Rocco Forte Hotels

Sir Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi are British hoteliers who founded Rocco Forte Hotels following the sale of the family’s original hospitality business. Forte read modern languages at Oxford and qualified as a chartered accountant before assuming leadership of the family group and eventually establishing his own hotel business in 1996. Polizzi is a trained optometrist turned hotelier and interior designer. She serves as director of design and deputy chair of the group, bringing a strong aesthetic and guest-experience focus to the business.

Together they launched Rocco Forte Hotels with an ambition to build a portfolio of luxury hotels characterised by bespoke design, exceptional service and appreciation for local culture. Their flagship acquisitions and then new-build properties span major cities and resort destinations across Europe, including London, Rome and Sicily. Forte handles strategic leadership, business development and brand stewardship, while Polizzi oversees the creative and design aspects of the hotels, ensuring each property has its personality but remains part of a cohesive group identity. Their business approach emphasises long-term ownership, high-quality hospitality and premium guest experience.

The founding duo have steered the group through market ups and downs, retaining private ownership and carefully selecting locations and properties. Their story reflects a blend of entrepreneurial drive, design sensibility and operational expertise. They both continue to guide Rocco Forte Hotels’ growth, combining heritage and luxury as the hospitality sector evolves.