Mandarin Oriental’s New CEO: His Plan to Double the Size of the Luxury Hotel Brand
Photo Credit: Exterior of the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, a luxury hotel. Mandarin Oriental
Skift Take
New CEO Laurent Kleitman thinks there's room to grow. The question is: Can he do it without sacrificing the details that make Mandarin Oriental special?
A year ago, Mandarin Oriental appointed Laurent Kleitman as Group CEO. Now, the venerable luxury hotel brand is poised for what it hopes will be accelerated growth — without sacrificing the attention to detail that has made it a favorite among the global elite.
Today, Mandarin Oriental manages 41 hotels, a number Kleitman intends to double. "There is room for more," he asserts, envisioning a "sweet spot" of "80 to 100 properties."
Kleitman has a pedigree in luxury goods, with previous roles at LVMH's Perfumes Christian Dior and Coty. "I've discovered a world of experiential luxury," he said to Skift in his first major interview as CEO. "Experience is what will define luxury in the future."
Laurent Kleitman became Group CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in September 2023. Source: Mandarin Oriental. A New CEO's PlanWhen asked about Mandarin Oriental's brand DNA, the Hong Kong-based executive recounts when he and his family were guests at the
