Christoph Karl Franzen

He is the CEO of Aureus Advisors LLC

Career Franzen began his career with a chef apprenticeship at Gourmet Restaurant Wart in Hünenberg, Switzerland, in 1986, followed by a sommelier apprenticeship at Hotel and Restaurant La Porte d'Octodure in Martigny. By 1991, he transitioned into management roles, including Food & Beverage Manager at Gourmet Restaurant Glashof and Director of Food & Beverage at Kofler Inn Side in Germany, where he oversaw several pre-opening projects. He later gained international experience with roles in the U.S. and Australia, including at The Inn on Fifth and Hotel Kurrajong.

Chris joined Hyatt in 1999 and worked at the Hyatt Regency Dubai, followed by Grand Hyatt Muscat, Park Hyatt Moscow, Grand Hyatt Dubai, the Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas, the Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel & Residences in India till 2021.

In 2022, Franzen served as General Manager at Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, opening the hotel ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

In April 2024, Franzen became managing director of Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, owned by Katara Hospitality and is a Qatari sovereign wealth fund. The same year, he hosted and managed the Ukraine Peace Summit, Switzerland's largest political conference.

Franzen is the CEO of Aureus Advisors LLC, where he provides luxury hospitality consulting.

Franzen was featured in Schweiz Aktuell for managing Switzerland's largest political conference, the Ukraine Peace Summit (2024).

USA, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan Peace Summit In June 2026, Under the leadership of Chris K. Franzen, the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne hosted the 2025–2026 Iran–United States Lake Lucerne Peace Summit in Central Switzerland, serving as the venue for diplomatic talks between the United States, Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan.

TV Appearance He also starred in the documentary Abenteuer am Golf, broadcast on Swiss and German national TV.