Horst Schulze is President and CEO of The West Paces Hotel Group. Previously, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company from 2001 to 2002 and President and Chief Operating Officer of Ritz-Carlton since 1988. Under his leadership, the Group was awarded the 1992 and 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and has been continuously voted “best hotel company in the world” by convention and trade publications. In November of 1991, Mr. Schulze was recognized as "corporate hotelier of the world" by HOTELS Magazine. In 1995 he was also awarded the prestigious Ishikawa Medal for his personal contributions to the quality movement. Mr. Schulze is a recognized leader in the service world. His vision has indeed helped reshape customer service concepts in both the hospitality and the service industries. In 1999, Johnson & Wales University recognized him with an honorary Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management.

Today, Mr. Schulze serves as a director on several boards. These fine institutions include: Reliance Trust Company; Cancer Treatment Centers of America; The Travel Institute and Georgia Family Council.

Horst Schulze is a charter member of Ritz-Carlton, which he joined in January 1983 as vice president, Operations. In this capacity, he was instrumental in the conceptualization of the operating and service standards of the newly formed company. In 1987, Mr. Schulze was appointed executive vice president, and was later promoted to president and chief operating officer in February 1988. In this capacity, Mr. Schulze was responsible for the $2 billion Ritz-Carlton operations, worldwide.