Biscioni to quit hotel world for political career

PAOLO BISCIONI, managing director of the Le Méridien Grosvenor House hotel, is quitting hospitality to pursue a career in Italian politics.

The Italian, who began his career at the age of 21 as assistant reception manager at London's Savoy hotel, insisted this was not a retirement and said he planned to run for mayor in Santa Margherita Ligure Portofino, the town where he has a family home.

Biscioni joined the Forte Hotel Group in 1987 as executive director of the Hyde Park hotel in London.

It was under Biscioni's management that Marco Pierre White was brought into the hotel, where he gained three Michelin stars.

In 1996, Biscioni moved to Rome as managing director of Hotel Eden, followed by a move back to London in 1999 to head the Grosvenor House as executive director, and oversee the sale of the Le Méridien brand to Nomura.

His move into politics is something that Biscioni has always yearned for. "I felt that in the past 15 years I have played an ambassador for my country. I have always been attracted to the world of diplomats and the political side of this business has always interested me. Getting involved in politics is something I have always wanted to do," he said.

He also plans to travel to Florence with a view to investing in his favourite football team, Fiorentina, which has recently had financial problems. "Football and politics are the things I love," he said.

Biscioni leaves the Grosvenor on 6 November and will be replaced by JAMES McBRIDE, who joins from the Ritz Carlton Group, most recently as area general manager in Washington DC.

by Christina Golding