About Us
Manganiello Hospitality is a consultancy firm specialising in the development of distinctive hotels and lodges, from the earliest concept through opening, positioning and operation.
We work with hotel owners, developers and investors to transform a vision into a hospitality product that makes sense, for its location, its market, its guests and the people who will ultimately operate it.
From concept development and guest experience to design, construction, procurement, logistics, operational readiness, communication and positioning, we bring together the expertise required to create hotels that are not only beautiful, but work operationally, commercially and as a brand.
With particular expertise in remote and complex destinations, our approach is rooted in the belief that exceptional hospitality should be deeply connected to its surroundings, respecting the environment, engaging local communities and creating experiences that
are rooted in each place.
Meet Emilia Manganiello
Founder & CEO, Hotel Development & Hospitality Strategist
At the heart of Manganiello Hospitality is Emilia Manganiello, a hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience developing, opening and operating distinctive hotels, particularly in the remote landscapes of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.
Her expertise combines strategic vision with hands-on operational knowledge, connecting every stage of hotel development from understanding the destination, market and guest profile and defining the hotel concept, through design, construction, procurement and logistics, to building the team, preparing the operation and bringing the property to market.
Throughout her career, Emilia has worked with internationally recognised hospitality brands and led complex projects where operational excellence, attention to detail and a deep understanding of place are essential.
Among her career highlights is her leadership in the development and recent opening of The Cormorant at 55 South, Silversea’s (Royal Caribbean Group) luxury hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, coordinating design, construction, procurement, logistics and operational planning in one of the world’s most remote destinations.
Her experience also includes advising Explora on procurement, pre-opening and operations for its new properties in El Calafate and Torres del Paine, and nearly eight years as General Manager of Hotel Cabo de Hornos in Punta Arenas, where she led a team of more than 120 people and oversaw a major hospitality operation serving international travellers. Earlier in her career, Emilia gained valuable experience in luxury hospitality, procurement and guest experience at Awasi Patagonia, as well as in boutique hotel development and management in Buenos Aires.
Expertise built around every project
Emilia leads each project personally, supported by a trusted team of experienced and passionate professionals with whom she has worked throughout her career and whom she is proud to bring together at Manganiello Hospitality.
Together, they bring complementary expertise across hotel development, architecture, operations, procurement, branding, communication, marketing and international positioning, allowing the firm to approach each project with an integrated perspective from concept to market.
What distinguishes Emilia’s approach is her ability to see the entire hospitality product, understanding how decisions made at the very beginning will ultimately shape the guest experience, operational efficiency, market positioning and long-term success of the property.
For Emilia, building a great hotel means creating something that works for its guests, its owners, its people and the destination it calls home.
Our Services
From Vision to Opening and Beyond
Every great hotel begins with an idea. Turning that idea into a successful hospitality product requires every decision, from location and guest profile to design, operations and positioning, to work together as a team.
Manganiello Hospitality supports owners, developers and investors throughout the hotel development journey, combining strategic thinking with hands-on hospitality experience.
We look at every hotel as a complete product, connecting concept, place, guest experience, design and operations from the very beginning.
01
Concept & Hotel Product Development
Defining the right hotel, before building it.
We work from the earliest stages of a project to define the hotel concept and develop a product with a clear reason to exist.
This starts by understanding the destination, the opportunity and the guest: who will travel there, what they are looking for, why they would choose this hotel and what will make the experience distinctive.
Our work includes
concept and product definition · guest profiling · market and competitive analysis · destination assessment · hotel positioning · guest experience · product and service mix · initial operational strategy
02
Location & Destination Strategy
The right hotel starts with understanding the place.
Location shapes almost every aspect of a hospitality project, from its guest profile and experience to its logistics, seasonality and operating model.
We assess the location not only as a physical site, but as a destination, i.e. accessibility, surrounding hotel offer, local infrastructure, communities, suppliers, natural environment and the opportunities and challenges that will ultimately shape the product.
Our particular expertise in remote destinations allows us to anticipate complexities that need to be considered long before opening.
Our work includes
location and site assessment · destination and competitor analysis · accessibility · seasonality · local infrastructure · logistics considerations · local ecosystem and supplier assessment
03
Design, Development & Project Coordination
Turning the concept into a hotel that works.
We bring an operational hospitality perspective to the design and development process, working alongside owners, architects, interior designers, construction teams and other specialists.
The objective is simple, to ensure that the original vision translates into a property that works beautifully for guests and efficiently for the people operating it.
