Bussiere Fiji Bound

(12/23/2003)

Mr. Richard Bussiere, Vice-President and Managing Director for Starwood in Indonesia and Managing Director for the Sheraton Laguna Resort has wrapped up a 2.5 year assignment in Bali to assume a new position within the same corporation.

In January 2004, after a brief holiday "back home" in his native Vermont (U.S.A.), Richard will start a new assignment as the Vice-President, Managing Director of Sheraton Resorts, Fiji. His new posting will encompass responsibility for 730 rooms at the Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort, Sheraton Fiji Resort and the Sheraton Denarau Villas. The hotels are operated in conjunction with the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club and an 18-hole championship golf course managed by Trune Golf.

Assuming the reigns of all the Starwood Properties in Indonesia during a most difficult period in the local tourism industry's history, Mr. Bussiere managed to spearhead a number of product improvements and the shift of the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort to a Westin branding with the official re-launch celebrated only on the eve of his departure from Bali (December 22).

Committed to helping Indonesia recover from the setback of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Mr. Bussiere was a moving force behind the very successful Hotel Asia-Pacific Security Workshops held in Bali and Jakarta in 2002 and 2003.

Prior to his Bali assignment, Mr. Bussiere served as the General Manager of the St. Regis Hotel in Beijing.