Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) welcomed Rico Picenoni as its first-ever global head of residential earlier this week.
The newly created leadership post is 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.
According to LHG chief executive Bob van den Oord: “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. 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.”
Underscoring LHG’s growing commitment to the Middle East, where it’s due to open its first hotel in 2029, Picenoni will be permanently based in Dubai.
Meet Rico Picenoni
Picenoni is a graduate of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and additionally holds qualifications in real estate investments, asset management, and negotiations.
His experience includes operations roles with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in the United States and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the United Arab Emirates, giving him a first-hand understanding of the supporting services that underpin residential projects backed by hospitality brands.
Most recently Picenoni helmed the branded residential consultancy team at Savills from the company’s London headquarters.
The global practice group has managed advisory mandates across more than 50 countries with a combined development value exceeding US$45 billion.
Prior to 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.
The branded residence expertise he honed during these engagements was also informed by his preceding post 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.
