Following a nation-wide search Granduca Hotels is pleased to announce the hiring of Joseph Violi as general manager of Hotel Granduca Austin, which is slated to open October 2015 in the Westlake area.

Bringing extensive luxury hotel and resort experience to Granduca Austin, Violi will be overseeing the property's opening later this fall. As general manager his duties include all opening activities, managing the day-to-day operations of the boutique hotel. He has been interviewing candidates for key positions while setting up the Austin office.

"I've worked at many different properties throughout my career and I believe Austin has the sophistication of Carmel, the funkiness of Key West, the beauty of Sonoma and the excitement of Chicago all in one place. I'm looking forward to being instrumental in the hotel's success," said Violi when asked about joining Hotel Granduca Austin.

Violi's hospitality career began by joining the well-regarded management trainee program at the Hyatt Hotel Corporation. Upon completion of Hyatt's program, Violi worked as a restaurant manager and was then promoted to director of food and beverage for a number of properties including The Hyatt Regency Miami, The Hyatt Regency Dearborn, and The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale before moving to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company as the director of food and beverage at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel. He was then promoted to hotel manager of the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead for two years before moving to the Ritz-Carlton Aspen to oversee its opening in 1992 by serving as general manager; the hotel was awarded AAA Four Diamond rating its inaugural year.

"Mr. Violi has the skills and understanding needed to ensure a successful grand opening and we are thrilled to have him as part of the Granduca Austin team," said Alex Borlenghi, Executive Vice President of The Interfin Companies.

Violi also worked at a number of small to medium-sized luxury hotels and resorts around the country and in Bermuda including Grand Bay Hotels & Resorts, The Cliffs Resort, and Carmel Valley Ranch before joining Waldorf Astoria where he most recently worked as the general manager for Casa Marina and The Reach Resorts in Key West, Florida.

Additionally, Violi is a member of several professional organizations including Cornell Hotel Society and the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. During his tenure at Casa Marina and The Reach, Violi served on the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Board as well as on the Board of Directors for the Key West Chamber of Commerce. He plans to continue his practice of community involvement in Austin and will serve as a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

Granduca Austin is the newest member of Granduca Hotels, a Houston-based hospitality group founded in 2006 by Italian born Houston developer Giorgio Borlenghi. A joint venture between The Interfin Companies, LP and Riverside Resources of Austin, the 9-story hotel will sit atop a hillside on Bee Caves Road and Loop 360 in the Westlake area, just a short ride from downtown. Granduca Austin broke ground in April 2014 and will open October 2015. For more information call 512.646.3007 or visit www.GranducaAustin.com