Ahead of the reopening planned for 2027 of Grand Hotel Locarno, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Lake Maggiore, the team that will lead the next chapter of one of Lake Maggiore's most iconic historic hotels is taking shape. With three new appointments to key roles, the property continues on its path towards reopening: Viviana Anselmi, as Commercial Director, will lead the hotel's commercial strategies and international positioning; Mihaela Ioana Ardelean, the new Director of Rooms, will bring her experience in operations and guest hospitality; Giovanni Vercellini, appointed Director of Human Resources, will oversee team development and corporate culture, laying the foundations for a new phase of growth.
Viviana Anselmi, Commercial Director
With more than 25 years of experience in international hospitality, Viviana Anselmi brings established expertise in sales, marketing and strategic brand positioning. She recently served as Director of Sales & Marketing for Miramis Italy, overseeing the commercial strategies of the group's luxury properties. Previously, she led sales and marketing activities at Hotel Regency Firenze and Hotel Lord Byron in Rome, both members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
At Grand Hotel Locarno, she will be responsible for strengthening the hotel's presence in international markets and developing strategic partnerships, helping to define the property's positioning ahead of its reopening.
«Giving renewed international visibility to a property with almost 150 years of history is a special challenge. We want to inspire curiosity and interest in Grand Hotel Locarno while preserving its unmistakable identity». Viviana Anselmi, Commercial Director
Mihaela Ioana Ardelean, Director of Rooms
With more than 20 years of experience in international hospitality, Mihaela Ioana Ardelean combines solid managerial and operational skills with a particular focus on the quality of hospitality and guest care.
Over the course of her career, she has gained experience at prestigious international properties, including Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Conrad Dubai, IHG Hotels Dubai Festival City and Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà, near Verona. As Deputy General Manager of Hotel Caesius Thermae & Spa Resort on Lake Garda, she coordinated hotel operations with a team of 132 employees. More recently, she served as Events Manager at Kulm Hotel St. Moritz.
At Grand Hotel Locarno, she will lead the Rooms division during preparations for the reopening, helping to define service standards and the guest experience.
«Extraordinary hospitality often reveals itself in the smallest details. Our aim is to create an atmosphere in which every guest feels warmly welcomed and can count on genuine, consistent attention throughout their stay». Mihaela Ioana Ardelean, Director of Rooms
Giovanni Vercellini, Director of Human Resources
Giovanni Vercellini has gained significant experience in human resources management and luxury hotel operations. In his most recent role as Cluster HR Manager, he coordinated HR activities at Swiss Diamond Hotel Lake Lugano and Swiss Diamond Boutique Hotel La Romantica, overseeing a combined workforce of up to 180 employees. Previously, he held operational roles at prestigious properties such as Villa Principe Leopoldo, Castadiva Resort & Spa and Lefay Resort & Spa.
At Grand Hotel Locarno, he will be responsible for recruitment and onboarding, as well as developing a culture of hospitality that reflects the property's identity and values.
«An extraordinary hotel comes to life through the people who help define its identity every day. We want to build a team capable of interpreting and enhancing, with authentic passion, the history and personality of Grand Hotel Locarno». Giovanni Vercellini, Director of Human Resources
With these three appointments, Grand Hotel Locarno takes another step towards its reopening in 2027. In the coming months, additional managers will join the leadership team, progressively completing the organisational structure ahead of the hotel's return.
«With Viviana, Mihaela and Giovanni, we welcome three highly experienced professionals who share our vision for Grand Hotel Locarno. Together, we want to preserve this property's historical and cultural heritage and bring a new vision of hospitality to Lake Maggiore, defined by personal attention and excellence». Marco Montagnani, General Manager of Grand Hotel Locarno
Grand Hotel Locarno, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa
Grand Hotel Locarno is one of Switzerland's most historic grand hotels. Opened in 1876, this Belle Époque gem overlooking Lake Maggiore has become one of the landmarks of Ticino's social and cultural life. In 1925, the hotel hosted the negotiations that led to the Locarno Treaties; in 1946, its gardens provided the setting for the beginnings of the Locarno Film Festival. Following a major restoration, Grand Hotel Locarno will reopen in 2027, beginning a new chapter in its history of almost 150 years. As part of The Luxury Collection by Marriott International, the hotel will combine its historic elegance with a contemporary interpretation of luxury and the unique character of Lake Maggiore. The original frescoes, elaborate stuccowork and historic stone features have been carefully restored. At the heart of the hotel remains its great Murano glass chandelier, approximately 20 metres high and suspended in the imposing entrance hall, considered the largest of its kind in Europe. Grand Hotel Locarno will offer 110 rooms and suites, many with private balconies or terraces overlooking Lake Maggiore, the historic gardens or the surrounding mountains. The Casa Rossa, characterised by Moorish, Venetian and Art Nouveau influences, is one of the historic complex's most distinctive spaces. Elegant reception rooms, a historic ballroom and an extraordinary Grotto of approximately 500 square metres will provide an ideal setting for receptions, cultural events and private celebrations. The culinary offering also reflects the property's position between Switzerland and Italy: a restaurant devoted to Mediterranean cuisine reinterprets the culinary traditions of Ticino and Italy, while a second offers a contemporary interpretation of Asian cuisine. The historic lobby will once again welcome an elegant bar, reaffirming its role as a place to meet and socialise. The offering is completed by extensive wellness and fitness facilities, with an 80-square-metre indoor pool inspired by Ticino's grottoes, an outdoor pool, four treatment rooms, a 138-square-metre fitness area and a poolside bar. With its reopening, Grand Hotel Locarno will once again become a cultural icon of Lake Maggiore: a place where Swiss elegance and Mediterranean atmospheres meet the Italian Dolce Vita, a history deeply rooted in the region and a new vision of contemporary luxury.
Arabella Hospitality SE
Arabella Hospitality, the hotel management company of the Schörghuber Group, manages 17 properties in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Mallorca, twelve of which are owned by the Schörghuber Group. The hotels operate under leading Marriott brands, including St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio and Residence Inn. The portfolio also includes two properties under the company's own Arabella brand, both in the upscale resort segment. Since autumn 2023, Rosewood Munich, the ultra-luxury brand's first property in Germany, has enriched the country's hotel portfolio. It was followed in summer 2024 by Rosewood Schloss Fuschl in Austria's Salzburg region. Completing the group's profile is Arabella Golf, the brand that brings together four company-owned golf courses in Mallorca and various marketing partnerships with other golf courses in Germany and Switzerland. Arabella Hospitality is part of the Schörghuber Group, which, in addition to hospitality, operates successfully at national and international level in property development, real estate, beverages and seafood. www.arabella.com
Sources and images: Grand Hotel Locarno / Debora Agostini, Melchior press release. Complete editorial text in English translation; photographs supplied with the release.
