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Hospitality Business Review: Specials Magazine
Stefanie Rothkirch is the Senior Manager of Strategic Procurement Travel at Lufthansa Group; she oversees procurement across Great Britain, Scandinavia, China, Korea and the Indian Ocean, ensuring strategic sourcing and operational efficiency. Since the beginning of her career in 1988, Rothkirch has held various roles in controlling, business analysis and procurement. She has managed procurement for aircraft interiors, hangar construction and hotel capacities, blending financial strategy, contract management and negotiation. In an interview with Hospitality Business Review, Rothkirch highlights her lifelong journey in the travel and aviation industry, the transformative role of data analytics in procurement, the value of regional market expertise and cultural understanding, the growing importance of sustainability and the key skills needed for success in the ever-evolving travel sector. A Lifelong Journey in Travel and Aviation I have worked in the travel industry since 1988, but my connection to travel and aviation goes back much further. It all started in 1967 when my father was part of the Lufthansa team developing the iconic 747 in Everett, America. Some of my earliest memories are tied to aviation—I even flew back to Frankfurt on the first 747 when it was delivered. From that moment on, I knew there was nowhere else I wanted to be but in the airline industry. Starting as a maintenance department secretary, I quickly realised I wanted to take over broader tasks with more scope of design. So, I pursued a master’s degree in business administration. After earning my MBA, I moved through various business roles before discovering my true calling in procurement. It’s a fascinating mix of psychology, legal expertise, financial know-how and negotiation skills that drew me in
Top Hospitality Furniture Manufacturer in Europe 2026
High-end hospitality projects increasingly demand bespoke furniture tailored to a single environment, with many pieces designed as one-of-a-kind creations. The true test of bespoke work begins after installation, when furniture must withstand constant daily use. SNS Group operates where design ambition aligns with operational certainty, delivering bespoke furniture for luxury hotels and cruise ships with continuous oversight from design development through final installation. The focus remains on disciplined execution and accountability, ensuring each piece performs reliably in daily use. Each engagement begins in close collaboration with designers, where a shared creative vision shapes furniture developed exclusively for specific environments. Concepts are explored without predefined limitations, shaping design through bespoke execution. Interiors are shaped through materials, proportions, and craftsmanship developed specifically for each space rather than repeated elsewhere. “Our craftsmanship is proven through dozens of five-star and hotel and luxury cruise projects delivered worldwide, where precision, material quality and attention to detail are non-negotiable,” says Mirko Habek, CEO. Creative freedom is sustained through end-to-end responsibility across design development, production and delivery. Full process control preserves design integrity and keeps execution aligned with intent, resulting in furniture defined by originality and durability engineered for continuous daily operation within demanding hospitality environments..
Destination Management Company
Corporate travel often feels routine; a checklist of familiar sights. But what if it could be more? What if it could create moments so extraordinary they linger in your memory forever?” These questions fuelled Alberto Neri, a seasoned travel industry visionary with over 30 years of experience, to establish Italia Connection—an international destination management company (DMC) dedicated to reimagining corporate travel. Italia Connection dares to go beyond sightseeing, curating experiences that inspire and leave an indelible mark. For corporate executives and employees alike, these tailored tours are more than travel—they are an opportunity to connect, reflect and be captivated. Consider the instance of the Sistine Chapel—one of the world’s most revered cultural landmarks. A visit to this iconic site is a staple on any DMC’s itinerary for Vatican City. But with Italia Connection, you experience it very differently. The company arranges private access before the chapel opens to the public. Picture stepping into this sacred space in the stillness of early morning, where the only sound is the soft echo of your footsteps. Sometimes, Italia Connection can even arrange the extraordinary honour of allowing visitors to illuminate the chapel’s lights. As the soft glow fills the room, Michelangelo’s frescoes spring to life in vivid detail—a breathtaking display that transforms an ordinary visit into a profound encounter with history. Such is the essence of Italia Connection— transforming routine corporate travel into once-ina-lifetime experiences. Whether forging deeper team connections, offering executives fresh inspiration or recognising top performers with an unforgettable reward, Italia Connection ensures every journey is as meaningful as it is extraordinary.
