Hotel Haya Welcomes Laura Maldonado as General Manager

The luxury hospitality group Kempinski Hotels is proud to announce the arrival of Massimo Brancaleoni as of 1 November 2024. Amanda Elder steps down to pursue other opportunities. An Italian national, Massimo Brancaleoni, who most recently held the position of Senior Vice President Sales and Revenues at Silversea Cruises, brings over 25 years of commercial experience to his new role as Chief Commercial Officer. He has a proven track record of leading large teams and developing profitable global sales strategies. Massimo spent a significant part of his career, a total of 20 years, with the cruise ship company Costa Crociere. He began as Pricing & Revenue Management Director, and then progressed to become Vice President Asia Pacific Operations, Vice President Worldwide Sales Services and was later promoted to Senior Vice President Global Sales. Throughout his various positions, he worked in locations such as Paris, Genoa, Hong Kong, Madrid, Miami and Monaco. Brancaleoni was educated at the University of Economics in Genoa and the IESE Business School in Barcelona. Since 2022, he has been a guest lecturer in the Economics of Cruise, Ferry and Yachting Industries at Università degli Studi di Genova. “We are thrilled to welcome Massimo, a seasoned tourism leader with an international background and immense strategic expertise. With his in-depth knowledge in Pricing & Revenue Management, Commercial Planning and Operations as well as in Digital Transformation, he will be a great asset to Kempinski in shaping the growth and success as we move into a new era,” states Barbara Muckermann, Chief Executive Officer Kempinski Group. “At the same time, we thank Amanda Elder for her incredible commitment to our company over the past nine years and her outstanding motivational and inspiring leadership. We wish her only the best of success for her future and look forward to welcoming her again as a guest in one of our hotels around the globe.” “I am very honoured to join Kempinski Hotels at this exciting point in time”, says Massimo Brancaleoni on his appointment. “As the company is working on a new global strategy and will be reviving the brand over the coming years, I am more than happy to be part of this journey and to shape the future of this iconic luxury hotel group as we move forward.”

Embracing the Six Senses philosophy of placing sustainability at the core of its operations, Six Senses Fort Barwara is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mr. Rohit Saini as the new Sustainability Director. With a deep-seated passion for driving impactful environmental change, Rohit is set to enhance the resort's commitment to transformative practices. Rohit’s journey in sustainability commenced with a degree in Urban and Environmental Planning, which further paved the way for a career in consulting focused on pivotal projects related to Circular Economy, sustainability, plastic and marine pollution, and waste management across India. His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with notable organizations such as the World Bank, the European Union, and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK. His work supported marginalized communities and addressed the challenges of over-tourism and waste management in various regions. A transformative experience in the Himalayas ignited Rohit’s commitment to sustainable hospitality. Witnessing the environmental toll of unchecked hotel waste disposal and the need for greater tourist awareness in eco-sensitive regions, Rohit shifted his focus to improving sustainability within the hospitality sector. At Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rohit will spearhead initiatives to enhance sustainability in energy, water, and waste management. His role involves implementing effective data capture and monitoring systems to ensure the minimization of the negative impact on the environment. In addition, Rohit will lead community outreach efforts at Six Senses Fort Barwara, including providing clean water access to local communities, thereby fostering a broader sense of responsibility beyond the resort’s boundaries. "I am delighted to have Rohit as our new Sustainability Director at Six Senses Fort Barwara. Rohit's extensive experience and passion for working in the sustainability space align perfectly with our Six Senses philosophy. His approach will undoubtedly support our vision of adapting transformative practices, ensuring that our operations continue to emanate ecological responsibility and community engagement,” said Mr Aaron McGrath, Regional General Manager of Six Senses Fort Barwara. "Rohit Saini’s noteworthy background in driving impactful environmental change and his dedication to improving practices within the hospitality sector are invaluable assets. We look forward to witnessing Rohit’s leadership in advancing our initiatives in environment management, as well as his efforts in extending our commitment to the local community,” said Mr Rajat Gera, Commercial Director of Six Senses Fort Barwara.

As General Manager at Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha brings his wealth of luxury hospitality experience to the resort, with the goal to become one of Europe's most celebrated hotels. With previous experience at properties with exceptional service standards, Duarte holds a core belief in the inherent nobility of serving others, both his guests and the teams he integrates and leads. Throughout his career, Duarte has worked at four Aman Resorts in Morocco, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Montenegro, as well as Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol. Most recently, he distinguished himself as General Manager for Discovery Hotel Management, leading the team at Octant Douro in Portugal for the past four years. Duarte holds degrees in Hotel Management and Strategic Marketing from Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland and has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.