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Elena David was born in 1961 in Prato, where she still lives with her husband
and two children.
Graduated in Economics and Commerce at Florence University, her interest in the
hotel business world is disclosed in her thesis on the development of the hotel
industry in Florence.
In 1990 she started working in Starhotels where she began an intense professional
career holding many positions until, in 1998, she became member of the Board of
Directors and General Manager of the chain.
In July 2000, thanks to excellent achievements, she was invited by Gruppo Immobiliare
Fusi to hold the position of manager during the start up and development stage
of an ambitious project. This project was to set up a new and competitive hotel
business in Italy which was launched with the brand name UNA Hotels and Resorts.
Elena David ,really fond of Italy, has always “fought” to support the tourism
sector passionately. Throughout her professional career she has been tireless
in giving her contribution to the tourism culture.
This commitment took her on numerous academic activities, and she has always
been willing to hold key positions in various institutions.
INSTITUTIONAL POSITIONS HELD:
- Member of the National Hospitality Committee instituted on July 2011 for the
development and competitiveness of tourism.
- President of AICEO (Italian CEO Association) since May 2011
- President of the Employers’ Association AICA (Italian Association of Hotel
Chains) since 2008 and before that, from 2003 a member of the Managing Board
of the association;
- A member of the Giunta di Federturismo, elected to hold this post for the three
year period from 2007 to 2010;
- Representative in the Equal Opportunities Commission since September 2008;
- Member of Confederal Technical Committee "Territorial Politics and industrial
districts" since September 2008;
- Member of the Tuscan delegation of AIDDA (Tuscan Association of women entrepreneurs
and managers) since 1999;
- Founding member of A.C.A.P.O. (Association for Hotel Contracts and Hospitality
Planning) since 2004;
- Member of the Bellisario Foundation since 1999
AWARDS AND PRIZES
- In 2011 she was awarded the Elefantino d’Argento’ Top Manager international
price from the association “Catania, Talenti & Dintorni”;
- In 2009 the MIB School of Management of Trieste assigned Elena David the
IMTL Award
- In 2007 she was awarded the Excellence Price “Lido Vanni” for strategic innovation
- In 2004 she was awarded the Mela D’oro – the Melissa Bellisario Prize dedicated
to “Women in Tourism and Free Time enterprises”, promoted by the Bellisario Foundation
together with the Employers’ Association and Il Sole 24 Ore.
- In 2007 Manageritalia assigned Elena David the “Lido Vanni” Premio Eccellenza
(Excellence Prize) for innovative strategy.
- In 2002 she won the prize "TurismoOggi" as "Tourism's personage of the year".
- In 2002 Cinzia Sasso, a journalist from La Repubblica, wrote about her in the
book edited by Sperling & Kupfer Donne che amano il lavoro e la vita (women
who love their work and their lives).
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES:
- Lecturer in the “Planning and management in the tourist business” at the Fondazione
Campus Luca for the degree course in Tourism
- Lecturer in the Corso di Studi in Economia e Gestione dei Servizi Turistici
(Course in the Economics and Management of Tourist Services) at the Faculty of
Economics and Commerce at the University of Florence
- Lecturer in the Hotel Design course offered in Milan by Domus Academy and Interior
Design Institute (2004 and 2005).
SHE HAS TAKEN PART IN A NUMBER OF CONFERENCES AND INTIATIVES AIMED AT ANALYSING
DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOURISM MARKET:
- November 2001, "Towards new models in business: means and strategies for change"
– Trento
The first edition of the conference on innovation and IT was organized by the
University of Trento and Irst together with Ciset, Iasi-Cnr, TradeLab Bocconi
University;
- November 2002, "Investment opportunity in Italy" - Rimini
Tourism b2b conference, 1st annual appointment for operators on foreseeing trends
in the tourist sector, organized by Il Sole 24 Ore and Rimini Fiera business space
during the 52nd International Fair of Hotel Furniture and Fittings;
- November 2003, "Sustainable development and competition in tourism in Europe"
– Florence
3rd edition of Euromeeting, organized and promoted by the Tuscan Region together
with the Regions Committee and Turismo & Impresa, the annual conference of
Il Sole 24 Ore dedicated to the tourist industry;
- November 2004, "Women’s Development Day 2004" – Leadership – Florence
Italian and GE Women’s Network;
- Novembre 2005, "Women & leadership" – Torino
Italian GE Women’s Network;
- December 2005, "II Italian Summit of Personnel Managers Milan";
- May 2006, "Hotel: why invest in quality? New forms of investment, integrated
planning, improving quality of service and relationship with the territory", Milan
second edition of Expo Italia Real Estate at the Rho-Pero Milan Trade Fair
- May 2007, “Development of a national chain: the case of UNA Hotels & Resorts”,
Milan, third edition of Expo Italia Real Estate at the Rho-Pero Milan Trade Fair;
- June 2007, “Strategies for growth in the tourist sector”, Milan, IULM University;
- October 2007, "Aesthetic, Creativity, Design: essential component of made in
Italy", Siracusa, Aspen Seminars for Leaders;
- October 2007, "Creativity and Courage" – Feminine Leadership – Florence - GE
Women’s Network – Italy Hub
- April 2008, "Differentiation choices and growth strategy in the tourism sector",
Bocconi University – Milano;
- June 2008, “Trends in hospitality” – Milan, fourth edition of Expo Italia Real
Estate at the Rho-Pero Milan Trade Fair;
- July 2008, "Tourism, Perspectives and Governance" – EBIT Meeting – Roma;
- September 2008, "Global economies and Italian companies: winning with creativity
and innovation" – Ambrosetti Meeting;
- September 2008, "Tourism and Finance" – Italia Turismo – Otranto;
- October 2008, "Federturismo Confindustria meets Parliamentaries in Bruxelles"
– Federturismo Confindustria Mission – Bruxelles;
- October 2008, "Development of Tourist Industry and Management Formation" –
Manageritalia Convention – Florence;
- October 2008, "Tourism and Financial Law 2009" – Conference of the Parliamentary
Observatory for the Tourism – Rome;
- November 2008, "GOLF: an opportunity for Tourism", Meeting ROMA GOLF SHOW –
Rome;
- December 2008, "New frontiers of Tourism", Round table organized by On. M.
Brambilla – Naples;
- February 2009, Institutional Mission to Abu Dhabi – Dubai, organized by On.
M. Brambilla
- February 2009, "The Italian recognition to Tourism", XIV Ed. prize promoted
by Master Meeting – Milan;
- March 2009, "First Forum of Tourist Observatory", VI Ed. Fare Turismo – Salerno. |
