Founder – Massimo & Partners
Massimo Ianni has more than 40 years’ experience in the hospitality and tourism industries. His special expertise is in the startup of the financially oriented development of hotels and lifestyle concepts.
As an adviser/operator to several leading hospitality and tourism organizations, he is extremely well versed in creative customer-oriented marketing strategies as well as, hands- on sales activities in line with a solid sustainable branding philosophy.
His expertise also involves food and beverage, entertainment, and retail activities, focusing on human resources management and concept’s development, based on strong back of the house organization and technology.
He has also participated to several unique real estate ventures and member’s club concept development.
His focus is on Design and Customer Experience with a large Portfolio of international client’s relations, contributing with legendary Archistars, to curate and manage successful independent ventures. Massimo inspires through his passion the teams that he leads personally in the day-to- day operations, while dedicating personal time to his clients and guests.
Among his recent responsibilities, Massimo served as Global Head of Hospitality and Food and Beverage for the Pacha Group based in Ibiza, Spain.
He’s a current Member of the Advisory Committee of Palazzo Tornabuoni, a Four Seasons Residence Club, Florence, Italy.
He was CEO of Alrov Luxury Hotels (rebranded as The Set Hotels) responsible for the David Citadel and Mamilla in Jerusalem, the Lutetia in Paris, the Conservatorium in Amsterdam and the Café Royal in London. He has also acted as a Board Member of The Set Hotels as the Brand and Culture Guardian. The experience involved the management of the relationship with the 2 architects in charge of the development: David Chipperfield and Piero Lissoni.
Previously he was Acting Managing Director for Armani Hotels and Resorts and worked in close cooperation with Giorgio Armani for four years to plan and execute the opening of Armani Hotel and Residences in Dubai and the planning of Armani Hotel, Milan, including a diverse retail component.
He is presently consulting again for Giorgio Armani in a new innovative capacity for his future portfolio’s development.
He was also COO of the Faena Group’s Hospitality Division in South America & Europe, launching the region’s first mixed development project in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, working in close cooperation with Philippe Starck.
His time with the company culminated with a corporate position, supervising the hotel ‘s food and beverage operations for over 30 properties.
In 1998 he founded Massimo Ianni and Associates (MIA), a hospitality/tourism consulting firm with offices in Argentina. MIA’s clients included Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Alvear Palace and Vines Resort & SPA from Leading Hotels of the World, Andersen Consulting, Royal Class Private Jet Company, Destino Argentina – a Destination Promotion Board sponsored by the private sector.
Beyond Argentina, clients included Coral Reef University Centre (Mexico), Glion Hotel School (Switzerland), Bodegas O Fournier (Spain), General Electric Capital (Mexico).
MIA, became several years ago Massimo & Partners (M&P), expanding the scope to Europe and Middle East with a base in London/ Milan. With a team of several Senior Partners, M&P can provide 360 degrees consulting solution or a turnkey management option.
The latest clients from M&P have been: Paramount Hotels and Resorts based in Dubai, creating the brand proposition and all the operation’s manuals, Casa Fantini, in Lake Orta- Italy coordinating the entire development and opening.
Vines Resort and SPA in Mendoza-Argentina, coordinating the preopening and operational concept. M&P has been involved in the re -engineering of the management of Porto Piccolo, Sistaina, Italy and with the launch of a new Nature Retreat /Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
He is currently very active leading large-scale projects: Kulm Hotel St. Moritz for a total re positioning of this iconic expression of the Swiss hospitality industry, Palazzo Dell’Agricoltore in Parma an ambitious regeneration project by Chiesi & Bollati to create a Transformational Lab, led by Massimo and the Japanese archistar Kengo Kum, Concept and set up of an Experiencial Academy Uruguay , to become the first academy of rituals of excellence for the services, luxury and experiences fields in Latin America. Hipe Resort in Saudi Arabia in a joint venture with Piero Lissoni and Technogym, and finally the development and management of a large 800 rooms and suites Hotel in Caracas, Venezuela.
Massimo Ianni holds several honorary positions in some of the finest hospitality institutions and associations in North and South America. He is a graduate of Glion Hospitality Management School in Switzerland and a graduate in Hospitality from Kellogg School of Management.
He was born in 1963 in Vicenza, Italy, educated in Paris and speaks four languages fluently. Massimo has frequently participated as Guest Speaker in prestigious industry events and private events for prominent retail -hospitality and service-oriented brands.