Rocco Forte Hotels employs ex-Four Seasons boss to help drive expansion
Corinthios, who worked at Four Seasons for 35 years, will work closely with company founder Sir Rocco Forte and managing director Karim Naffah to push forward plans to increase the number of hotels from 10 to 20 in the next five years.
In his new position, Corinthios will also be responsible for enhancing service standards at the group, whose UK hotels are Browns Hotel in London and The Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh.
"I have followed the Rocco Forte Hotels brand development for many years," he said following his appointment. "I greatly admire the entrepreneurial spirit, the commitment to service and the individuality of the properties that are the hallmark of the Rocco Forte Hotels brand".
Corinthios began working with Hyatt International in 1977 before moving to Canada to work with with Four Seasons. He became president of Four Season’s EMEA region in 1997 and continued in that role until the end of 2012 when he left to set up his own hospitality advisory business.
Expansion
His appointment coincides with Forte's announcement last November to double the size of the company both within its European heartland and into the US, the Middle East and Asia following a £60m investment from Fondo Strategico Italiano Spa (FSI) the Italian State-backed sovereign fund 80 per cent controlled by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and 20 per cent by Bank of Italy.
The first of the 10 new properties will open later this year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the group at an 'advanced stage of discussion' for a development in Venice and involved in a project in Shanghai.
It is also looking at opening hotels in Milan, Naples and Sicily in Italy and Paris, Madrid and New York.
