Hong Kong, 7 October 2021 The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) is delighted to announce that the French Government has bestowed the distinction of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier dans l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole on HSH Chief Operating Officer, Mr Peter Borer, at a private ceremony held at The Peninsula Hong Kong on 6 October 2021.  

The Order of the Légion d'Honneur was established by Napoléon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802.  It is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer), and Grand Croix (Grand Cross).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Consul General of France to Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Alexandre Giorgini, said, “This ceremony is absolutely exceptional as I will bestow upon Mr Borer not one, but two prominent distinctions. In recognition of his outstanding work with France and with French companies, his unwavering commitment to the Peninsula project in Paris, and his dedication to the promotion of France’s gastronomic culture, the French Government has decided to bestow upon Mr Borer the titles of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier dans l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole.”

Mr Borer said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been bestowed with the honour of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur and Chevalier dans l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole. I would like to thank the French Government and the Consulate of France in Hong Kong and Macau for giving me this recognition and honour, which I would like to share with all my colleagues and friends. The Peninsula has had a long association with France and opening The Peninsula Paris, our first Peninsula in Europe, was one of the proudest moments in our company’s history. This accolade is bestowed in the name of service and therefore I would like to dedicate these two medals to my late parents, who taught me from an early age what a privilege and honour it is to serve others.”

Mr Borer joined HSH in 1981 and was appointed General Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong in 1994, taking on additional regional responsibility in 1999. He was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the group in April 2004. Mr Borer is a graduate of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland and is now a member of the International Advisory Board of the school. In 2019, he was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alumni Network of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.  He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a member of Advisory Council of Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital. 

About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (Stock Code: 45)

Incorporated in 1866 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited is the holding company of a group which is engaged in the ownership, development, and management of prestigious hotels and commercial and residential properties in key locations in Greater China, Europe, United States and Asia, as well as the operation of the Peak Tram, retail and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula London, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Istanbul, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula Bangkok and The Peninsula Manila. The property portfolio of the group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and St. John's Building in Hong Kong, and 21 avenue Kléber in Paris, France. The Peak Tram, Retail and Others portfolio of the group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong; The Quail in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong.

For further information on this release, please contact:

Websites: www.hshgroup.com www.peninsula.com