Metropolitan Hotels is pleased to announce that Kari Koskela has been appointed General Manager of Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver.  Koskela brings more than 20 years of tourism and hospitality experience to this famed luxury hotel, most recently ranked by Travel +Leisure Magazine as one of the top 500 Hotels in the World.

Prior to his position with Metropolitan Hotels, Koskela worked with the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. as the property’s Hotel Manager.  It was here that the hotelier coordinated the daily operations of the 300-room luxury hotel;  His areas of expertise were utilized throughout the company’s many departments; Room Division, Food and Beverage, Catering, Engineering and Security. Koskela also coordinated the renovation of  The Ritz-Carlton’s Club Lounge and Lobby Bar, as well as the hotel’s 2008-2009 renovations to its guestrooms and lobby.

“With the Olympics 2010 in Vancouver right on the horizon, I couldn’t think of a better, more exciting time to continue my career with such a talented group of hoteliers and restaurateurs,” says Kari Koskela. “Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver is considered one of the best luxury hotels in the world and I look forward to continuing its tradition of unparalleled service.”

Koskela’s impressive background also includes a notable history in Food and Beverage. From 2001 to 2007, this highly respected hotelier maintained the position as Food and Beverage Director for the likes of the Four Seasons – Las Vegas, the Four Seasons – Vancouver and Director of Operations at the Delta Pinnacle Hotel – Vancouver.

A graduate of the Hotel Management School Les Roches in Switzerland, Koskela has a degree in Hotel Management and a certificate in Food and Beverage Operations.  He also speaks both Finnish and German.

Metropolitan Hotels (www.metropolitan.com) operates four luxury properties in Toronto and Vancouver, including the Metropolitan Toronto, the SoHo Metropolitan, the Metropolitan Vancouver and the soon to be opened Grande Rockies Resort in Canmore.  With more than 965 rooms, Metropolitan Hotels is committed to providing luxury accommodation for business and leisure travelers seeking an independent choice. As members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, the hotels offer the finest in distinctive accommodations, in addition to service and cuisine provided by their award-winning restaurants, Hemispheres and Lai Wah Heen (Metropolitan Toronto), Senses (SoHo Metropolitan), Diva at the Met (Metropolitan Vancouver) and Lai Toh Heen (mid-town Toronto).