Brussels, Belgium (March 21, 2013) – Rocco Forte Hotels has announced the appointment of Philippe Spagnol as General Manager of Hotel Amigo Brussels.

In his new role, Mr. Spagnol will oversee all aspects of the 174-bedroom luxury hotel which enjoys a prime location in the heart of the old town close to the famed Grand Place. Catering to both an international and locale clientele, he will be tasked to further develop corporate, leisure and meetings business segments, maintaining Hotel Amigo’s trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.

Commenting on the appointment, Ivan Artolli, Rocco Forte Hotel’s Operations Director UK, Belgium and Eastern Europe, said: “We are delighted that Philippe will be taking the helm at Hotel Amigo. He is a seasoned hotelier and brings with him a blend of luxury hospitality expertise and operational experience, and I am confident that under his guidance, Hotel Amigo will continue to flourish as Brussels’ leading luxury hotel.”

With over 26 years’ hospitality experience, Mr. Spagnol brings significant skills to the role, combined with considerable knowledge of the international luxury hotels market from an operational perspective. He joins Rocco Forte Hotels from the Lapa Palace in Lisbon where for two years he was General Manager. Prior to this, Mr. Spagnol spent four years as the General Manager at Orient-Express’ Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, Peru. A graduate from the Ecole Hôtelière Lausanne, Mr. Spagnol started his career in Food & Beverage and has held roles at among others the Beau Rivage Palace Lausanne, Claridges in London, Negresco in Nice, and Grand Hotel Europe in St Petersburg.

Born in France, Mr. Spagnol is fluent in French, English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

Joining Mr. Spagnol at Hotel Amigo as Director of Sales & Marketing is Silvia Brighenti. In her new role, Silvia will oversee all Sales & Marketing activities worldwide, and will enhance the emphasis on the European and North American markets, while also developing new emerging markets such as Russia and the CIS.

Ms. Brighenti brings with her over ten years experience in luxury hotel sales and marketing and joins from Sheraton Rhodes Resort where for the past two years she was Director of Sales & Marketing. Prior to this, she was Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monte Carlo. Ms. Brighenti has also held previous roles in sales and revenue management at Le Méridien Chia Laguna in Sardinia and started her career in hospitality as a Group Sales Executive at Boscolo Hotel Leon d’Oro in Verona.

Born in Italy, Ms Brighenti is fluent in Italian, English and French. She holds a degree in Economics from the Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University in Milan, and has completed a Master in Tourism and Hospitality from Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo is superbly located in the very heart of Brussels, adjacent to one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, Grand Place, close to Brussels' financial district and within easy walking distance of the antiques district of Le Sablon,  and provides a stylish and central base from which to explore the city. Each one of the bedrooms and suites at Hotel Amigo are individual in style, spacious and luxurious, with some offering views towards Grand Place and others extensive views over the rooftops of Brussels. All the rooms are equipped with the latest technology and facilities for both business and leisure guests. Bocconi, Hotel Amigo's Italian restaurant, serves creative Italian and Mediterranean cuisine within a relaxing, comfortable and contemporary atmosphere while the Bar Amigo, with its broad selection of cocktails, is ideal for an aperitif. The hotel also benefits from six fully equipped meeting rooms, a ballroom and Business Centre.

Rocco Forte Hotels
Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 12 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.

Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily. Future openings: Jeddah; Marrakech; Cairo; Luxor. www.roccofortehotels.com