WHO WE ARE

The Aries Group

Aries was founded by experienced hospitality professionals who are committed to the Group’s mission and passionate about creating an exceptional guest experience.
 
We are dedicated to optimizing the financial performance of our property owners and of the overall hotel and resort portfolio. Grounded in a merit-based, equitable approach defined by our shared values and objectives, a lot of care goes into developing our expert team.
 
Chairman
Chairman

Stefano de Santis

A lawyer with over twenty years of experience as an Equity Partner at a leading Milanese law firm, he began his entrepreneurial journey in the real estate and hospitality sector in 2017.

Over the years, he has gained experience in the management and development of hotel and real estate assets, the development of operating platforms, and relations with institutional investors and industrial partners.

Founder of Aries Group, he currently serves as Chairman, leading the Board of Directors with responsibilities for strategic direction, oversight, and institutional representation.

His vision is geared towards long-term value creation through sustainable business models, operational control, and a strong focus on product quality.

CEO
CEO

Aurelio Tontini

With a degree in Political Science and a Master's in Tourism Services Management and Development, Aurelio Tontini has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Over the course of his career, he has gained solid experience managing complex hotel assets, holding operational, managerial, and strategic leadership roles, with responsibilities in operations, finance, and development.

At the helm of Aries Group, an independent platform specializing in the management and development of large hospitality assets in Italy, he coordinates senior management and corporate functions in the group's development and management of the hotel portfolio.

His vision places the guest and the quality of the experience at the center of the management model, while promoting organizational innovation, skill integration, and sustainable growth.

Chief Corporate Development Officer
Chief Corporate Development Officer

Andrea Cigarini

Graduated in Political Science with a master's degree in hotel management, Andrea, at a very young age, serves as the general manager of prestigious Italian hotels, including the historic Grand Hotel in Rimini during its revitalization years.

After a long entrepreneurial journey, involving the development and management of over 20 hotels nationwide, he was recruited by Aries Group as the Chief Operating Officer. Following the coordination of the startup of the Group's current portfolio of 4 properties, his current role involves leading the organization towards growth and expansion. As a strategic leader, he closely collaborates with the CEO to identify and pursue new development opportunities, evaluating potential structures to add to the portfolio and seeking potential investment partners

Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer

Claudio Oliva

With a degree in Economics and a specialization in Management, Claudio Oliva has gained his experience in the hospitality industry over a 20-year journey. During this time, he has undertaken increasingly significant roles as an entrepreneur, consultant, and manager, assuming greater responsibilities.

At Aries Group, he oversees the operational direction of the assets, playing a key role in generating the group's profitability. He directs and supervises the facilities, ensures the application of standards, and guides the training of work teams, remaining strongly focused on performance. Among his goals is the creation of increasing and lasting value for the group.

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Raniero Amati

Amati is the strategic leader of the national and regional teams driving sales performance for the Group’s portfolio properties. As the head of marketing strategy and development, he leads and supports the marketing department and gives the on-site hotel staff the tools they need to achieve their sales and productivity goals. His long career in the hospitality industry has seen him lead challenging projects that have become well-known success stories in the Italian hotel sector. Embodying the values that define the Group, Amati is an open, attentive leader intent on sharing his innovative approach and deep expertise with others 

Finance Director
Finance Director

Sonja Habek

With a degree in Business Economics, she has held leadership roles in finance since 2003. In 2011, she entered the hospitality industry, where she brought innovation to the Administration, Finance & Control department through a continuous pursuit of process simplification and data flow optimization.

At Aries Group, she is responsible for the company's financial management. Her role includes developing financial forecasts, creating detailed financial reports and meticulously monitoring expenses and investments to ensure optimal financial performance.

Chief People & Culture Officer
Chief People & Culture Officer

Alberto Ponti

Bachelor's degree in law at the Cattolica university of Milan. 20 years of experience in Human Resources, his career has seen him take on managerial positions in leading multinational and italian groups such as Unilever, RCS Media Group and Bolton Group. Today he is Chief People & Culture Officer of Aries Group, where he focuses on defining and aligning the "People Strategy" with the company's business plan. This involves fostering a work environment where individuals can find fulfillment while supporting the company through the enhancement of internal processes and organizational development.

Chief Technology & Organization Officer
Chief Technology & Organization Officer

Ascanio Baldeschi

A business engineer by trade, Baldeschi has spent the past 20 years of his career in progressively senior positions at leading management consulting firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, where he worked on innovative technology projects for market leaders in the financial sector. Today, as the Chief Technology & Organization Officer of the Aries Group, it is his mission to ensure all IT systems, processes and proceduresessentially all technology used in-house represent a competitive advantage for the Group and help deliver on its strategic goals.