I want to add something about the private Curt whom I got to know very well after retirement. I cherish the memories of our joint vacation trips during the past 25 years, from skiing in Snowmass, and other parts of Colorado, visits to his farm, to leisure boat cruises with his friends, the Kritziks, off the Turkish coast, city trips to London, Munich, Florence, Salzburg, Altaussee, Innsbruck, North Cyprus and many other places.
Although he travelled all his life, it was amazing that he never grew tired of moving about.
Curt was always full of energy, whether on his cross country skis, or when we were ice skating together in Seefeld, Tyrol. As a fellow Viennese he had nostalgic memories of his childhood in Vienna, despite the sad event of his father's sudden death when staying at the Hotel Sacher. We explored his old haunts in the city quite a few times, visiting museums and art exhibitions with particular interest in the work of famous painter Klimt, who was influential in the early artistic development of Curt's mother.
In his private life, Curt was more tolerant than in his professional demands. Unique proof is his permission to allow me lighting up my cigar in his Snowmass living room, otherwise a strict no-go. There are many other examples of Curt's easy going attitude when off duty. I, and my wife Monika, will always remember and cherish the days and weeks we were privileged to spend in Curt's company.
Last time we exchanged views, Curt had only two wishes, one: - to complete the hundred, and two: a new occupant in the White House. He nearly made the first but would be happy to learn that the second wish was granted. I will let him know somehow. 

During the last several months of Curt’s life, Caroline and I had the privilege of spending Saturday evenings with him. For us Canadians, the pandemic meant that we couldn’t return home—we were stuck in paradise, hiking the valley’s magnificent mountain trails and tending to our spectacular garden. For Curt COVID was much harder to take. The Snowmass Club gym, where he’d become an iconic figure, was off limits. And his favourite restaurants, where he enjoyed holding court, were closed. So, as the weekend approached, we’d find ourselves signing in with Curt to coordinate a martini-and-nibbles summit.

We usually arrived around six; Curt wouldn’t have us at a less civilized, earlier hour. Invariably Barbara Lynn, or one of the thoughtful elves she had summoned to Curt’s side, joined us. And before long, we were deep into discussing the state of the world and, more specifically, America’s many woes. Yet, no matter how disagreeable the topic of our discourse, Curt never lost his composure. The hand cradling his Woody Creek martini remained steady, the insights he presented were as sharp as they would have been twenty years earlier, and his faith in mankind’s future remained untainted.

The last of these martini summits took place less than weeks before his passing. Despite his curtailed social life and the fact that his legs no longer carried him, Curt was still optimistic. Things would soon return to normal and he’d once more get together with his friends, this time to celebrate his 100th. We saw Curt one more time. By now, he’d withdrawn to a place of humility and grace; he was accepting what lay ahead. Both his appreciation of life and his surrender to death were indescribably inspiring.

Thank you, Curt, for teaching us how to live and how to die well. 

I met Curt or better Mr Strand as he was referred to by my generation in 1970 at the opening of the Hilton Düsseldorf and one couldn’t help but be in awe in his presence - he commanded respect but gave respect to everybody at any level of corporate hierarchy. Curt was a true leader who had vision and enormous positive influence on not only Hilton International but our industry in general. Great testimony in this regard was his recognition for the need of ongoing education and training of managers with the creation of CDI. Testimony to his great intellect was his ability to get important, complicated messages across with a few words where other needed paragraphs and pages. RIP Mr STRAND
Manfred 

I will always remember Curt Strand as a legendary hotelier and the pioneer of iconic luxury hotels around the world. He would personally attend each opening and aim to re-visit property once a year. He would have an anecdote to tell about each and everyone of them. For us youngsters, he gained the highest degree of professional recognition and personal respect. His legacy will always live on.

Curt Strand was the Leader from day one of the creation of the new-born company “Hilton International”.
I remember the day when our founder, owner and President Conrad Hilton decided to separate Hilton Hotels into Hilton Hotels Corp and Hilton International. Curt was the first President of Hilton International, until the company was sold to Ladbroke, and he remained as consultant.
Curt was kept as President with Trans World Airlines and the short period with United Airlines (Westin Hotels, Hertz Rent-a-car, an International publishing company and Hilton International). Curt was named President for life by HI Old-Timers Alumni members.
Curt Strand was an icon, he was brilliant, kind-hearted, and compassionate; to know him was to love him. He will be greatly missed in the future.
Moises Rivas

"Curt was larger than life!
He inspired generations of hoteliers world-wide and he brought H. I. to a level of excellence that was envoys the competitors.Curt is a man of utmost integrity who has a brilliant mind and great humor.
Our friendship flourished during his retirement years and during my time of personal challenges. He was always there for me.
Lucy and I will miss and forever cherish him in our hearts.
Lucy and Helmut Hoermann

Curt... As you ones said it is important in life to-be in the right place at the right time. Together with my wife Tina, it was our good fortune to be in that place at that right time meaning our paths crossed thanks to your lovely wife Fleur. Simple pasttimes, but wonderful times.
You were a pioneer and yours was the light I followed, shining like a beacon, and which gave me the confidence to persevere. Thank you, will never forget.
Peter and Tina van der Vliet

HI Old-Timers Alumni
c/o Michael Schützendorf, Chairman
Alumni: hi-old timers@gmx.de
Private: michael@schuetzendorf.de



A tribute to Curt Strand
November 23, 2020


The following messages were received from our members, retired General Managers and Executives of Hilton International:

Jutta El Husseini contributes from Egypt :
"Curt Strand, as young Austrian Man, went to the USA and became the Pioneer of the Hotel Industry worldwide."

