The H Curator: Unveiling the Soul of Hospitality

The first guest of Season 2 of The H Curator Podcast is Benedetta Carutti, Client Executive Italy & Southeast Europe at Belmond, part of the LVMH Group.In this episode, Benedetta opens up about her journey into the world of hospitality, a path that started from a very personal place: her natural passion for hosting, bringing people together, and creating meaningful moments around the table.This instinct led her to pursue her studies at one of the most prestigious hospitality schools in the world, École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), where she graduated in 2022.During her academic years, she gained hands-on experience through internships at Mandarin Oriental Milan and Villa d’Este on Lake Como: two iconic properties that helped shape her understanding of luxury hospitality from an operational perspective.After graduating, Benedetta entered the professional world by joining Belmond, one of the most refined and iconic brands in the industry, where she currently works in the Sales department.Throughout the conversation, she shares insights into her role, her experience within Belmond, what makes the brand so unique, and why she deeply loves being part of it.A genuine and inspiring conversation about growth, passion, and what it truly means to build a career in hospitality, starting from the ground up.🎙️ Listen nowAnd if you have any questions, feel free to share them in the comments.

What does it really mean to represent luxury hotels?In this episode of The H Curator Podcast, I sit down with Laura Cambiaghi, founder of LC Distinctive, to explore the world of luxury hospitality sales representation, a role often misunderstood, yet essential to the success of the world’s most exceptional properties.From the importance of human capital and long-term relationships, to working with passion, integrity, and heart, this conversation takes us beyond hotel operations and into the human side of hospitality.Born in a small town on Lake Como and adopted by France for over 18 years, Laura shares her entrepreneurial journey and what it truly means to work with excellence, and for excellence.

What makes a career in hospitality truly meaningful?In this episode, Luca Cerretti shares his 30 years at Splendido: passion, service, mentorship, and the beauty of working in one of the world’s most iconic hotels.Guest: Luca Cerretti, Restaurant Manager at Belmond Splendido, Portofino.

Nestled along the wild Pacific coast of Riviera Nayarit, One&Only Mandarina is a true jungle haven where nature sets the tone of every moment. In this short conversation, General Manager Nicolás Cejas shares the spirit of this extraordinary retreat, and offers a few inspiring tips for those stepping into the world of hospitality.

In the vibrant heart of San Miguel de Allende, Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada brings history, color, and Mexican soul together in a single timeless hideaway. In this mini-interview, Front Office Manager Alejandro Van Oordt introduces the essence and charm of this iconic property!

Please note this episode is in ITALIAN!In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary world of Sextantio, a place where time seems to have stopped and the Middle Ages come back to life. Nestled on the Gran Sasso, in the heart of Abruzzo, Santo Stefano di Sessanio was once a semi-abandoned village, until the visionary intervention of Daniele Kihlgren brought it back to life.Far more than an albergo diffuso, Sextantio is a cultural project: a living testimony of tradition, craftsmanship, and architectural preservation, reviving a village, preserving its identity, and giving new meaning to the idea of “living history.”In this episode, we meet Marco Buzzi, Director of Events at Sextantio, who shares his background and takes us behind the scenes of this remarkable project, explaining how Sextantio became one of Italy’s most unique examples of hospitality rooted in culture and authenticity

In this episode, we meet Cathi & Fred Lütjens, the visionary couple behind the charming boutique hotel Vocabolo Moscatelli: a hidden gem nestled in the quiet heart of Umbria, just a short drive from Tuscany yet far more rural, authentic and untouched. Their property reflects a shared passion for hospitality and the desire to create a place where beauty, simplicity and soul come together. With years of experience in this industry, they brought to life a project that feels both intimate and inspiring. Join me as we dive into their journey and discover what makes Vocabolo Moscatelli so special.

Meet Mario Montanarini, Maître d’Hôtel aboard the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.For over eighteen years, Mario has embodied the very essence of hospitality on rails, blending elegance, precision, and heartfelt service to create moments that guests will never forget.From the day he first saw the train gliding through Venice to now leading and mentoring the new generation, Mario shares what it truly means to work aboard a living legend.Because on the VSOE, every journey is more than travel: it’s a carefully choreographed performance, where each gesture, smile, and detail plays a part in an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.Discover the magic behind the world’s most iconic train in today’s episode of The H Curator Podcast and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel for more stories from the exciting world of hospitality!

For the first time, The H Curator speaks Italian!Meet Cristiana Melis who, together with her husband, brought to life Corte della Maestà, a home of curiosities hidden within the ancient courtyard of the church of Civita di Bagnoregio, also known as “la città che muore” : a magical hilltop village slowly being eroded by nature over time.Every corner, and every object here has a story to tell: collected from around the world, yet perfectly at home in this timeless retreat.This episode is in Italian, because sometimes to truly understand the soul of a place, you need to speak its language.Even if you don’t understand every word, let this be an invitation to experience the warmth and melody of Italian, the language of hospitality itself.

In this heartfelt conversation with Heidi & Christopher Mueller, the founders of Lupaia (a gorgeous boutique hotel located in the Val d'Orcia region in Tuscany), we explore what makes a hotel feel like a home. From their former careers in marketing and communications to a new life in the Tuscan countryside, Heidi & Christopher have built Lupaia with their own hands: shaping every detail with passion, patience and soul.This episode is a reflection on authentic hospitality, where presence, intuition and love for beauty turn a simply stay into a deeply human experience... proof that when the owners are behind every detail, everything changes!

In this episode, Giacomo meets Juliana Angotti, founder of Hiddenist, one of Paris’s most exclusive maisons de voyage. With a background rooted in luxury, from beauty to bespoke travel, Juliana embodies the essence of the Hiddenist: curious, passionate, and endlessly creative. Together, they explore what it truly means to design journeys that are both hidden and hedonist: where emotion, beauty, and authenticity meet.

Every journey has a beginning. In this opening episode, Giacomo Sonzini invites you into his world: a life shaped by passion for travel, hotels, and the soul of hospitality. From his roots in Milan to his studies in Lausanne, and from his first collaborations to the creation of The H Curator, this is the story of how one vision became a voice for the future of hospitality. Follow Giacomo on Instagram @giacomo.sonzini, explore more stories on The Hospitality Curator website, and watch the full video episodes also on YouTube.

The H Curator Podcast: the place where hospitality reveals its true soul: made not only of beautiful hotels and perfect images, but of people, passion, and purpose.In a world where social media often shows only the polished surface, this podcast goes deeper. Each episode uncovers the stories, backgrounds, and emotions of those who make hospitality happen creating unforgettable experiences in some of the most extraordinary places around the world.The H Curator is for everyone who loves this industry: dreamers, future professionals, and those who simply believe that true hospitality is, above all, about people.