The Doyle Collection anounces the appointment of François-Xavier Schoeffer as General Manager at the Kensington
12 January 2022
François-Xavier joins the international hotel group with over two decades of experience in luxury hospitality. Originally from Savoie, France, François-Xavier launched his career in the industry at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, before making the move to Paris where he acted as Front Office Manager for The Westin. He subsequently remained in Paris, advancing his career as director of operations for the Hotel Lutetia, located in the enigmatic Saint-Germain-des-Prés area. François-Xavier ultimately made the move to Amsterdam, remaining within the same hotel group in a training capacity at the recently opened Conservatorium Hotel.
In 2013, François-Xavier was hand-picked to lead the relaunch of the Hotel Café Royal, London. Over a six-year tenure, he helped to re-establish this iconic luxury hotel, firstly as Director of Operations and then as Hotel Manager, overseeing the day-to-day management of the 160-room hotel alongside five restaurant and bar outlets and an award-winning spa.
Most recently, François-Xavier returned to Hotel Lutetia as General Manager in 2019, overseeing a significant renovation and steering the team through a challenging 18 months encompassing the Covid-19 pandemic.
François-Xavier brings expansive experience working with world-renowned hotels of international regard to The Kensington, and his knowledge of the needs of the modern luxury guest will be indispensable, given the hotel’s international client base.
The Doyle Collection CEO, Pat King, remarked: “We are delighted to welcome Francois to The Doyle Collection team. His experience working in a number of landmark international properties in some of the most exciting cities in the world will be invaluable to our group, and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge in true luxury hospitality. I wish him every success as he steps into this new role at The Kensington.”
François-Xavier says, ‘I’m delighted to be returning to London and am honoured to join The Kensington. I have always been driven by a true passion for hotels and the history behind them, which makes me all the more excited to be in charge of an incredible property with such a unique legacy. I am excited to work with the talented team here and am looking forward to a busy 2022.’
François-Xavier is a graduate of the General Manager’s Program at Cornell University, USA and holds a degree in Hotel Marketing and Management from the Ecole Hôtelière Internationale Savoie, France.
