Hotel president, Wolfgang Neumann, with a soft spot for children

Hotel chain president Wolfgang Neumann knows no protocol when dealing with children. Despite his high social standing, he has no problem mingling freely with them.

Neumann, a father of three, is the president and CEO of Rezidor Hotel Group, owners of the Radisson Blu brand. Recently, he launched the Nairobi Radisson Blu in Upper Hill with a treat for orphans at SoS children’s home in Buru Buru where he sponsors a house.

It was fun and laughter unlimited as a gift-loaded Neumann relished the children’s meals, posing for selfies and other photographs. A group of 20 children had the previous night partied with him at the hotel amid songs, poems and dance.
But nothing was more stunning than seeing him wash dishes at the home. “This is how I started my career as a young hotelier in France several years ago,” he says, his sleeves rolled up.

Neumann’s love affair for the home was instant when he learnt in 2013 while inspecting construction works of the Nairobi hotel that  House Number 15 had no official sponsor. Come 2014 and Neumann was on a Mount Kilimanjaro fund-raising climb that raised $30,000 (Sh3 million), enough to run the house for two years. The hotel chain has now taken over the running of House 15. Neumann says he regards helping those in need a personal challenge. “Mountain climbing is a hobby and among the ways by which I raise funds for causes I support. Apart from Mount Kilimanjaro, I have climbed Mount Blanc, Europe’s highest peak. And I have participated in marathon races in New York, London and Paris to raise money for worthy causes all over the world,” he says. Neumann says he has a special place in his heart for deprived children. “I find myself gravitating towards orphans and other needy children and striving to improve their lot,” he told Wednesday Life.

Wolfgang Neumann washes dishes at SoS Children’s Village in Buru Buru, Nairobi. Recently, he launched the Nairobi Radisson Blu in Upper Hill with a treat for orphans at SoS children’s home in Buru Buru where he sponsors a house. (PHOTO: JOE OMBUOR/ STANDARD)

The 271-room Nairobi Radisson Blu Hotel that he officially launched was among those built after he took over the reins at the Redizor Hotel Group in 2013. “I fell in love with Kenya and its people the moment I set foot here,” he says. Neumann says Kenya is an important tourist destination in Africa. “Kenya’s future is bright in spite of terror attacks and other challenges. Many hotel chains are establishing branches here and we could not be left behind,” he says.

Prior to joining the Rezidor chain of hotels in May, 2011, Neumann served as the CEO for Arabella Hospitality where he was a member of the supervisory board of Schoerghuber Holding Group in Munich, Germany.