Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President Gavin M Faull with his three sons Matthew, Oliver and Edward who are Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Directors of the business

Family-owned hospitality business Swiss-Belhotel International has been awarded the Legacy Family Business Award 2023 by the Family Business association New Zealand.

Owned by the Faull Family with Hong Kong partners, Swiss-Belhotel International is led by Gavin M Faull as Chairman and President with his three sons Matthew, Oliver and Edward as Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Directors of the company.

The judging panel described the company as “a strong entrepreneurial family business with firm values in place”.

“Blending the rising generation into the business into senior roles is never a simple process and having all three sons in teams supporting the business is a high achievement,” the panel said.

“When the passion of families is harnessed, combined with an understanding of corporate systems and processes families can achieve a unique position in the market and this family is a wonderful case study of a multiple generation family enterprise that continues to grow and develop.”

Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President, Gavin M Faull

The family business was also praised for its industry leading growth.

“To achieve this high level of growth and portfolio of properties requires industry leading qualities across senior leadership, team culture, partnerships, systems and processes, funding and market risks,” the panel said.

“The sustainability of year-on-year growth is impressive whilst managing cross jurisdictional risks.”

The international hotel management company has a presence in 20 countries with 125 hotels and operations.

Swiss-Belhotel International said the award is a recognition of the family leadership and family approach across all operations and 12,000 staff involved.

“Together the staff form part of their global family,” the company said in a statement.