With more than 30 years of experience as an international hotelier, Hans van der Reijden is recognized
around the world as a visionary leader and trusted expert.
A native of Holland, Hans began his hospitality career at a young age in a 2-Star Michelin restaurant,
followed by stints in Antwerp, Belgium and on board the ships of the Holland America Line before
joining The Ritz-Carlton. He excelled within the organization, opening numerous hotels around the
world and developing a close relationship with company founder and legendary hotelier Horst Schulze.
During his time with The Ritz-Carlton, Hans saw first-hand the impact of an organization focused not
just on delivering exceptional service for guests, but also on creating a rich employee-focused company
culture.
When Schulze founded Capella Hotel Group (CHG) in 2003, he called upon Hans to help bring his
vision to life. As a partner at Capella, Hans worked alongside Schulze to take the legendary model of
service and culture created at Ritz-Carlton one step further, catering to the emerging ultra-luxury guest
seeking a highly individualized hotel experience. This new role brought Hans to Auburn, AL to oversee
operations and educational initiatives at The Hotel at Auburn University as well as the partnership
between CHG and Auburn University’s Hospitality Management Program. Auburn University asked
Hans to lead the development of a world-class, first of its kind, center for hospitality education with a
strong commercial component. The process would take more than a decade to come to fruition, but it
played a large part in Hans’ decision to stay in Auburn when CHG was sold in 2017.
Following the sale of Capella Hotel Group, Hans decided to pursue a longtime dream: launching his
own hospitality management company. He established Ithaka Hospitality Partners (IHP) in 2018 and
has served as the company’s Founder & CEO since its inception. Instead of following the playbook of
global hotel management companies, Hans chose to study and cater to the younger generations of
travelers who look for unique experiences rather than a brand name. This approach allows IHP to bring
each concept to life in a completely unique way, unbound by brand standards. IHP currently has nine
hotels and three food halls in development in diverse markets including Sonoma, California; Portland,
Maine; Exuma, Bahamas; and Bordeaux, France.
In August 2022, Hans and IHP, along with their academic counterparts, celebrated the grand opening
of the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, the culmination of more than ten years of work to
bring a world-class facility for Auburn University’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management to
life. IHP serves as the commercial partner for the 155,000 square foot, 127 milion dollar facility,
managing operations and academic integrations at The Laurel Hotel & Spa, 1856 – Culinary Residence
restaurant, and Hey Day Market food hall.
Hans’ personal dedication to exceptional hospitality and unwavering commitment to achieving
excellence impacts all aspects of IHP. Hans embodies servant leadership, ensuring everyone around
him – from IHP team members, to students, owners, developers, and guests – feel comfortable, cared
for, and valued. His boundless energy and enthusiasm have raised the bar for the hospitality industry in
Auburn and beyond, and the impact of his passion for developing the next generation of hospitality
leaders will be felt for generations to come.