Christian Zandonella Appointed as General Manager of Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel, Venice

After more than two decades of leading luxury hotels around the globe, Christian Zandonella returns to Italy to head the reopening of one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks: Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel, Venice, set to relaunch in mid-2026.

Situated on the famous Riva degli Schiavoni, just steps from Piazza San Marco, the Danieli encompasses three interconnected palaces including the 15th-century Palazzo Dandolo.  Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon is overseeing the renovation, blending centuries of Venetian craftsmanship with a fresh, modern sensibility. 

Under Zandonella’s guidance, Danieli will unveil exquisitely reimagined rooms—expanding to 176 luminous accommodations by 2027—where refined design and sumptuous textures drift together in effortless harmony. Central to the hotel’s rebirth will be its signature experiences, each crafted to reveal a more intimate and authentic Venice. Guests may wander through private palazzos and secret gardens or set out across the lagoon aboard a vintage fishing vessel, discovering the city’s waterways from an entirely new perspective.

Zandonella’s career spans a rich variety of roles in numerous countries.  He was born in South Tyrol and raised in Munich, beginning his hospitality journey with an apprenticeship in food and beverage in Munich. He then spent two decades working in several positions ranging from sales and marketing to food and beverage innovation and general management roles in cities such as Vienna, Bahrain, Toronto, Berlin, Capri, Barcelona, and Rome.

In January 2025, he took the helm at Danieli, preparing the hotel’s transformation into one of Italy’s finest luxury destinations.

“As we prepare the Danieli for its relaunch, my goal is to honour its storied past while creating a Four Seasons experience that feels both intimately Venetian and universally welcoming,” says Zandonella. “Venice has always inspired the world’s imagination. At the Danieli, we open the door to authentic cultural connections – collaborating with local craftspeople and celebrating the beauty of everyday life in the city.”