Hospitality Transaction Advisory and Asset Management Services
novenero, recognized by industry players as one of the top hospitality investment advisory firm, understands that the hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, and in such a dynamic climate, the right advisor can turn complexity into opportunity. Milan-based Novenero, founded in 2012, is a boutique advisory firm specialising in hospitality real estate. It provides real estate hospitality transaction and debt capital advisory, combining strong financial expertise with a pragmatic, hands-on approach. The firm manages M&A processes, from buy and sell-side origination to deal structuring and closing. In debt capital advisory, the firm assists clients in the need of a refinancing, capex financing or bridge financing. The firm’s work spans the full investment cycle, from core to opportunistic strategies, supporting private and institutional investors, developers, and hotel operators with everything from sourcing and structuring to due diligence, closing, and ongoing asset management. Managing Partner Andrea Ivancevich brings more than twenty years of experience in corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking. His background in multinational consulting and significant financial institutions shaped Novenero’s model: operational, flexible, and focused entirely on client outcomes. Unlike advisors who rely on pre-packaged strategies, the firm provides bespoke solutions grounded in market realities. “Our strength lies in being reliable, fast, and able to speak the same language as both institutional investors and entrepreneurial families,” Ivancevich explains. “We design outcomes that are tailor-made, never off-the-shelf.” This approach has proven particularly effective in Italy, where cultural nuance, regulation, and economic factors require precision and agility.
CXO INSIGHTS
Tech-Driven Hospitality: Innovation Meets Sustainability
Kevin Vassout, Exec Director Strategy, Sustainability, Transfo and New Countries - Procurement Europe North Africa, Accor
Upcoming Changes in Franchise and Management Services
German Milavin-Crone, Director of Franchise Services Platform, Louvre Hotels Group
Keeping Tradition and Innovation Intact for Modern Hospitality World
Anna Fenten, Marketing Director, Searcys
Turning Meals into Movements
Libby Andrews, Marketing Director, Pho Restaurant
Leveraging Personalization to Improve Customer Satisfaction
Miguel Molina Alen, Director CRO & Personalization, Radisson Hotel Group
IN FOCUS
Crafting a New Era: European Trends in Hotel Furniture Design and Sustainability
European hospitality furniture makers combine sustainability, smart design, and advanced manufacturing to enhance comfort, durability and long-term hotel performance across markets.
Redefining Hospitality Furniture Manufacturing in Europe
Hospitality furniture manufacturing improves guest comfort, increases durability, and lowers waste.
EDITORIAL
Crafting Environments that Define Hospitality
Across Europe’s hospitality sector, guest experience is increasingly shaped by the environments in which it unfolds. Hotels and luxury properties are placing greater emphasis on interiors that combine design precision with operational durability. Furniture and spatial design influence both brand identity and daily functionality within hospitality spaces. As a result, operators are working closely with specialised manufacturers capable of delivering craftsmanship that performs reliably. This edition of Hospitality Business Review Europe explores how design expertise and disciplined execution continue shaping hospitality environments across the region.
Our cover story recognises SNS Group as Top Hospitality Furniture Manufacturer in Europe 2026. The company operates where design ambition meets disciplined execution, delivering bespoke furniture for luxury hotels and cruise ships while maintaining oversight from design development through installation. Each project begins with collaboration with designers to create furniture tailored to individual environments rather than replicated across properties. This integrated model preserves design intent while ensuring durability for demanding hospitality settings. Prototyping, structured production workflows, and quality inspections reinforce reliability throughout the process, enabling ambitious hospitality interiors without compromising long term operational performance.
Strategic perspectives further enrich this edition. Lynn Mucciano, Vice President of Strategy, Global Hotel Brands at Tambourine, reflects on how hospitality brands are adapting to evolving traveler expectations through data-driven decision making, digital innovation, and experience-focused strategies. Her perspective emphasises that technology should enhance service while preserving the human connection that defines hospitality. Complementing this view, Georgios Chatzianastasiou, Head of Coffee at Gleneagles, highlights the importance of coffee programmes within luxury hospitality. By investing in quality beans, staff training, and modern equipment, hotels can transform coffee service into a meaningful part of the guest experience.
Together, the organisations and leaders featured in this issue demonstrate how careful execution and specialised expertise continue to elevate hospitality standards across Europe. As hotels refine guest experiences and strengthen brand identity, collaboration between operators and expert partners will remain central to shaping the next phase of hospitality excellence.
