Langham Hospitality Group has welcomed Rico Picenoni as its global head of residential, a newly created position within the company aimed at advancing the company’s design, branding and operation of private homes amid a surge in property developments comprising both hotels and permanent dwellings.
“The rise in mixed-use developments where we can offer hotel management and branded residence services in conjunction allows us to serve our clients more holistically,” Langham Hospitality Group CEO Bob van den Oord said. “It also enables consumers to not just experience our hospitality during their travels, but in the places they choose to call home.”“Rico’s rare blend of branded residence and hotel operations experience makes him uniquely qualified to lead this key area of growth for the Group,” he added.
Picenoni recently helmed the branded residential consultancy team at Savills from the company’s London headquarters. Before that, he oversaw residential and extended-stay development across the Middle East and Africa for Accor, where he also held senior feasibility and project assessment roles. In addition, he served as an asset manager for Seven Tides Hospitality, where he oversaw residential properties operated by Minor Hotels Group and Mövenpick, among other international hospitality firms. His experience also includes operations roles with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in the United States and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the United Arab Emirates.
Langham’s appointment is part of an industry-wide trend toward branded residences expansion. Consider Rosewood, which last week announced the addition of Marriott veteran Jenni Benzaquen as senior vice president of residential, global.
Picenoni will be permanently based in Dubai, where LHG will open its first hotel in 2029.
