Jacques Chevasson

General Manager Sheraton Heliopolis

BIOGRAPHY

A career may very well be in your genes without you knowing about it and this was my case having been born in a family that by tradition was already involved in the business.

My grandfather became a reputable Chef at the beginning of the 20^th Century and worked as head of the kitchen for the Spanish Royal family, more precisely at the Palace of Lira for the Duke of Alba in Madrid. In the late 20^’s he opened his own Restaurant and later his Hotel.

My father took ahead the family business that was lost following the difficult times of the Iberian Peninsula in late 30’s & 40’s after the Spanish Civil War (36-39) and

II World War (39-45).

Having re-started from scratch my father became a successful hotel manager being one of the pioneers of Marbella (Golf Guadalmina hotel) in mid 50’s and then of Tenerife late 60’s as the owner of the San Roque Hotel. The Petrol crisis that took place in the 70’s saw our bankruptcy for more than two years.

Born in Madrid in 1943 and having graduated from Luzern Hotel School in Switzerland in 1965 I started my endeavors in the business. To better illustrate my life may I say that I have lived in three continents and in 15 countries for more than one year while I am today General Manager since 25 years and that I have worked for four largest hotel chains of the industry (Hilton, Meridien, Intercontinental and Sheraton) while I have lead for more than seven years the Ritz of Lisbon (Today Four Seasons).

Happily married with two grown children (one of them a sharp business multinational executive and the other having followed successfully in the steps in the business) I believe that I still have a lot of time ahead before writing my memories. May, however, mention as reference that I have met more than half of the world’s political or business leaders of our planet and that I have been personally decorated by the King Hassan II of Morocco himself for exceptional services while at the Ritz in Lisbon.

Finally, if someone would ask me what would I change in my life  - I would just start all over again to have another 60 years in front of me as daily we learn or enjoy a new situation that makes life different every day.