Olivier Chavy is the President of Panorama. He was previously President of RCI® Exchanges, a Wyndham Destinations company. Prior to his appointment at RCI® Exchanges, Chavy led  the helm at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) starting in September 2016 until February 2019, as the Swiss hotel management firm’s  CEO.

The industry veteran brings a vast wealth of experience to this high-profile leadership position, based on a 28-year career spanning a huge variety of hospitality roles, from hotel general manager, to his former tenure as President and CEO of leading global interior architectural design firm, Wilson Associates.  Chavy possesses an in-depth understanding of every facet of the hospitality industry based on a proven track record in operations, pre-openings, interior design, brand performance and both hotel and business management. He brought a lively entrepreneurial spirit to the CEO role at MH&R, an attribute that makes him perfectly positioned to spearhead the company’s next dynamic growth phase. The expansionist hospitality firm has set out ambitious plans to increase its network to more than 100 upscale properties worldwide in the near future. Chavy’s expertise in hotel portfolio and business management will ensure MH&R’s pipeline strategy is realised, and drive value for Mövenpick’s shareholders, hotel ownership partners, employees and guests. In his new role, Chavy will also seek to elevate Mövenpick’s brand standards to new heights, showcasing Swiss hospitality at its very best.

An industry professional with a notable and infectious ‘joie de vivre’, the 52-year-old hospitality expert is also a fitting champion for Mövenpick’s brand positioning, ‘we make moments’, an ethos that promotes a passion for service and innovation company-wide.

A dual citizen of the United States and France, Chavy is fluent in French, English and German, and before joining Mövenpick, spent 250 days of the year travelling. A self-proclaimed ‘global citizen’, Chavy possesses an all-encompassing international perspective that is necessary to understand the needs of employees, guests and business partners.

Career history:
Before joining Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Chavy’s aptitude for brand development, innovative design, personnel management and client services led Wilson Associates to global success. During his three-year tenure, he directed the company’s high-profile resale process, transforming Wilson Associates from a private equity-owned company to a Public Chinese Company that listed on the Shanghai Stock Market in 2015.

Prior to this role, Chavy’s position as International Head, Global Brand Performance of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide saw him manage brand performance teams for Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. Responsible for more than 50 properties in operation and an additional 25 properties under construction at that time, the seasoned hotelier managed the full spectrum of pre-opening functions, a balancing act that tested his expertise in interior design positioning, room mock-ups, public spaces review, product positioning, budget, marketing activities, and brand performance management in the luxury hotel segment. Chavy was appointed in this demanding role based on his proven track record in a variety of positions at Hilton Worldwide.

Before joining Hilton, Chavy spent 12 years employed in a variety of executive roles that laid the foundation for his professional success. Key positions included General Manager and Area Vice President for renowned French luxury hotel and casino operator, Groupe Lucien Barrière. At 27, while working at the Hotel Normandy Barrière Deauville, Chavy became the youngest General Manager of ‘Palaces’ in Europe.

Chavy’s education culminated with a Masters in Business Administration from Cornell University; a post-graduate diploma from
Europe’s prestigious ESSEC Business School; and a BA in Hotel Management from St. Quentin en Yvelines Hotel Management School, France. He has also completed Executive Development Programme courses at the University of Nevada, Reno, and studied at Switzerland’s prestigious International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Chavy is a member of the French Government’s Foreign Trade Advisory Board (CCEF) and serves as an Advisory Board Member at The University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.