Managing Director, Montage Beverly Hills

Named the Independent Hotelier of the World in 2004, Ali Kasikci is considered to be one of the hospitality industry’s foremost pioneers. In August 2007, Mr. Kasikci became Managing Director of the new Montage Beverly Hills, a luxury hotel opened in fall 2008.

A 20+ year veteran of the industry, Mr. Kasikci completed his apprenticeship in Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany and held senior management positions with leading hotels in Germany and with casino resorts in South Africa. His U.S. experience includes five years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Newport Beach, California prior to joining The Peninsula Beverly Hills in 1992.

For nearly 16 years, he was Managing Director of The Peninsula Beverly Hills, the only Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel in Southern California and a member of the prestigious Peninsula Group collection of hotels. In line with the distinguished reputation of the hotel, Mr. Kasikci was selected as one of the top three hoteliers in the world by Gourmet Magazine, along with Kurt Wachteveitl of The Oriental Bangkok and Roberto Wirth of Rome's Hotel Hassler.

A graduate of the Hotel and Catering College in Tegernsee, Germany, Ali Kasikci holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Claremont Graduate University Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management School in Claremont, California. Mr. Kasikci is a certified Hotel Administrator, CHA, and a member of the Hotel Catering Institutional Management Association, HCIMA.

As an active community leader in Beverly Hills, Mr. Kasikci has been Chairman of the Visitors Bureau, President of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Mayor's Economic Advisory Committee, and the "Executive of the Year 1998." MBA - The Claremont Graduate University - Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management School

Manager of Protea President Hotel

Matilda Hayes has been involved in Management in Hotel and International Marketing for 16 years with experience in attending International Trade Shows e.g. World Travel Market in London, UK. She launched the new South African Tourism Brand/Logo in 14 Cities in Australia. She is Project Manager for an Entrepreneur School as well as an International Journalist for VIZA, in Belgium. She trained and mentored Hotel Personnel, was an Assessor and Quality Assessor for South African Tourism Grading Council and liaised with Hotel Schools on exchange programs with responsibility for final year marketing students from various Countries. Matilda is currently the Manager of CTIC Stellenbosch (Information Centre) utilizing the office also for training BEE applicants.

We will accept nominees for our Advisory Board. Please contact Mr H Olckers with your nomination.