Rocco Forte Hotels has announced the promotion of two long-serving colleagues.  Elena Bruno will take on the role of General Manager of Hotel de Russie in Rome, while Evelina Conti will assume the position of Director of Sales & Marketing responsible for Rocco Forte Hotels’ two Italian properties - Hotel Savoy in Florence and Hotel de Russie in Rome.  Both appointments take effect on 1 November 2005.
Elena assumes the General Manager’s role at Hotel de Russie from Martin Elsner, who was recently appointed to the position of pre-opening General Manager Germany for Rocco Forte Hotels.  Elena, formally Area Director of Sales & Marketing, was the obvious choice for this key role as she has been one of the major contributors to the hotel’s phenomenal success since its opening in Spring 2000.

Although she studied law at university, Elena’s passion has always been in the luxury hotel industry.  She began her career at the Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte and Hotel Eden, both former Forte plc properties.  Elena moved from Hotel Eden in 1998, at the peak of its success, to launch Hotel de Russie and Hotel Savoy as the Sales & Marketing Director.  Before long, she was promoted to Area Director of Sales & Marketing, where her responsibilities expanded to include Ch‰teau de Bagnols and Le Richemond in Geneva.

Evelina replaces Elena as Director of Sales & Marketing concentrating solely on the Rocco Forte Hotels’ Italian properties.  Prior to joining Rocco Forte Hotels in 2000, Evelina gained extensive food and beverage experience at two hotels: the Hyde Park Hotel in London and a privately owned Hotel in Perugia.

Her first role with Rocco Forte Hotels was as European Sales Executive for the Hotels de Russie and Savoy, before being appointed Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing for Hotel de Russie, Hotel Savoy and Ch‰teau de Bagnols.  In July 2004, Evelina was appointed to Director of Sales & Marketing of Rocco Forte’s Le Richemond in Geneva. 

Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman and Chief Executive of Rocco Forte Hotels, said: “It is always satisfying to be able to promote internal moves and opportunities within the company, and I am particularly pleased that Elena and Evelina have accepted their new roles at Hotel de Russie because they have played such an instrumental part in its success to date.  Success that I am sure they will continue to achieve in their new positions.”

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