Several years ago it is likely that we would have described ourselves as being passionate about our business. Today we describe that value as loving our business and being passionate.

A statement like this says a lot about the kind of organization that we are. It is reflective of our understanding for the absolute need to continuously evaluate what we do relative to the markets and times that we're in. And as a consequence, continuously re-evaluate the manner in which we then communicate that to every one of our stakeholders.

This, I believe, makes The Rezidor Hotel Group a very different kind of hospitality management company. A business that recognizes and embraces the need for competitive advantage and is not afraid to demonstrate that fact in every aspect of what it does. A business that understands the need for local decision-making within the context of global brand consistency and encourages it; a hands on business, that manages with its heart as well as its head. With as flat a structure as is possible given our size, and a kind of democracy that considers and values opinion, but ultimately understands that decisions have to be made and made quickly. We're flexible, approachable and entrepreneurial, so very commercial. But we also pride ourselves in the level of common sense that we abide by and the huge driving ambition and need to win that we possess.

I'd like to believe that these kinds of attitudes and this kind of outlook, has been fostered through our inherent culture, and so, as a natural consequence, maintained throughout this last period of our extraordinary growth and will continue into the future. We hope we can take you with us on that journey into the future, as The Rezidor Hotel Group starts yet another exciting chapter of business success.