Ulrich Wolffram writes:
Mr. Kurt Strand was a visionary manager with a great sense of humor.

An excerpt from Canadian Ed Robinson:
I was amazed at his ability to recall names of his employees and to regurgitate facts about any hotel at will

Allan Robinson, his brother and a fellow Hotel General Managers in the Caribbean
Curt was in my opinion the consummate gentleman disguised as a highly effective CEO and President of HI. Totally human and caring for his Company and its Executives and staff.

Jan Oudendijk, also from the Caribbean, honours Curt
A pioneer of the International Hospitality industry and a Mentor to many

Michael Specking, General Manager at the Hilton Prague:
My tribute to Curt is that he inspired me to be different – take up challenges as they come, deal with them and succeed best.







Manfred Pieper, retired General Manager of the Hilton Guam and the Conrad Bangkok honors Curt:
it is rare to have the privilege to work with someone like “Mr Strand“, as he was to most of us, who combines vision, business acumen, hotel expertise and leadership including great empathy for people - he was brilliant in getting the message across with precision in the fewest possible words”

Albert Wechsel from Germany says
You passionately shaped the international hospitality industry, creating immense career opportunities for people, including me, and your life story reads like a
captivating fairytale

The widow of the founder of our HI Old-Timers Alumni, Marianne Florijn, remembers:
Because of Curt, Eddy and I had the privilege to be transferred to New York for him to open the first Vista Intern. Hotel in USA as well as our visits to their different homes. Curt and Fleur have given me fond memories.

Peter van der Vliet, Vice President in Europe:
“Great leadership is standing by your people, in the good times and the bad times…….. You were truly a role model! ”

Marie T. Dobson, Retired President & CEO, Hilton Reservation Service 
My fondest remembrance of Curt was in a congratulatory letter he sent me from the Berlin Hilton when he was General Manager for my promotion to Manager in the early 1960’s in which he simply wrote: “Just remember, I knew you when” and then his encouragement continued for the next 30 years!


Gabi Bonde, widow of Sr. Vice President Olaf Bonde, and personal friends of Curt:
If not for my dear, beloved Olaf, I would never have had the opportunity to experience such a very special friendship like we had with Curt............we will all meet again

Arenda Weishaupt-Spiele completes these tributes to Curt Strand with
"When Curt hired me in 1959 he showed that already then he valued a woman as much as a man, and this he proved throughout his career - how lucky I was!"


Correction e-mail address: hi-alumni@gmx.de

fifty years of memories with Curt, Fleur and Karen, and on my side -- with my late wife Shirley my children Elizabeth and Bill, and grandkids Alli, Lila, Will, Levi and Samantha. Skiing, safaris in Africa, trips to New York, voyages, Thanksgiving dinners, Curt's colleagues including Norbert and Monica, mutual friends (Campbell, Ewald, Robinson, Saunders and others). Truly, four season friendships and world-wide adventures.
Curt would say at the end of a powder ski day: "that was a perfect ten!" Indeed, he was a perfect ten himself. Only regret -- he exited before Trump, but not by much.

Stanley Kritzik
Milwaukee, WI
skritzik@metapts.com

I have a few stories I like to tell about Curt. I was his and Fleur’s attorney and we met many times in my office over the past 20 years.
1. When Curt and Fleur would meet in my office, we would often discuss New York, and politics. We were talking about New York City at one meeting, I believe during the George W. Bush administration, and Curt said, “Garbage collectors make more money in New York than school teachers. Imagine that—garbage collectors making more than teachers! What kind of a society would do that?” I can still hear his indignation.
2. Curt was working with Conrad Hilton shortly after WW2 in the Plaza Hotel in NYC; they had one other employee, a secretary I believe. Hilton, a banker, took an interest in hotels. The way Curt told the story, Conrad asked him to look into the business, and appointed Curt, barely 25, to run with it. Today, there are 575 Hilton Hotels.
3. Curt liked to talk about building the Hilton Hotel in Cairo. He told the architects to go to Cairo, spend a couple of weeks getting to know the city and its inhabitants, and to travel the country so they could get a feel for the country before they put a pencil to paper and began designing the hotel. Curt said the Cairo hotel today is a prime wedding venue for local Egyptians, and that made him feel very satisfied, knowing that he had come into a foreign city and built a hotel the locals liked. He said that was true of all their hotels; the locals were often their biggest patrons.
4. Curt liked to eat at the Viceroy in Snowmass. He took my family to dinner there and I felt like we were in the presence of royalty. The maître ‘d and waiters knew him well, and he was not afraid to display his impatience with slow service. I imagined that I was shadowing Curt before he had retired, touring his hotels and training his staff to run the best hotels in the world.
Ken Ransford, Basalt