Paolo Benassi

Paolo Benassi began his shipboard hospitality career in Italy at the age of 21 and worked his way up to hotel director. Later he joined Costa Cruises as Vice President of Hotel Operations and was sent to Florida to oversee the launching of the "Costa Riviera" and the "Cruising Italian Style" marketing concept in the U.S. market. Benassi decided to remain in Florida with his wife and two children when Costa was purchased by Carnival Cruises and moved its operation division back to Genoa. He is...See more

Paolo Benassi began his shipboard hospitality career in Italy at the age of 21 and worked his way up to hotel director. Later he joined Costa Cruises as Vice President of Hotel Operations and was sent to Florida to oversee the launching of the "Costa Riviera" and the "Cruising Italian Style" marketing concept in the U.S. market. Benassi decided to remain in Florida with his wife and two children when Costa was purchased by Carnival Cruises and moved its operation division back to Genoa. He is now with the Maritime Holdings Group where he managed, among other cruise ships, the hospitality services of two fascinating sea-going programs "The Scholar Ship" and "The Peace Boat" and created a Shipboard Management Hospitality Training Program certified by the University of California, Riverside, while serving as an adjunct professor in "Food Management" at Johnson & Wales South Florida campus and "Hospitality & Tourism" at Florida Atlantic University. See less