WHAT ’ S HOT PEOPLE
SILVIO URSINI
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT , BULGARI , ROME
Ursini is in charge of the creative direction of the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts division and has effectively merged the brand with the operating template in a fiscally responsible manner .
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The founder of Obika Mozzarella Bar , a chain of 18 Italian restaurants worldwide , was Bulgari ’ s brand image and creative director through 2009 . Now he is working hard on the announced hotel project for Shanghai , which is due to open in early 2015 . Ursini says he is also finalizing negotiations on several new locations to be announced soon .
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While Ursini plays his hotel-related activities very close to his Bulgari vest , he says he is starting to work on the interior design refurbishment of the Bulgari hotel in Milan by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and partners . He says the hottest item in his inbox is a newsletter from the Green School in Bali , a project founded by John Hardy that combines education , environmental awareness and sustainable building . Long term , Ursini is seriously thinking about being more engaged in philanthropic activities . “ My experiences with Save The Children , both strategically and in the field , have been amongst the most rewarding in my entire life ,” he says .
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Tsogo Sun has been and continues to be highly expansive . Von Aulock says regulatory analysis and compliance programs to ensure these investments are properly authorized and operated are vital to achieving the promised returns . “ It ’ s the not-so-sexy but absolutely key ingredient in growing the business ,” he says .
Tsogo has focused on accumulating assets through the current recession , achieving a number of deals that would have been unaffordable or unavailable otherwise . The reverse listing through Gold Reef is the largest deal , bringing seven additional casinos into the group . It also acquired two smaller Century Casino operations in South Africa . It acquired the Formula 1 budget hotel business previously jointly owned with Accor , in addition to hotel businesses previously under management contracts with Southern Sun Hotels in Nairobi , Lagos and Hyde Park , South Africa .
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As the economy begins to show growth and sentiment improves , good deals will become harder to source , and Tsogo Sun ’ s focus will shift , von Aulock says . The company will more likely enter into green-field developments and expansions of existing operations , as it is doing with casino and hotel operations in South Africa and its hotel in Maputo , Mozambique .
James has been focusing on the “ new ” luxury customer and how Starwood ’ s luxury brands must first identify who they are and how they have changed , and then react with the proper mix of services and experiences . He hosted more than 100 luxury hotel GMs in Dubai in March to talk about what they must do to succeed in the current environment .
MARCEL
VON AULOCK
CEO , TSOGO SUN GROUP , BRYANSTON , SOUTH AFRICA
Von Aulock has worked his way up by overseeing acquisitions and pursuing an “ assetheavy ” strategy , having recently acquired a 75 % share of the Southern Sun hotel in Lagos , Nigeria .
PAUL JAMES
GLOBAL LUXURY BRAND LEADER , STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE , NEW YORK CITY
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James is looking after W Hotels Worldwide in addition to St . Regis and The Luxury Collection . Having just returned from a summit in Dubai , his inbox on Varick Street is filled with GM insights ranging from links to playlists from the hottest emerging DJs around the world who are vying to play at the W Verbier premiere event this December to a sneak peak at the concept of Stephanie Le Quellec ’ s new restaurant at the Prince de Galles , a Luxury Collection Hotel opening in Paris .
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James is focused on staying at the forefront of innovative thinking , creating design-led experiences and delivering consistent , personalized service with programs like the W Insider , St . Regis Butler and Luxury Collection Concierge . In fact , as a result of discussions at the summit in Dubai , Starwood plans to have butlers more engaged in the front of the house and concierges trained to understand how guests ’ needs have changed in the wired world .
26 HOTELS June 2013 www . hotelsmag . com