Shedir Collection Appoints Simone Giorgi as CEO and Executive Asset Manager

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September 2, 2026 2:50 PM |

Shedir Collection has appointed Simone Giorgi as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Asset Manager, strengthening its leadership structure as the Italian luxury hospitality group prepares for its next phase of consolidation and growth.

The newly created dual role brings corporate leadership, hotel asset management and operational strategy under one executive remit.

Giorgi will work closely with Shedir Collection founder Eduardo Safdie and partners Dario Di Domenico and Gianluca De Micheli as the group develops its portfolio and seeks further opportunities in the Italian and international luxury hospitality market.

The appointment is designed to advance a more integrated approach in which hotel operations, asset enhancement, development, investment and brand positioning are managed as interconnected parts of the same strategy.

For Shedir Collection, the move comes as luxury hotel ownership and management models continue to evolve, with operators and investors increasingly looking for ways to combine strong property performance with long-term asset value and distinctive brand experiences.

A strategy connecting ownership, operations and development

Giorgi’s responsibilities will extend beyond the conventional duties of a hotel group chief executive.

As Executive Asset Manager, he will also focus on how individual properties and the wider portfolio can be enhanced, developed and operated more effectively.

The group’s stated strategy places particular emphasis on asset enhancement, portfolio development, operational performance, brand positioning and new strategic opportunities.

This approach reflects an increasingly integrated model in luxury hospitality.

Hotel owners are not only concerned with occupancy and room revenue. They also consider the long-term value of real estate, capital investment, positioning, distribution, brand equity and the ability of an asset to compete within its destination.

By combining the CEO and Executive Asset Manager positions, Shedir Collection is seeking to align these considerations within a single strategic framework.

PropCo and OpCo models become part of the growth strategy

A further element of the group’s plans is the development of PropCo/OpCo models.

In hospitality, PropCo generally refers to the property-owning entity, while OpCo refers to the operating company responsible for running the hotel.

Separating ownership and operations can provide hotel groups and investors with greater flexibility when structuring investments, partnerships and management arrangements.

Shedir Collection intends to use closer integration between ownership, investment, hotel management and brand development as part of its future growth strategy.

For the group, the objective is not simply to add properties but to create a structure that can support sustainable expansion while maintaining control over the guest experience and the value of its assets.

Giorgi’s combination of hotel management and strategic experience is particularly relevant to this model.

Giorgi brings more than 30 years of luxury hospitality experience

The appointment gives Shedir Collection a senior executive with more than three decades of experience in international luxury hospitality.

Giorgi’s career has included operational, general management and strategic leadership positions across some of Italy’s prominent luxury hotel businesses.

His professional background began in Food & Beverage, including experience with Lungarno Collection and Park Hyatt Milano.

He subsequently became Director of Operations at Starhotels Luxury Collection, where his responsibilities extended across properties in Italy and international markets.

His career then progressed into general management roles at high-end hotels including Il Salviatino, Villa Cora and J.K. Place Capri.

That progression has given Giorgi experience across different types of luxury properties and destinations, from urban hotels to distinctive leisure-focused assets.

A return to Park Hyatt Milano

Giorgi returned to Park Hyatt Milano in 2018, taking on leadership of the luxury hotel while also undertaking a broader role within Hyatt’s Italian operations.

During this period, he contributed to the hotel’s positioning and held the position of Chairman of the Board for Hyatt in Italy.

His responsibilities also included involvement in the development of light-asset models and franchise agreements.

That experience is relevant to Shedir Collection’s current strategy because the group is examining more integrated approaches to ownership, investment, management and brand growth.

Rather than relying exclusively on traditional hotel ownership structures, hospitality companies can use management agreements, franchises, leases, partnerships and other arrangements to expand their brands while managing capital requirements.

Giorgi’s previous exposure to these models adds another layer to his new role.

Recognition across the international hospitality sector

Giorgi’s career has also received significant industry recognition.

In 2024, he received the Virtuoso Hotelier of the Year award, an international accolade associated with excellence in luxury hospitality.

