Royal Demeure Hotel Group has opened new offices in Belgravia, London, moving its headquarters from Rome and appointing a new senior team to lead the Italian luxury hotel group.

The company’s investment in a London-based headquarters demonstrates its desire and commitment for growth and investment, focusing on boutique luxury hotels.  As the luxury travel and hospitality industry continues to grow, the Royal Demeure team intends to capitalise on this trend, developing the brand and future focus and building on the reputation of the famous Hotel d’Inghilterra in Rome whilst also looking at opportunities for future expansion and investment in all of the six properties that make up the group of hotels.

Part of TDA Capital Ltd, a private Italian-owned investment company that specialises in luxury hospitality, Royal Demeure is headed up by TDA Capital Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Luigi De Simone Niquesa, who has moved from Rome to be based in London. His newly appointed team includes Group Sales & Marketing Director Greg Ward, Chief Financial Officer Colin Castelino, and Marketing & Communications Manager Charlotte Gray.

With an extensive and successful career in luxury hospitality, CEO Luigi De Simone Niquesa has held a variety of hospitality industry and educational leadership roles including President of the Institute for Tourism Marketing and Research, President of UNICA (Union of Italian Hotel Chains), and Executive Advisor/Council Member of Federalberghi-Confcommercio (the leading association of hotels in Italy).

Colin Castelino has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer. With a successful career in finance Castelino spent 11 years with Deloittes before joining the Cliveden Group, where he took the company’s luxury hotel and clubs to a full listing on the London Stock Exchange and eventual successful sale. He has also worked with Pacific Investments Ltd and prior to TDA Capital Ltd was Financial Director for the ESPA Group.

Charlotte Gray joins the hotel group as Marketing & Communications Manager. Gray has spent the past eight years with the historic Pall Mall private members’ club, The Royal Automobile Club and Singaporean-owned 5* COMO Hotels & Resorts.

Greg Ward is the newly appointed Group Sales & Marketing Director and has an extensive international background with an emphasis on luxury sales & marketing.  Ward has held a number of senior positions with international companies during his 20-year career, including Westin Hotels & Resorts, Rafael Hotels and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. More recently, Ward has spent time with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the von Essen hotel Collection and Clarenco.

Greg Ward, Group Sales & Marketing Director said: “I’m thrilled to be working for such an iconic group of hotels as Royal Demeure. Situated in cultural capitals like Rome and Florence, each property has many individual qualities, which I look forward to highlighting for the benefit of travellers looking for a truly memorable luxurious experience, Additionally, with plans for future growth and investment, it is an extremely exciting time to join the company.”

CEO Luigi De Simone Niquesa said:  “We have created a dynamic and experienced new team that will lead us through the next stages of our development plans. The experience in luxury customer experiences and strong commercial background that each new team member brings makes them instrumental in developing and shaping the growth of the hotel group. They join us at a time when we are looking to strengthen the collection’s positioning within the industry.”