European GM stays on duty in Pakistan

The only Western hotel general manager in Pakistan is still there this week, although he has sent home two other European managers.

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	Sheraton hotel

Thomas van Opstal, the German general manager of the 407-bedroom Sheraton in Karachi, has sent home a British executive chef and a Dutch executive assistant manager who worked at the hotel. The hotel employs a further 550 Pakistani staff. Van Opstal, who has been at the hotel for three years, said that the atmosphere in Pakistan's largest city was "tense" due to the threat of war and anti-American demonstrations, but he did not believe that the Sheraton would be targeted. The hotel is owned by local property developers Arabian Sea Enterprises and managed by Starwood. Karachi is an international trading port with a population of 7.8 million. Its primary industries are textiles, pharmaceuticals and banking. Van Opstal said he was in daily contact with Starwood to exchange ideas about security and crisis management, but it was ultimately his judgement what course of action to take. He said: Á¢Â€ÂœClosing is not a scenario we envisage.Á¢Â€Â by Ben Walker *Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 27 September Á¢Â€Â" 3 October 2001*