He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI).

These distinctions add to a career that has been strongly associated with luxury hotel management in Italy.

His experience is particularly concentrated in properties where service standards, destination positioning and personalised guest experiences are important components of the commercial proposition.

Leadership at Orient Express La Minerva

Before taking up his new role at Shedir Collection, Giorgi assumed leadership of Orient Express La Minerva in Rome in 2025.

The property is part of the luxury hospitality revival of the historic Orient Express brand and is located in one of Europe’s most internationally recognised tourism destinations.

That most recent experience adds a further Rome-focused dimension to Giorgi’s career.

Shedir Collection itself has a strong presence in destinations including Rome and Capri, meaning his knowledge of the Italian luxury travel market is closely aligned with the group’s existing geographical focus.

His understanding of high-end hotel operations in Italy could therefore be relevant as Shedir evaluates further portfolio opportunities.

Rome and Capri remain important to the collection

Shedir Collection describes its properties as distinctive luxury assets located in highly sought-after destinations.

Rome and Capri are among the destinations associated with the collection.

Both markets have strong international recognition and attract travellers seeking luxury accommodation alongside cultural, culinary and leisure experiences.

Rome is one of Europe’s largest city tourism markets, with demand driven by heritage, culture, business and leisure travel.

Capri occupies a different position, with its appeal strongly connected to the Mediterranean landscape, luxury lifestyle and seasonal leisure tourism.

Operating in both environments requires different commercial and operational strategies.

A luxury hotel in a major capital city faces different competitive pressures from a destination resort or island property.

Giorgi’s career across urban hotels and destination-focused properties gives him experience relevant to these different operating environments.

Asset enhancement becomes a central priority

The emphasis on asset enhancement is likely to be particularly important under Giorgi’s new remit.

For luxury hotel groups, maintaining the physical and commercial quality of a property is an ongoing process.

Guest expectations change, competitors introduce new concepts and destinations evolve. Hotels therefore need continual investment in rooms, public spaces, food and beverage concepts, wellness, technology and service delivery.

Asset enhancement can also involve repositioning a property to target a different market segment or improve its competitive standing.

By placing asset management directly within the CEO role, Shedir Collection is signalling that property performance and long-term asset value will be closely linked to the group’s overall strategy.

Performance and brand growth move together

The group’s strategy also connects operational performance with brand development.

Luxury hospitality brands depend heavily on reputation. A hotel’s physical product can attract an initial booking, but service quality and the overall experience influence reviews, repeat visits, recommendations and long-term brand perception.

Operational performance therefore has implications beyond immediate financial results.

For Shedir Collection, strengthening individual properties while maintaining a recognisable brand identity could support broader portfolio growth.

The challenge will be ensuring that expansion does not compromise the distinctive character associated with each hotel.

What the appointment means for Italian luxury hospitality

Giorgi’s appointment highlights the growing importance of sophisticated asset and operating strategies within Italy’s luxury hotel market.

Italy remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for high-end tourism, supported by its historic cities, coastal destinations, food culture, art and architecture.

That attractiveness has also intensified competition for premium hotel assets.

International hotel groups, independent operators and investment companies continue to seek opportunities in the country’s most desirable destinations.

For a collection such as Shedir, the ability to identify appropriate properties, enhance their value and operate them to a consistent luxury standard can be central to long-term growth.

Giorgi’s combined responsibilities reflect this reality.

A broader role than conventional hotel management

The new CEO and Executive Asset Manager position gives Giorgi a mandate that extends beyond running individual hotels.

He will be involved in the group’s wider strategic evolution, including portfolio development, investment structures, asset enhancement and operational performance.

That makes the appointment significant for Shedir Collection’s corporate development as well as its hotel operations.

His career has already covered many of the disciplines required for such a role.

He has worked in Food & Beverage, rooms and hotel operations, general management, international luxury hospitality, brand positioning and strategic hotel structures.

He has also operated at both property and corporate levels.