In our latest inCROWD interview, we catch up with Elodie Lacroix, Commercial Director at Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts on thinking out of the box, personalised luxury, and coordinating Celebrity Fight Night.

Elodie has extensive experience in the luxury hospitality sector working for major brands including Accor Group, Arora Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, and Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris. In her current role, she is responsible for developing the commercial strategy for Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

“Growing up in France, I always wanted to work in the hospitality business or to have my own hotel one day. The responsibilities assumed and challenges faced during both my professional career and personal experience have developed my leadership skills. I recently completed Hilton’s SHINE GM programme in order to become a general manager in the future,” she says.

My favourite #inVOYAGEMoment is… can I say all of them? There are so many to choose from, but I would definitely highlight the round of Golf that I played with clients in Ras Al Khaimah, which was one of the leisure activities suggested during inVOYAGE 2018. I was able to build a very strong relationship with the buyers I played with. The same goes for the fun speed boat activity in Monaco where actually I received a lead from one buyer while talking about activities you can do in Rome.

The thing I most love about working in events is… the human aspect of it and the creativity that it requires to make each event a success and unique. The human aspect in the sense that a lot of people are involved but all with different challenges and objectives that need to be satisfied. The creativity in the sense that you always need to think out of the box to help your client to make their event successful and magic

Luxury to me… starts with a human touch – a smile and special attention – which makes clients feel welcomed and unique whether they are the event organiser or the delegates. The luxury continues with the personalisation that ensures the event’s success. 

My first and fondest travel memory is… when I was 18 and I travelled to Africa with a Catholic organisation in order to bring books and supplies to the local communities and schools. Since that experience, I have returned to Africa every year.

City slicker or beach bum? Both!! Being curious and very active I need to move and discover, but I will never say no to lying on a beach in the sun with a nice cocktail!

If you could get on a plane right now, where would you fly and why? I would choose South America because it has been on my bucket list for a while.

Suitcase essentials?
A hat!! I noticed, and I’m not sure why, but I always travel with a hat, a cap. And I often come back from my holidays with a new one!

Your favourite hidden gem?
When I arrived in Rome I had the opportunity to visit a private chapel not opened to the public where a lot of unique stories about Michelangelo, that nobody knows, took place. 

Most memorable event moment?
Hands down, the best event was Celebrity Fight Night with a private concert by Andrea Bocelli on the roof top of Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria. It was certainly a very challenging event to coordinate, with many individual requirements for the many celebrities attending but a great and emotional satisfaction for an incredibly successful evening.

Do you have a mantra you live and work by?
Personally I believe that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and from a work perspective I like to lead by example and give credit where it is due.

When I’m not working, I’m most likely to be… discovering new places in Italy. I arrived four years ago and fell in love with this country, which offers such an amazing variety of landscapes, history, vineyards and culinary experiences.

When the pandemic is over, I am most looking forward to… visiting all our clients in the world in person. I kept in contact thanks to the social media, but we will never replace the face-to-face contact which creates fantastic memories.