Christopher Cowdray
{{short description|Zimbabwean-born British hotel manager (born 1955)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Christopher Cowdray
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1955
| birth_place = Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe){{cite web|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2012/10/22/plaza-atheneee-paris-dorchester-collection-london-new-york-washington-dc/1647397/ |title= Ultra-luxury Dorchester Collection looks to grow in N.Y., elsewhere|author= Barbara DeLollis|date= 22 October 2012|work= USA Today|accessdate=12 July 2014}}
| education = Falcon College
| alma_mater = Columbia University
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| occupation = CEO of The Dorchester Collection{{cite news|author= Kitty Bean Yancey|title= Stars bring Glitz, but Hotel Bel-Air adds Glamour; Hotspot reopens after its face lift|date= 19 October 2011|newspaper= USA Today}}
| years_active = 2007– present
| known_for =
}}
Christopher Cowdray (born 1955) is a Zimbabwean-born British hotel manager. He is the chief executive officer of the Dorchester Collection, a hotel operator in Europe and the US.
Early life
Christopher Cowdray was born in 1955 in Zimbabwe.[http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/20656/Christopher-Charles-Blanshard-COWDRAY Christopher Charles Blanshard COWDRAY], Debrett's
He was educated at Falcon College in Zimbabwe. He received a degree in hotel management in his home country before attending Columbia University in New York City.{{cite web| url= http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2012.1_Jan/Hospitality/LEADERS-Christopher-Cowdray-Dorchester-Collection.html| title= Hotels that Speak to History| date= January 2012| publisher= LEADERS Magazine| access-date= 12 July 2014| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140610115112/http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2012.1_Jan/Hospitality/LEADERS-Christopher-Cowdray-Dorchester-Collection.html| archive-date= 10 June 2014}}{{cite web|url= http://www.travelagentcentral.com/luxury-hotels/fashionable-dorchester-collection |title= The Fashionable Dorchester Collection|author= Mary Winston Nicklin|date= 20 November 2012|publisher= Travel Agent Central|accessdate=12 July 2014}} After graduating from the Columbia Business School's Executive Program.{{cite journal|author= Megan Brickwood|title= Cowdray Wins Lifetime Achievement Award|date= November 2013|journal= TravelAge West}}
Career
Cowdray managed hotels in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url= http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2014.1_Jan/Hospitality/LEADERS-Christopher-Cowdray-Dorchester-Collection.html |title= A Clear Vision| date= January 2014| publisher= LEADERS Magazine|accessdate=12 July 2014}} In the United Kingdom, Cowdray was previously the managing director at London's Claridge's.{{cite journal|author= Samantha McClary|title= Cowdray moves from Claridge's to Dorchester|date= 6 May 2004|journal= Caterer & Hotelkeeper|volume= 193|issue= 4322}} In 2004, Cowdray became the general manager at The Dorchester Hotel.{{cite web|url= http://www.citmagazine.com/article/832521/new-gm-londons-dorchester |title= New GM for London's Dorchester|date= 4 July 2008|publisher= Conference and Incentive Travel Magazine|accessdate=12 July 2014}} Cowdray was appointed to chief executive officer of The Dorchester Collection in November 2007.{{cite web|url= http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/articles/2007/11/09/317192/christopher-cowdray-becomes-ceo-for-the-dorchester-collection.html |title= Christopher Cowdray becomes CEO for the Dorchester Collection|author= Kerstin Kühn|date= 9 November 2007|publisher= Caterer & Hotelkeeper|accessdate=12 July 2014}}
The Dorchester Collection is owned by the Dorchester Group Ltd.{{cite news|title=Tasty treats spice up summer at Dorchester Collection hotels from London to LA|publisher=Examiner|date=6 June 2012|author=Patti Pietschmann}} After managing The Dorchester, one of the ten hotels included in the Dorchester Collection, Cowdray became the CEO of the luxury hotel operation in 2007. In 2008, following his appointment to CEO, Cowdray added Hotel Bel-Air to the Dorchester Collection.{{cite news|last= Walsh|first= Dominic|title= Bel-Air and New York Palace join Dorchester stable|date= 28 July 2008|pages= 39|newspaper= The Times (London)}} Since then, the New York Palace Hotel was sold off, but the Dorchester Collection has expanded with additions such as Le Richemond in Geneva, Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane in England, and Hotel Eden in Rome.{{cite web|url= http://luxurysociety.com/articles/2013/05/in-conversation-with-christopher-cowdray-ceo-dorchester-collection |title= In Conversation With Christopher Cowdray, CEO, Dorchester Collection|author= Doug Gollan|date= 10 May 2013|publisher= Luxury Society|accessdate=12 July 2014}}
In 2013, Cowdray was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Hospitality Awards for his achievements in the hotel community with the Dorchester collection.{{cite web|url= http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Trends-Reports/Brown-s-Hotel-GM-Stuart-P-Johnson-named-Hotelier-of-the-Year-at-European-Hospitality-Awards-2013 |title= Brown's Hotel GM Stuart P Johnson named Hotelier of the Year at European Hospitality Awards 2013|author= Emma Eversham|date= 4 November 2013|publisher= Big Hospitality|accessdate=12 July 2014}}
References
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Category:Alumni of Falcon College
Category:White Rhodesian people