to joining Kempinski, Riko van Santen oversaw 1,100 properties under 7 brands ranging from budget to high end luxury, as Vice President Distribution and E-Commerce at Louvre Hotels Group, based in Paris, France. He began his career gaining experience in the front office and revenue disciplines at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, followed by revenue management, distribution, IT and digital marketing positions with Pegasus Solutions, NH Hotels, and Golden Tulip Hotels.

Riko van Santen holds an Honours degree in Hotel Management from Middlesex University, London, as well as a post graduate degree in Japanese Business Studies. He served as Vice President and Executive Advisor to HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation), a global non profit trade association serving hotel companies and technology providers. A known industry speaker, he also holds advisory board seats at Sabre Hospitality, Cvent, HSMAI Europe, and Olapic.

R. van Santen speaks fluent English, Dutch, Japanese and basic German.