Locarno, May 18, 2026: Arabella Hospitality SE has appointed Marco Montagnani as General Manager of the Grand Hotel Locarno, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, Lake Maggiore. Effective June 1, 2026, he will assume overall operational and strategic responsibility for the historic hotel. Following a comprehensive renovation carried out in close collaboration with the Swiss Artisa Group AG and Stefano Artioli’s Art Family Office SA—the property’s owner—the hotel will reopen in spring 2027 under the management of Arabella Hospitality SE as a five-star hotel under Marriott’s The Luxury Collection brand.

Marco Montagnani brings more than 20 years of experience in the international luxury hospitality industry. Most recently, as Area General Manager, he oversaw several properties in the R Collection Hotels portfolio around Lake Como, including the Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa Menaggio. Prior to that, he managed renowned five-star properties in Italy and Switzerland, including the Swiss Diamond Hotel in Morcote near Lugano, the Château Monfort in Milan (Relais & Châteaux), and Villa La Massa near Florence, a member of Leading Hotels of the World. In these roles, he distinguished himself through his stewardship of day-to-day operations and his collaborative, team-oriented leadership style, which he used to drive sustainable strategic growth as well as advancements in sales, marketing, and revenue management.

“With Marco Montagnani, we are gaining a proven expert who has known the luxury hospitality industry for decades and has ties to the Ticino region. His extensive international experience and clear strategic leadership will play a decisive role in helping the Grand Hotel Locarno shine in new splendor,” says Karl-Heinz Pawlizki, CEO of Arabella Hospitality SE.

Marco Montagnani himself emphasizes: “The Grand Hotel Locarno is an extraordinary property with a fascinating history and great cultural significance. It is a special honor for me to actively help shape the positioning of this hotel and to lead it with passion and vision toward a future that is both successful and true to its traditions.”

The Grand Hotel Locarno, which opened in 1876 as the first luxury hotel in Ticino, is an important part of the region’s cultural heritage. It served as the venue for the 1925 Peace Conference and is considered the birthplace of the Locarno Film Festival. The building was acquired by Stefano Artioli in 2020 and is currently being renovated by Artisa Group AG as part of a meticulous, comprehensive renovation and restoration project. Following its reopening in the spring of 2027, the hotel will offer 110 elegantly designed rooms and suites, two restaurants, a bar, a spacious garden, and a modern wellness and spa area. With first-class event spaces, including an impressive complex of conference and ballrooms with private access to the spacious terrace and expansive garden grounds, the Grand Hotel Locarno combines its historic grandeur with contemporary luxury hospitality, thereby re-emerging as a premier destination in Ticino.