Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., today announced that Dr Natale Rusconi has decided to step down from his role as Managing Director of Hotel Cipriani, Venice, and Vice President of Orient-Express Hotels on 31st December 2007 after 30 years of dedicated service to the company.
“Natale’s gracious style and unparalleled skills in hotel management at the very highest level have made his name, and that of the Hotel Cipriani, famous throughout the world. We are indebted to him,” said Adrian Constant, Vice President, European Hotel Operations and Development, Orient-Express Hotels.
It is hoped that Dr Rusconi will continue his association with Orient-Express Hotels in an executive advisory role, where his experience, expertise and eye for detail can be called upon.
Maurizio Saccani, Managing Director of the company’s three other hotels in Italy - Hotel Splendido, Villa San Michele and Hotel Caruso – will expand his responsibilities to include Hotel Cipriani from 1st September 2007, when he will assume the role of Managing Director, Italy.
A search is underway for a new General Manager for Hotel Cipriani, who will report to Mr Saccani.
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Note to Editors:
Natale Rusconi was appointed Managing Director of Hotel Cipriani in 1977. Acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest hotel keepers, he has created the finest hotel in Venice and was President of the Villa San Michele in Fiesole, acquired by the Cipriani in 1981 and of the Splendido, acquired in 1985.
Dr Rusconi comes from a long line of hoteliers; both his father and grandfather owned hotels, and indeed he was born in a hotel – the Hotel Argentina in Milan, which belonged to his grandfather. Dr Rusconi was educated in the Swiss School of Milano, where he learnt to speak French and German. He is also fluent in English and holds a Doctorate in Latin Literature and History.
In 1959, after 5 years of work in his mother’s hotel in Milan, he moved to London and worked at the Savoy Hotel, where he had previously been for a year (1954) as a trainee. He then returned to Italy where he joined the Head Office of the CIGA Group as Assistant to Mr Giorgio Campione, Managing Director of the Italian Company, where he was for three years, with responsibility for the marketing activities of the Group.
In 1963 he was appointed Resident Manager of the Gritti Palace and was then promoted, in 1968, to General Manager of the Grand Hotel in Rome. At the end of 1972 he returned to the Gritti Palace as General Manager, where he consolidated his reputation as an Hotelier par excellence and as a renowned expert on food and wine. In 1976 he was named Assistant to the President of CIGA Hotels, who had acquired three well-known hotels in Paris, the Grand Hotel and Café de Paris, the Meurice and the Prince de Galles. He represented CIGA Hotels in Paris until 1977, when the hotels were sold.
Dr Rusconi has promoted cultural activities by supporting Venice in Peril and Save Venice and founded the Venetian Committee for the restoration of the Basilica of Saints John and Paul. He organised exhibitions for noted artists, concerts and the first Hotel School in Italy for international gourmet cooking. Dr Rusconi has written and translated a number of books on international cuisine and restaurant techniques and in 1954, he founded the Northern Italian Cooks Association, which now has several thousand members.
Dividing his time between Florence, Portofino and Ravello, Maurizio Saccani is known throughout the world for his hands-on approach to luxury hospitality and his commitment to the highest standards of guest service. Starting with Villa San Michele in 1985, he has spearheaded the operations of these landmark Italian hotels, each famous for their distinctive style, rich heritage, luxurious accommodation, personalised service and award-winning cuisine. He started his Orient-Express career with Natale Rusconi at Hotel Cipriani as food and beverage manager in 1978 and went on to join the newly restored Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as Manager, Italy.
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Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises (www.orient-express.com) is a hotel and leisure company providing luxury travel experiences for discerning travellers in areas of outstanding cultural, historic or recreational interest. Founded in 1976 when the company acquired Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Orient-Express owns or has investments in 49 businesses: 39 highly individual hotels, two restaurants, six tourist trains and two river cruise operations, located in 22 countries worldwide. The company believes that discerning travellers will choose a famous individual property in preference to a chain brand, so none of its businesses is called Orient-Express except the fabled Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train which operates through Europe, linking London, Paris and Venice.
For further information, please contact:
Pippa Isbell
Vice President Public Relations
Tel: (0207) 921 4065
Fax: (0207) 921 4193
e-mail: pippa.isbell@orient-express.com
Victoria Legg
Director of Public Relations
Tel: (0207) 921 4067
Fax: (0207) 921 4193
vicky.legg@orient-express.com
Language: English 
