Belmond appoints Massimiliano Puglisi as general manager of Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel, Taormina

Belmond today announced the appointment of Massimiliano Puglisi as General Manager of Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, the brand’s timeless Sicilian hideaway. Massimiliano will take up his new role from 7 June 2021.
 
A native Sicilian, Massimiliano has travelled and worked extensively throughout his 22 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Prior to joining Belmond, he served as General Manager of The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection in Newport, Rhodes Island. Having worked with numerous renowned luxury hotel brands in the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States, Massimiliano has developed a strong guest-focused approach and strived to understand what makes each hotel unique. He has consistently led the team to create bespoke guest experiences, proven by great results and success throughout his career.
 
Robert Koren, Divisional Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa said of the appointment: “We are delighted to welcome Massimiliano to the Belmond family, and most importantly, back to his home region of Sicily. At Belmond, we see ourselves as curators of incomparable genuine travel. Massimiliano’s passion to create unique and bespoke experiences makes him a natural fit to the brand. With his wealth of international experience, we are confident that he will bring in new visions and ideas to further elevate the offerings at Grand Hotel Timeo as well as the hospitality scene in Sicily.”
 
Driven by his strong desire to rediscover the uniqueness of this island and to raise its profile around the world, Massimiliano said: “It is my great pleasure to join Belmond and the LVMH group as General Manager of the Grand Hotel Timeo. I have taken the opportunity to return to Sicily with great enthusiasm, and I am looking forward to the 2021 season and the re-launch of Sicilian tourism, as well as the opportunity to help new markets discover our beautiful island.”
 
Set in the rocky hills of Taormina and overlooking the east coast of Sicily, Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, has been the destination of choice for renowned international personalities such as Audrey Hepburn, Marcello Mastroianni and Elizabeth Taylor. Built in 1873 in a stunning location adjacent to the Greek Theatre, the Grand Hotel Timeo is distinctive for its enchanting gardens, its panoramic pool and astonishing Literary Terrace, where guests can enjoy a unique view of Mount Etna whilst savouring Sicilian dishes at the Michelin-starred restaurant Otto Geleng.