In the Tuscan hills, Castelfalfi has entered a new phase of hospitality development through a strategic partnership with Sommet Education Business Solutions, which includes Les Roches and Glion Institute of Higher Education. The collaboration will focus on leadership development, service standards, and talent opportunities.
Long-Term Vision for Excellence
The partnership aligns with Castelfalfi’s focus on investing in people and operational standards. It includes plans to develop leadership skills, build academic engagement, and support emerging talent within the estate. The collaboration is based on shared priorities across Castelfalfi, Les Roches, and GIHE, including people development, service quality, and sustainability.
Strategic Partnership Key Pillars
The partnership focuses on leadership training through Les Roches, academic collaboration via a Castelfalfi case study, and structured talent pathways including internships and recruitment from Les Roches and Glion. It is built on shared values of people-focused leadership, experiential learning, and responsible hospitality.
Leadership Perspectives
Mounir Husseini, Chief Executive Officer of Castelfalfi, commented: “We are extremely proud of this new project, which represents an important milestone in the evolution of Castelfalfi. This moment speaks to continuity, responsibility and long-term vision — the same values that inspire our decision to partner with Sommet Education Business Solutions. By investing in talent, in our territory and in the future of our community, we ensure that Castelfalfi continues to flourish as a destination of excellence rooted in authenticity and elevated by outstanding hospitality.”
Carlos Díez de la Lastra, Chief Executive Officer of Les Roches, added: “At Les Roches, we believe that partnerships with visionary destinations are essential to shaping the next generation of hospitality leaders. Castelfalfi embodies the essence of contemporary luxury hospitality — authentic, refined and intrinsically connected to its territory. Working alongside their teams, we look forward to developing professionals capable of honoring this heritage while advancing service standards globally.”
Florent Varanne, Global Head of Business Solutions Development at Sommet Education, stated: “This collaboration with Castelfalfi represents exactly the type of forward-looking partnership our industry needs. Castelfalfi’s extraordinary identity — deeply rooted in its landscape and community — aligns perfectly with our mission to prepare leaders who combine operational excellence with purpose and humanity.”
Training and Development Focus
At the core of the collaboration are Leadership and Supervisory Training Programs designed and delivered exclusively by Les Roches. These multi-module learning journeys, delivered on site over several months, focus on leadership skills, communication, organizational behavior and service excellence — essential pillars for Castelfalfi’s operational and strategic development.
Empowering People at the Core
Tracey Battisti, Director of Excellence Academy at Castelfalfi, concluded: “Empowering our people is at the heart of Castelfalfi’s mission. This partnership with Sommet Education Business Solutions allows us to offer our teams transformative learning opportunities that reinforce excellence, strengthen leadership confidence and reflect the values that guide our estate. Together, we are nurturing a workforce capable of delivering authentic and meaningful guest experiences.”
