Speakers

Gheorghe Marian Cristescu began his adventure in the hotel industry over 19 years ago. Before joining Chopin Airport Development (CAD), he gained professional experience working in Poland for several international companies, which included 3 years at the Radisson chain, over 10 years at Accor Hotels, and then over 4 years at Best Western. He has become familiar with the industry not only from the operational but also from the sales side.

When he joined Best Western in November 2011, he assumed the position of Regional Director of Sales for Poland. This way he contributed to the intense growth of Best Western in Poland and after one year was appointed as a Country Director of Best Western for Poland and Baltic see countries, where his responsibilities included operational supervision of Best Western in the region, coordination of the chain’s activities and implementation of new properties in the market. Cristescu’s strong job performance and excellent knowledge of the market has enabled Best Western to become the leader on the Polish franchise hotel market in recent years.

In February 2015, Cristescu was named Director for Poland and the Baltic Countries, Best Western International. His nomination was connected with the strengthening strategic role of the corporation’s Polish division in Central and Northern Europe as well as the chain’s accelerating growth in Poland.

In April 2016, Gheorghe Cristescu became Chairman of the Board of Chopin Airport Development – a company established by State Enterprise “Porty Lotnicze” (PPL), whose mission is to carry out investments next to airports. CAD is the investor, operator and administrator of existing buildings and investments realized from beginning to end. As a franchisee of the world hotel chains Marriott, Hilton and Best Western, CAD currently manages four hotels located in Warsaw, Gdansk and Hel Peninsula. Two hotels in Warsaw and Katowice are in the construction phase.
 

Cristescu himself has won several awards, including “Personality of the Year 2012”, granted by the magazine Hotelarz; “Man of the Year" in the Prime Property Prize 2012 plebiscite; and “Hotelier of the Year 2013”, an honor bestowed upon him by the portal HRS. As the unquestioned leader and specialist of the hotel market in Poland, he regularly appears as a panelist in the most important industry events.

In addition to his professional work, he is interested in sports, history and geography. He speaks Romanian, Polish, English and Spanish fluently.