Trained in Florence and rising to excel among international competitions, he is now elected number one by a prestigious network. Simone Giorgi talks about his modern vision of hospitality, without forgetting traditional hospitality.
The News
Between the scent of the banks of the Arno and the hectic days of Milan, Simone Giorgi is now an international hospitality icon. A native of Florence, Giorgi was recently awarded the title of “Hotelier of the Year” by the Virtuoso network, during Travel Week in Las Vegas, a key luxury industry event. An accolade that touched his heart, so much so that he shed a few tears of joy when, in Palazzo Vecchio, he received his city's tribute.
Giorgi began his training right in Florence, attending the Aurelio Saffi Hotelier Institute. But it was at Enoteca Pinchiorri, temple of Tuscan gastronomy, that he found the inspiration for a career made of dedication and sacrifice. Later, his journey took him from Switzerland to England to the United States, where he furthered his education at Cornell University.
“Putting people at the center,”, says Giorgi (interviewed here by The Nation) is the key to his success. In an age when artificial intelligence and digitization are advancing in leaps and bounds, he stands out precisely because of a human approach: building authentic bonds with guests and employees is the secret that he believes makes a hotel a special place. It is a message he often reiterates to young people aspiring to the hospitality industry: “Less virtual, more real. Travel, experience, compare. That's how you grow."
Today Giorgi runs the Park Hyatt in Milan, one of the city's most exclusive hotels, but his bond with Florence remains unbreakable. “Every milestone I also dedicate to my city, “ he confesses, proudly describing his roots...and his support for Fiorentina!
