BIOGRAPHY
AN EYE FOR DETAIL
My academic background was key in ensuring that my professional development had a global vision and a comprehensive implementation. I studied Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid, a Master’s in Hotel Management and Administration at the Politécnica University of Madrid and General Management Programme at the IESE Business School in Madrid.
I spent my first years of work at the Ritz hotel in Madrid (5* Superior Luxury). During my time there, I learnt about service excellence and acquired a broad and thorough view of the hotel sector. I have spent almost my whole career leading luxury hotels, with 8 years as the Managing Director of the AC Santo Mauro hotel (5* Superior Luxury) in Madrid. Overseeing the opening of 4 hotels taught me
the importance of clearly defining, from the beginning, all projects’ strategic and business lines. The economic crisis of the last few years taught me the concept of maximising business profitability without compromising on excellence and creativity.
Working in large international companies such as AC Hotels by Marriott or Grupo SIGLA showed me the value of processes, transversal teamwork and methodological professionalism. Having gone through this process, which is essential to advising, I know that with this foundation, the most important thing is being able to give character to a hotel. That soul which adds something special and different for the clients and the staff who work there. That is what really guarantees business success and the maximisation of client experience.
INNOVATION AND INTELLIGENCE AT THE SERVICE
OF HOTEL EXPERIENCE
AURORA MARTÍNEZ FERNÁNDEZ
Madrid Office Director
Graduate in Tourism and Postgraduate degree in hotel specialization and marketing. Management of tourist companies, “Excellent qualification”.
She has developed her more than 20 years of professional career in important hotel chains such as AC by Marriott and Hospes hotels, executing the roles of revenue manager and corporate sales and marketing director.
She is an expert in revenue management, technology, marketing and distribution in the luxury hotel sector. She is passionate about creating unique customer experiences in all of the projects she gets involved in.
A lover of walks through nature, travel and her family.
ADVISORY BOARD
Judgement results in the ability to analyse, which cannot be achieved without vast experience. Our multidisciplinary advisory board gives us a global vision which allows us to analyse which strategies to implement. Their recommendations aid us in guaranteeing business profit.
ANA FERNÁNDEZ ARDAVÍN
CSR, HR and Training
PhD in Economics. Consulting and teaching were the main factors in her professional development in CSR, HR and training. The early stages of her career were focused on financial consulting. She is currently the Chancellor-CEO of the IEDE Business School and the Head of the Postgraduate School of Business and Economics of the Andrés Bello University. She is passionate about protecting nature and the sea.
MARTA MIRANDA LÓPEZ
Economic and Business Management
Graduate in Economics with a Master’s in Tax Consulting from the Centre for Financial Studies (CEF). She has spent much of her professional career in financial and management control departments in Jazztel, Sybilla and during the last few years as a Director of a business incubator (for startups) in the Madrid region. She is an expert in economic models, business plans and management control. Her passions include opera, nature and gastronomy.
MARÍA PASTOR CABALLERO
Marketing and Communication
Graduate in Economics. She developed her expertise in Marketing in Procter & Gamble, one of the largest companies in the sector, as the head of consumer brands. Teacher at the Antonio de Nebrija University in the fields of market research, sales and strategic marketing. Her strengths are Communication and Corporate Image. A tireless traveller and a great host. Her weaknesses are creative painting, nature and ecology.
MARÍA ROTONDO URCOLA
Financial Operations and Investments
She is a graduate in Business Studies and has complemented her studies with various programmes in Boston College, Harvard, NYU, IESE Business School, etc. She has developed a large part of her professional career at Santander Bank where she was made Global Head of Special Operations in Telecommunications, Media and Technology. Expert in Mergers, Acquisitions and Public Stock Listing. A citizen of the world and a fan of new technology.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
We work with companies which are concurrent with us in terms of philosophy, understanding the client, methodological professionalism and product authenticity. They are 21st century companies.
BRANDING
Consulting firm specialised in Personal, Professional and Business Brand building and strategies.
This is done by defining, developing and communicating talent as a unique value. Patricia Jessen, the founder and director, has defined the current Brand and Communication positioning of the Spanish hotel chain Paradores.
I+D+I
ITH, Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero
An innovation centre which is affiliated with the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT). Its mission is to promote the use of new technologies and management systems, which aid in improving the competitiveness, profitability, quality, efficiency and sustainability of companies in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.
DIGITAL
Global leaders in ‘Guest Intelligence’ applications for the hotel industry. ReviewPro provides processable information to increase guest satisfaction, ranking on review websites and OTAs and, ultimately, hotel turnover. Chains such as Kempinski or Meliá International use their apps.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND CREATION OF SPACES
Lausan-estudio 15
Architecture, design and interior design workshop and firm led by Laura Sánchez Rodríguez. She is an expert in creating spaces with an evolved concept for today’s needs and experiences. Her passion is to devise solutions which create a balance between the functional and the artistic-aesthetic features.
TECHNICAL TEAM
IHP International Hospitality Projects
A business group made up of a team of technical professionals who offer a comprehensive solution in each and every one of the stages in the real estate cycle of a hotel operation: project management, facility management, engineering, technical consulting and architecture.
LUXURY SECTOR
Business network for the luxury industry and the premium sector. It focuses on discovering new business models in emerging markets, using the opportunities of luxury as a new way to merge tradition with innovation.
“In the global economy, a well-developed ability to create and sustain fruitful collaborations gives companies a significant competitive leg up.”
Rosabeth Moss Kanter – Editor of Harvard Business Review.