Emilia’s experience includes reviewing layouts and operational flows, coordinating architecture, construction and operations, overseeing quality and ensuring that design decisions remain aligned with the intended hospitality product.
Our work includes
project coordination · design review · guest and staff flows · back-of-house planning · operational layouts · construction coordination · quality control · alignment between design, brand and operations
04
Procurement & Logistics
Getting every detail to the right place, at the right time.
Procurement is much more than purchasing. Every item needs to respond to the hotel concept, operational requirements, quality standards, budget and opening schedule.
We manage and coordinate FF&E and OS&E procurement, from specifications and supplier selection to negotiation, purchasing, delivery and installation.
For remote destinations, we bring particular expertise in complex logistics, including international sourcing, consolidation, transportation, customs, storage and final delivery.
Our work includes
FF&E and OS&E · sourcing and supplier selection · RFPs and negotiation · budgeting and cost control · purchasing schedules · international logistics · transportation and storage · delivery coordination
05
Pre-opening, Operations & People
Preparing the hotel, and its people, for day one.
A beautiful property only becomes a hotel when its operation and its people are ready.
We support the transition from development to opening, designing the operational structure, defining staffing requirements, establishing procedures and service flows, and helping teams prepare to deliver the intended guest experience from day one.
Emilia brings the perspective of someone who has both developed hotels and operated them, including almost eight years as General Manager of Hotel Cabo de Hornos, where she led a team of more than 120 people.
Our work includes
pre-opening planning · organisational structure · staffing and team planning · SOPs · service standards · operational flows · training coordination · opening preparation · operational handover
06
Brand, Communication & Market Positioning
Creating the story, and taking it to market.
A strong hotel product needs a clear identity and a compelling reason for guests, partners and the market to choose it.
Working with our specialist team, we develop communication, marketing and positioning strategies that translate the essence of the hotel into a distinctive market presence, from defining its story and key messages to building visibility in priority markets.
Our work includes
brand positioning · communication strategy · storytelling and key messages · marketing strategy · PR and media relations · content strategy · international positioning · partnerships and market development · launch communication
07
Local Integration & Sustainable Hospitality
Creating hotels that belong to their destination.
Every destination has its own people, products and stories. We believe the most compelling hospitality experiences are those that could not simply be replicated somewhere else.
We work to identify ways in which each project can connect meaningfully with its surroundings, through local talent, suppliers, culture, products and communities, while considering conservation and environmental responsibility throughout the development process.
Particularly in remote destinations, the relationship between a hotel and its community can become an essential part of both the guest experience and the long-term value of the project.
Our work includes
local supplier integration · community engagement · local employment opportunities · regional culture and identity · conservation considerations · sustainable operating practices · destination integration
Our Mission
At Manganiello Hospitality, our mission is to create hotels that are not only exceptional places to stay, but meaningful expressions of the destinations they call home.
We believe the best hospitality begins with a deep understanding of place, its landscape, culture, people, possibilities and challenges, and with a clear understanding of the guest, who will come, why they will choose to travel there and what will make the experience worth remembering.
For us, a hotel should never feel as though it could simply be replicated somewhere else.
Its location should shape its concept. Its community and culture should enrich its identity. Its surroundings should influence the experience. And every decision, from design and operations to the people, products and stories within it, should contribute to a genuine sense of place.
From IDEA to Lasting Value
A great idea also needs to work.
Our mission is therefore to connect vision with reality, creating hotels that are inspiring for guests, intelligent to operate, commercially relevant and sustainable over the long term.
That means thinking about the entire hospitality product from the very beginning, connecting the destination, guest, concept, design, operations, people and positioning so that every element works towards the same vision.
Because ultimately, we believe the most successful hotels don’t simply exist within a destination.
They belong to it.
Our Team
The People Behind Every Project
Manganiello Hospitality brings together professionals with extensive experience across hotel development, operations, procurement, logistics, communications, administration and finance.
Led by Emilia Manganiello, the team combines complementary expertise and years of working together on complex hospitality projects, bringing practical knowledge and a shared understanding of what it takes to take a hotel from concept to operation.
Leading the team
Emilia Manganiello
Founder & CEO | Hotel Development & Hospitality Strategist
With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, Emilia has led the development, opening and operation of distinctive hotels, particularly in Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. Her expertise spans the entire hotel development journey, connecting concept, design, construction, procurement, logistics, operations and guest experience with a clear understanding of the destination and market.
We would be delighted to bring our expertise to your next project.
Phone / WhatsApp
Based in
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Send us a message