2025 EHL Experiential Luxury Forum

An exceptional hotelier with a world of management experience earned exclusively with Four Seasons, Adrian Messerli knows that the brand’s people, and their dedication to genuine care, makes all the difference in luxury hospitality. From palace hotels in Europe to glittering skyscrapers in the Middle East to hideaway beach resorts in Africa, he is tasked with overseeing Four Seasons hotel operations across a diverse portfolio of more than 40 operating properties and 20 under development.

Whatever the address, Messerli believes hotel teams need strong leadership support to excel. He describes his personal style as “inclusive,” and his goal, he says, is to “bring out the best by giving people the opportunity to develop the services they provide.”

Hospitality has always been a good fit for Messerli, who was born in a ski resort village in the German-speaking region of Switzerland and raised in his parents’ fourth-generation family-owned hotel. They hoped he would be the fifth generation someday, but he had other priorities, including serving in the military and working for Swissair. In 2002, he achieved his degree from hospitality school and began his career that has now spanned 21 years.

Olivier Jolidon is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of international leadership experience in marketing, CRM, and analytics within the luxury sector. He holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and a Bachelor of Science from the prestigious Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Olivier has held senior roles at globally renowned luxury brands, including Global Head of CRM, Insights & Analytics at AMAN and Director of Digital & CRM at Estée Lauder, where he led high-impact, data-driven strategies to elevate customer experience and brand engagement.

His expertise spans managing complex CRM, digital transformation, and business intelligence initiatives across diverse international markets, consistently driving growth and innovation in the luxury hospitality and beauty industries.

With over two decades of leadership in luxury hospitality and cruise operations, Jens has built a career at the intersection of guest experience, operational excellence, and innovation. He has held senior roles across hotel and shipboard functions, shaping service culture and performance standards in some of the world’s most recognized luxury brands.

At The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, he now oversees shipboard hospitality, guest experience, supply chain, Operational FP&A, and destination operations. Passionate about sustainability and forward-thinking strategy, he focuses on redefining modern luxury through operational agility, guest-centric design, and immersive experiences that blend leisure with cultural and educational enrichment.

Lucas Imhof is the Global Head of Hospitality at Audemars Piguet, where he leads the team responsible for designing immersive, meaningful experiences at the Manufacture in Le Brassus and across AP’s 80+ global points of sale. He is dedicated to creating environments where clients feel genuinely cared for. With 16 years of experience across luxury hospitality and fine watchmaking, Lucas has held key roles at some of the world’s finest hotels before joining Audemars Piguet in 2017 to lead the development of the brand’s own hotel project, the Hôtel des Horlogers.

From his childhood in Africa and Asia to his professional experiences in Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, and Switzerland, Lucas had the chance to live in culturally diverse environments, where hospitality was omnipresent. For him, hospitality goes beyond set procedures and ceremonies: it’s a whole way of seeing things from a caring perspective. 

Simone is Head of Heritage and VIP Guest Experience at Zegna, where he connects guests to the brand’s legacy through immersive storytelling, curated events, and personalized gifting strategies that celebrate Italian artistry and excellence. He specializes in luxury brand management, guest engagement, and cultural programming, leading cross-functional teams to create experiences that blend tradition with innovation. Through strategic partnerships and bespoke initiatives, he ensures Zegna’s most valued guests form lasting, meaningful connections with the brand’s heritage.

Catherine Eberlé Devaux joined Bulgari in 2021. Graduated of EDHEC Business School in Marketing, Catherine decided to combine her professional choices with her interests and passions. She first spent fifteen years defining the communication for a high-end hand-crafted footwear industry. Convinced that the richness and depth of a brand can be found in its roots, she then moved to Switzerland to oversee the Brand Heritage strategy for TAG Heuer. She expanded her role at Bulgari as Global Watch communication Director, to shape the legitimacy of Bulgari Horlogerie in due consistency with the brand strategy and values.

Besides her strategic role for Bvlgari Horlogerie, Catherine is also the Managing Director of the Geneva Watch Days, which have become, in only 5 years, the second most important Watch rendez-vous, establishing Geneva as the capital of Watchmaking. She shapes a unique and agile event, in a friendly mode thanks to her federative personality and gathers the whole community.

Pierre-Antoine Coutand is Vice President Global Brand at Orient Express, where he oversees the international brand strategy across trains, cruises, and hotels, ensuring exceptional and memorable guest experiences.

He began his career within the LVMH group at Louis Vuitton in Paris and Milan, managing Private Client Relations and designing exclusive events for VICs worldwide and has then extended its experience at Le Bon Marché, Parisian department store.

He then joined Tesla as Head of Marketing France, where he developed disruptive marketing strategies, led major product launches, and built impactful partnerships to strengthen the brand’s presence.

At Puy du Fou, he served as International Hospitality Director and spearheaded the launch of Le Grand Tour, a luxury rail journey across France combining hospitality, storytelling, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Drawing on this unique background in luxury, hospitality, and brand management, Pierre-Antoine now leverages his expertise to position Orient Express as a global icon of travel, blending authenticity, innovation, and emotion.

Driven by a lifelong passion for horology and the guiding principle to "perfect what is within our control," Pascal Ravessoud serves as the Executive Vice-President of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH). This Swiss-based non-profit institution is dedicated to advocating mechanical watchmaking, and in his capacity, he co-leads the FHH, playing a central role in shaping its educational, editorial, and event initiatives. A seasoned leader in the industry, Ravessoud is instrumental in advancing the culture and understanding of haute horlogerie globally. He is recognized for his deep expertise in the watchmaking sector and his strategic leadership in promoting its heritage and future, frequently engaging business, academic, and general public audiences through speaking engagements.

Since joining the FHH in 2007 as Marketing & Development Director, Ravessoud has played a pivotal role in structuring its cultural initiatives, forging strategic partnerships, and developing significant platforms such as the Cultural Council and the FHH Forum. Through the development of an extensive international network centered on watchmaking knowledge, he has consistently worked to demystify horology and enhance its accessibility to a broader audience through educational programs, industry storytelling, and fostering dialogue among brands. His leadership at the FHH reflects a profound commitment to uniting the industry and defending the cultural value of horological creations.

Prior to his tenure at the FHH, Ravessoud joined Harry Winston's timepieces division in 2004 under the leadership of Max Büsser, where he gained extensive experience in brand building, storytelling, and marketing within the haute horlogerie domain.

Ravessoud began his career by co-creating and developing the Montreux Comedy Festival, which has since become one of the leading festivals in the Francophone world today. He then transitioned to MCI Group, specializing in the management of large global events. As a Key Account Manager, he oversaw strategic accounts such as Merck-Serono, Patek Philippe, and the Red Cross organization, delivering class-leading international projects. Subsequently, he joined Covance, a global pharmaceutical services company, working within its clinical division in London, UK.

An acute collector and deeply passionate about watches, Pascal Ravessoud holds an MBA from Business School Lausanne and currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland.