Meet Antonio! Bringing his Expertise as the New General Manager of Patina Maldives

Saturday 25th of June 2022

Antonio Saponara has been named as the new general manager of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, following the establishment's first anniversary. At the head of the pack of Patina Maldives is a seasoned expert in luxury hospitality management and operations, Antonio.

The Naples-born expert will use his extensive experience, clarity of vision, and sure-footed mastery of hotel operations to shape Patina Maldives as it matures through its second year and beyond. He has an impressive track record, managing flagship hotels for luxury brands including Aman, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah, and Ritz-Carlton.

Antonio began his career in food and beverage operations before moving to Phuket, Thailand to take the position of executive assistant manager at the Aman flagship Amanpuri, Phuket. While there, he oversaw operations and helped open a new restaurant with two-Michelin starred Chef Naoki Okumura.

In 2008, Antonio was promoted to hotel manager. After working at Amanpuri, Antonio accepted the position of general manager at The Surin Phuket. He renovated the hotel with renowned architect Ed Tuttle and reopened it after a thorough rebranding and repositioning process. Antonio was the pre-opening general manager of the Bulgari Hotel & Residences Moscow, scheduled to open in December 2022, before joining the Capella Hotel Group.

“It is a tremendous privilege to have been entrusted with the stewardship of one of the most inspiring, forward-thinking pioneers of next-gen Maldives hospitality; I am excited to bring fresh impetus as Patina Maldives embraces the next stage of its perpetual journey to positively impact people and place.” Expressing his enthusiasm over his new employment is Antonio.

After his time in Thailand, Antonio went to China, where he joined The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and eventually rose to become the inaugural general manager of the Bulgari Hotel Beijing. Despite the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, Antonio managed to turn a profit for the Bulgari Hotel Beijing within the first month of operation. He also maintained a previously high level of employee and customer satisfaction throughout his tenure.