Gabriele Burgio (Florence, 1954) graduated in Law from the University of Florence, specialising in Private International Law, and subsequently obtained an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau.

He began his career at Bankers Trust, working from 1982 to 1993 in the offices of New York, Milan, and Rome. In 1993, he joined the CIR Group as Chief Executive Officer of Cofir, a listed holding company on the Madrid Stock Exchange, operating in Spain and Portugal.

From 1997 to 2011, Mr Burgio served as Chief Executive Officer of NH Hotels, transforming the company from a local operator specialising in three- and four-star hotels in Spain into an international group present in 25 countries. Under his leadership, the number of hotels grew from 66 to 401, and turnover increased thirteenfold.

Since May 2012, Gabriele Burgio has held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alpitour World, the leading travel company and the largest integrated tourism group in Italy. Under his guidance, the Group embarked on a process of renewal and reorganisation, which led in 2018 to the acquisition of Eden Viaggi, then the second largest tour operator in Italy. Alongside growth through acquisitions, he has also driven organic growth, enabling Alpitour World to achieve over €2.4 billion in total turnover in 2024.

During the pandemic, which affected the tourism sector more than any other, Mr Burgio led a significant reorganisation and optimisation of the Group, with particular focus on the Tour Operating Division, through the TREVOLUTION and inNOVA projects. Furthermore, he promoted the expansion of the Neos airline fleet, which now comprises 18 state-of-the-art aircraft, and the development of the VOIhotels and VRetreats hotel collections, which today include 26 properties.

He is a regular speaker at major international conferences in the tourism sector, and has received numerous accolades: the Tiepolo Prize (2002), the title of “Manager of the Year in Spain” (2003), the “Excellence in Tourism” award from His Royal Highness Felipe II (2007), and the honour of Grand Officer of the Order of the Star, conferred by the President of the Italian Republic (2010).