About Ingo Schweder

About

Ingo Schweder, Founder and Managing Director of Horwath HTL Health & Wellness, leads the Market Research & Feasibility and Concept Development team to success. He brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of hospitality, wellness and spas.

In 2009, after working his way up the corporate ladder and settling into a grouping of successful and influential roles with leading hospitality companies, Ingo founded his own wellness hospitality consulting and management company, GOCO Hospitality. Based in Bangkok with regional offices in Los Angeles, Berlin and Shanghai, the team of 25 people, with 14 different nationalities, are working on more than 20 projects across multiple continents.

Ingo is considered to be one of the foremost hotel & spa experts in the world, and his experience and accolades to date are a testament.

From 2000 to 2006 he served as a member of the operating board of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. During his tenure, Ingo established the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Lifestyle Division from the ground up. He was responsible for the worldwide operation, design and development of 15 resort spas on four continents. Mandarin’s unique leisure hospitality concept and wellness centers with strong holistic roots are credited to him.

In 2005, Ingo was recognized with the “Spa Personality of the Year” award for his visionary approach to the integration of wellness and leisure services in the hospitality industry, and in 2006 with the “Spa Marketer of the Year” for his innovative and effective marketing approach. In 2006 and under Ingo’s leadership, the European Spa Summit and SpaAsia Magazine voted Mandarin Oriental as “Best Spa Company.” Ingo’s design and concept work for the group was also honored with the prestigious Gold Key Award at the “Excellence in Hospitality Design” event in New York City 2007.

Prior to Mandarin, Ingo was Managing Director of the Rafael Hotel Group’s activities in South Asia. Under his guidance, Ananda in the Himalayas, the globally recognized destination spa, was established.

Ingo was also Group Director of Operations for Oberoi Hotels from 1996 to 1998 where he headed the development of three new hotel projects - Rajvilas, Udaivilas and Amarvilas that transformed the landscape of Indian hospitality. Under the stewardship of Ingo, Oberoi Hotels became a globally recognized luxury hotel group and focused the world’s attention on Indian hospitality. For his work with Oberoi Hotels, the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences recognized him in 1998 with the “Hotelier of the Year” award.

Many of his past projects still today top the list of some of the leading industry awards, including Condé Nast Traveller, winning “Best Spa” honors.

During his down time, Ingo finds quiet moments for his true passion: photography and traveling off the beaten path, where he enjoys combining the discovery of new countries and their people with the practice of yoga, often practicing with well-renowned yoga masters around the globe.