Industry News Premier Hospitality

Hotelier Grace Leo Appointed as CEO of Ledunfly Hospitality

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

Ledunfly Hospitality, part of the family office of Swiss businesswoman and philanthropist Dona Bertarelli, has appointed internationally renowned hotelier Grace Leo as CEO.

Dona Bertarelli is a successful Swiss businesswoman, philanthropist and sportswoman. Ledunfly Hospitality is a dedicated division of her family office, Ledunfly, which also encompasses her real estate and other personal business investments. She is co-founder and skipper of the sailing team Spindrift racing, and co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation.

Grace Leo is an award-winning hotelier, known for developing greenfield development and repositioning luxury hotels and resorts for institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Grace is recognised for her unique blend of artistic flair, luxury design and successful project management in multiple cultures and languages.

Ledunfly Hospitality’s portfolio includes Park Gstaad, a five-star luxury hotel, and the Geneva Country Club, both in Switzerland, as well as the Five Seas Hotel, a five-star boutique hotel in Cannes, France. A luxury resort is currently under development in the Exumas area of the Bahamas, which is scheduled for completion in 2020.

“I am delighted that Grace Leo will be leading Ledunfly Hospitality. She is a proven hotelier with exceptional development experience. We share the same vision for the future of the luxury hospitality market and the role we can play in it. I look forward to Grace growing the division in the years to come,” says Dona Bertarelli.

Recognised for her work as a pioneer in the design-led hotel sector, Grace Leo brings vast experience to the role of CEO.  Her projects have spanned Europe, North America, South America, the Caribbean and Asia and include the Hotels Montalembert and Lancaster in Paris, The Royal Riviera in Cap Ferrat, Le Guanahani and Le Toiny in St. Barths and The Cotton House in Mustique.  Most recently Grace oversaw the development of hospitality elements of Ten Trinity Square in the City of London, a £350 million hotel and residential project, which opened in January 2017.

Grace has been a member of the Executive Committee of Leading Hotels of the World for nine years and has won numerous international awards.

“I am proud to be heading Ledunfly Hospitality for Dona Bertarelli. I was immediately attracted to Dona’s vision, passion and commitment for the business and I look forward to working with her to develop the portfolio in Europe and North America,” states Grace Leo.

For more information about Ledunfly Hospitality, please visit their website or email info.hospitality@ledunfly.com.

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Amy