Alexandre Maia de Carvalho is an experienced Administrative Director and Board Member of the company. He has extensive experience in establishing solid bridges between hotel operations, management companies and private equity funds in order to maximize asset value through the repositioning of properties and the curation of unique experiences for guests: transforming large hotels into iconic properties. Strong commercial profile aimed at luxury consortiums, high-end travel agencies and luxury concierge companies, as well as a track record leading projects focused on hospitality. With a strong sense of design, he will always be a creative and strategic thinker, and a force in the industrial network, to generate new business opportunities. Current member of the Lisbon, Cascais and Vilamoura Tourism Councils.
PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION
It comes from the passion I have for the great Palace Hotel, the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland or Le Bristol in Paris. Every day I try to recreate a little of the experience of these hotels in the hotels that I am lucky enough to manage: a floral arrangement, the ultra-personalization of the service, the authenticity of the experiences. Small moments that become big when noticed by those who choose us. This passion is the basis of inspiration and it is with it that I try to influence the teams so that we can meet the expectations of those who visit us.
THE THREE PILLARS OF LIFE
The three pillars of my life are family, as it is my driving force, inspiration and who makes me want to be better every day. Secondly, I would say that integrity, we have to be honest first and foremost with ourselves and with those around us in our personal and professional lives. Integrity should be the basis of society and each of us must feel that we have a fundamental role in order to be an example for others. Finally, I would say friendship, whether professional or personal. I believe we can have a positive impact on people’s lives if we respect them and genuinely care about them.
SECOND PROFESSIONAL CHOICE
A few years ago I would say Investment Banking, due to the frenetic pace and need for constant adaptability. Nowadays, without a doubt, Real Estate Development, the new concepts of full service branded residences are the natural evolution of luxury hotels and I believe that we are still just at the beginning of discovering the full potential behind them. Both because of its business model, which is quite evolutionary in relation to traditional hotels in terms of finances, but also because they will allow us to reinvent the business.
THREE PEOPLE WHO MADE MY CAREER
The first person was my Father. An example that I was lucky to have at home of professionalism and integrity with a decades-long career leading the largest multinational in the luxury beauty segment. With him I realized very early on, perhaps even too early, the importance of the product, marketing, PR/COM. I understood what the behind-the-scenes of a multinational are, the power wars, the lobbies. The second person was António Catalán, founder of NH Hotels and AC Hotels. He was one of the first in the world to understand the impact of design on hotels and to be concerned with the symmetry of all its units. It was also through contact with him that I realized that the Boards of hotel chains look at different KPIs than their operational directors, this made me prepare from an early age to speak another language than just the operational one in order to be able to grow in my career. Finally, I would say not a person, but an institution: the Glion Hotel School. This institution, through its teaching staff, managed to transmit to me the passion for hospitality, the obsession with detail, the importance of people, teamwork, sacrifice.
MAIN HOBBIE
Fishing. A passion that has been around for over 40 years and works as an escape from a very busy and challenging professional life. It is the perfect communion between nature, friendship and physical activity where the size of the fish is what matters least, especially because they are normally returned to the sea alive.
TODAY I WOULD GO TO
I would go to Zambia, to Anantara Royal Livingstone in Victoria Falls, with my whole family. In 2018 I was lucky enough to be on a task force as General Manager of this gem for two months. In addition to the natural beauty of Victória Falls, it is a resort that has giraffes, monkeys, zebras, hippos, monkeys, gazelles, reptiles with which we can interact from the balcony of our suite, in the bar or in the gym. This resort has one of the best teams I’ve worked with in my life, with a passion and authenticity that is difficult to replicate. A dream!