Veteran hotelier Simon Casson has been appointed CEO of luxury operator Corinthia Hotels, owned by the Corinthia Group.

Founded in Malta in 1962 by the Pisani family, Corinthia Group has grown into a multinational investor, developer and operator of hotels and real estate. Corinthia Hotels operates a portfolio of award-winning hotels in London, Budapest, Lisbon, St. Petersburg and the Island of Malta.

Casson will start his new role on 6 April and head up Corinthia Hotels as it prepares to open new locations in New York, Rome, Bucharest and Brussels in 2024.

The operator will also open properties in Doha, Riyadh and new resorts in Malta and the Maldives in the coming years.

Carving out a legacy

A distinguished figure in hospitality, Casson has spent more than three decades at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts – throughout which he oversaw a significant period of growth and served as EMEA president for seven years.

In his previous role, Casson was responsible for 42 hotels in 26 countries and oversaw the opening of new properties in London, Athens, Madrid, Casablanca, Taormina, Doha, Kuwait and the Seychelles.

During this time, he made a name for himself in wellness by advocating for spas and their integral role in hospitality. Casson has attended major industry events including the Global Wellness Summit and also hosted internal Four Seasons spa director panel events.

Spa and wellness industry veterans, including Andrew Gibson, Michael J Newcombe and Verena Lasvigne, have come out in their droves online to congratulate Casson on his new appointment.

“I’m indebted to the chair and board for their vision, trust and confidence in me, and am humbled and delighted at my appointment at this important moment for Corinthia Hotels as we boldly embark on a new era," said Casson.

“I’ll work tirelessly to both elevate and grow the brand, ensuring that the experience and outcome for all our stakeholders – employees, guests, shareholders and business partners – is truly world-class and defines the Spirit of Corinthia.”

Casson is taking over from Simon Naudi who served as Corinthia Hotels CEO for 12 years and has been promoted to Corinthia Group’s CEO and managing director.

In August 2023, Corinthia Hotels appointed Kerry Turpin to develop and elevate Corinthia’s portfolio of premium hotel spas. Read more here.