A New Luxury Hotel Group Is Set to Debut with Constellation Hotels

Constellation already owns several prestigious hotel properties, but until now, their operations had been entrusted to an external operator. In London, The Connaught, The Berkeley, and The Emory were managed by Maybourne, which handled staffing, reservations, marketing, and the guest experience. Last July, an agreement was reached between the two partners to reorganize their operations. While Maybourne had previously served as the shared platform responsible for operating the hotels owned by both companies, each company will now directly manage its own properties.

The announced change therefore concerns the business model. Constellation aims to become both the owner and operator of its hotels. The group will thus create an international brand, the name of which is set to be revealed before the end of this year. This brand will not replace the existing brands: each property will retain its name and identity—a wise choice, as the hotels under the Constellation banner include properties characterized by a strong and well-recognized history and identity, such as The Connaught in London. The group will therefore operate as a collection of unique properties rather than a standardized chain.

This new platform will be led by Neil Jacobs. Having headed the Six Senses group for thirteen years, he has a solid track record: under his leadership, Six Senses grew from eight to 27 properties, with more than 30 additional projects in development. He subsequently founded Wild Origins, a consulting collective dedicated to “experiential” hospitality. The businessman will work alongside Gianluca Muzzi, CEO of Constellation Hotels. Muzzi will remain in charge of asset ownership, investments, and portfolio strategy.

In addition to three iconic London locations, the new collection’s portfolio will also include three future openings: a hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris; a project in Marrakech; and another at Hackwood Park, a historic estate in Hampshire set to become a high-end “country hotel.” By bringing management in-house, Constellation will be able to directly oversee the teams, rates, distribution, and quality of service.