There are hotel groups that grow by scale, and others that grow by soul. Corinthia belongs firmly to the latter. What began more than 60 years ago as a small restaurant inside a Maltese villa has become one of the luxury world’s most intriguing emerging players: a family-founded brand undergoing a striking reinvention, expanding into global capitals, and quietly positioning itself as a name travellers will soon be hearing far more often.
For decades, Corinthia’s reputation centred on its heritage. Its founding hotel – Corinthia Palace, opened in 1968 opposite Malta’s Presidential Palace – remains a symbol of generational warmth and Mediterranean refinement, fiercely loved by a family and guests alike, that prized growth, but not at the expense of over the last five years that has rewritten its trajectory. Corinthia is no longer simply a respected operator of grand city hotels; it is now a modern luxury collection with ambition, personality and a renewed sense of purpose.
A family-driven vision for modern luxury
At the heart of this story is the Pisani family. Alfred Pisani, who transformed his late father’s newly acquired villa into an 80-seat restaurant in 1962, still serves as Executive Chairman. His determination, entrepreneurial spirit and insistence on quality laid the groundwork for what would become a multinational group spanning hotels, real estate, design consultancy and development. Today, multiple members of the Pisani family hold leadership roles across the company, ensuring continuity as Corinthia accelerates into its next chapter.
In 2023, Corinthia unveiled a bold repositioning that signals its global intent. Working with Luxury Partners, the brand introduced a new identity anchored in two phrases that capture its evolving personality: ” Grand Boutique” and “Properly Inventive.” The first speaks to Corinthia’s sweet spot – hotels with the architectural presence of grande dames but the intimacy and energy of boutique hideaways. The second distils the service philosophy: classic comfort paired with creativity, warmth and a hint of Mediterranean playfulness.
This shift arrived alongside a refreshed visual world – Malta-inspired tones, a modernised logotype, local artist collaborations and a new photography style that brings a more human, emotive lens to the brand. Internally, the transformation was matched with rigorous training programmes, a brand book and new digital standards designed to unify the guest experience across continents.
Leadership shaping the next chapter
View this post on Instagram
The appointment of Simon Casson, formerly Four Seasons’ President of EMEA, as CEO in early 2024 further signalled Corinthia’s aspirations. Casson describes the group as a “challenger brand” – one capable of competing with luxury’s most established names while offering something distinctly its own.
Corinthia’s reputation is closely tied to its mastery of heritage restoration. Few hotel groups of its size have developed such a consistent track record of reviving landmark buildings – from Budapest’s 1896 Grand Hotel Royal to London’s former Metropole Hotel, now one of the city’s most celebrated modern
grand hotels.
That craftsmanship continues today. Corinthia Brussels, reopened in late 2024 after a €150 million transformation, brings the
Belle Époque Grand Hotel Astoria back to life with Michelin-starred dining, a dramatic stained-glass atrium recreated from archival photographs, and one of Europe’s more impressive new urban spas. Corinthia Bucharest, opening in March 2025, transforms an 1873 palace into an all-suite jewel box, marking one of the most ambitious luxury openings in Eastern Europe.
These projects demonstrate a defining strength: Corinthia’s ability to act as developer, investor, designer and operator through its integrated group of companies. This allows for an approach to restoration that is not only meticulous but deeply personal – a point of pride for the Pisanis, who view heritage as both responsibility and opportunity.
A powerful expansion era
View this post on Instagram
The last two years have marked the most significant expansion period in Corinthia’s history. The opening of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel in New York in October 2024 introduced the brand to North America, reimagining an Upper East Side icon with residential-style interiors, an exclusive Casa Tua partnership and a curated local art programme.
Looking ahead, Corinthia’s pipeline reveals a period of remarkable growth. Corinthia Rome, housed in the former Central Bank of Italy building, is set to make a major impact with dining by Carlo Cracco and interiors that blend neoclassical grandeur with Roman modernity. Corinthia Doha, rising on Gewan Island, brings together a 1,000-seat ballroom, branded villas, a beach club and a yacht club in one sweeping development. Corinthia Maldives promises sculptural, nature-inspired architecture and a world-class wellness focus, while Corinthia Riyadh will introduce a contemporary take on Najdi design within the ambitious Diriyah Gate masterplan.
By the end of the decade, Corinthia expects to operate in global capitals including Rome, New York, Riyadh and Dubai, alongside flagship resorts in destinations of increasing strategic value.
A brand defined by heritage, humanity and modernity
What distinguishes Corinthia within an increasingly competitive landscape is its blend of heritage, humanity and modernity. It is rare for a still led by its founding family after more than 60 years; rarer still for that family to remain actively involved in development and culture.
This continuity infuses Corinthia’s hotels with something harder to quantify: beauty, pride and a sense of belonging.
At the same time, the brand’s new era is defined by cohesion – architectural ambition, people-first identity, artisan craftsmanship, notable spas and a design language that balances classicism with contemporary warmth. Guests who want more than properties; guests who want to feel heard.
Towards a new decade of visibility
As Corinthia approaches its seventh decade, the period ahead signals a new era of visibility. Its upcoming openings in Rome, Doha, Riyadh and the Maldives will introduce the “Grand Boutique” philosophy to new audiences, while designs for Corinthia Dubai – A double-tower architectural statement set to exceed 500 metres in height – signals that the brand is ready to play in the world-icon category.
Yet through all the expansion, Corinthia’s core elements remain grounded in the story of a Maltese family that built a hospitality group through perseverance, intuition and care. The spirit that began in a single villa restaurant still shapes the brand today – only now, the world is taking notice.
Quick Summary – Corinthia Hotels
- 🌍 Brand evolution: From a Maltese villa restaurant to a growing global luxury hotel group.
- 👨👩👧👦 Family leadership: The Pisani family continues to guide Corinthia after more than six decades.
- 🏛 Heritage focus: Known for restoring landmark buildings, including Brussels’ Grand Hotel Astoria and Bucharest’s 1873 palace.
- 🎨 New identity: “Grand Boutique” philosophy and refreshed design, visual language and service culture.
- 🧭 Global openings: New properties planned in Rome, Doha, Riyadh, Maldives and Dubai, plus recent debut in New York.
- 💼 Strategic vision: Led by CEO Simon Casson, positioning Corinthia as a dynamic challenger in luxury hospitality.
- ✨ Core essence: A blend of heritage, humanity and modernity shaping its expansion into major capitals.
