International Hotel & Villa Representation
Connecting
exceptional properties
with the right markets.
Business Development · Canada & Italy
Travel & Tourism · Hotel Management
Business Development specialist with 26 years in the travel industry, helping boutique hotels and villas grow their presence, visibility, and revenue in the North American market.
26
Years in Travel
18+
Years in Business Dev
30K+
Industry Contact
“I help boutique hotels and villas grow their business in the North American market.”
Education
Travel & Tourism
Hotel Management
Specialisation
Hotel & Villa
Representation
Based
Canada &
Greve in Chianti, Italy
Current focus
Italian Hotels, Villas
& Boutique Properties
Who I Am
Two decades of relationships,
one clear focus
The first thing I knew for certain was that travel would play a role in my life. I couldn’t have told you how — I didn’t get on a plane until I was seventeen — but the certainty was there long before the opportunity was. From the moment that changed, I never stopped moving.
Over the past 26 years I’ve built a career in the travel industry that has taken me across Canada, through Europe, and eventually to the place I now call home: Tuscany. I’ve lived and worked in five countries and spent the better part of two decades mastering business development — the art of connecting the right product with the right market, and making that connection last.
In my Business Development career I’ve grown a portfolio to over $20 million, closed more than 50 net new contracts, and earned 24 industry accolades along the way. I’ve held a seat on a Canadian national advisory board and built a reputation as someone who didn’t just manage accounts — I grew them.
“Through agent training, events, and hands-on account development, I’ve learned what it takes to sell a property well. And I’ve learned what a property needs to be worth selling in the first place.”
For the past several years I’ve been doing the work I’m now bringing to Italy: contracted hotel representation, managing a portfolio of resort properties and introducing them to the Canadian travel agent market.
The Italy Chapter
My father was born in Italy. Throughout all of my career, a thread ran quietly underneath: an obsession with understanding the land where my roots grew from — not just visiting, but knowing it.
I came to Siena to study art and architecture — stained glass, specifically. I stayed because it felt like home.
I’ve now spent four years living between Canada and Tuscany — immersing myself in the hospitality, the culture, and the network of boutique hotels, villa owners, winemakers, and artisans who make this region unlike anywhere else.
Now I’m making the deliberate move I’ve been working toward: shifting my representation focus to Italy — developing partnerships with exceptional boutique hotels and villa collections, and connecting them with the North American market through the hands-on, relationship-driven work I’ve spent 26 years learning how to do well.
Distribution reach
A curated network of over 30,000 travel professionals and industry contacts — built over 26 years of genuine relationship development.
For hotel & villa owners
I bring an active track record in exactly this work — and a genuine understanding of the market you’re trying to reach. I’d welcome a conversation.
For travel professionals & guests
I’m building a carefully curated portfolio of places I know and believe in — properties I’ve come to understand from the inside, in a region I genuinely call home. Stay close
What I offer
How I help you grow
My approach is not passive representation — it is active, hands-on market development built on relationships, strategy, and consistent presence in the North American travel trade.
01
Business Development & Representation
Direct outreach to high-performing travel advisors and agencies, ongoing account management, consortium and TMC partnerships, and contract negotiation focused on long-term, high-value business.
02
B2B Strategy & Market Access
Working within the B2B travel ecosystem — connecting your property with agencies and networks that already serve your ideal client. Leveraging 30,000+ trusted advisor relationships built over 26 years.
03
Sales Activation & Market Presence
Office trainings, educational webinars, in-person sales visits, conferences, trade shows, and curated client events — keeping your property visible and top of mind across key markets.
04
FAM Trips & Site Visits
Curated familiarization trips with top-producing agents, on-property experiences that showcase your unique offering, and strategic guest selection to maximize ROI. Seeing is selling.
05
Experiential Positioning
Today’s traveller is not just booking a stay — they’re booking a story. I work with you to identify what makes your property unique, develop experiences tied to local culture, wine, and artisans, and position your offering beyond accommodation.
On the ground in Italy
Rooted in Italy,
connected to North America
Four years living between Canada and Tuscany has given me something no desk-based representative can offer — genuine on-the-ground knowledge of what makes a property here worth experiencing, and how to translate that to a North American audience.
I’m actively developing partnerships with boutique hotels and villa collections in this region, building the portfolio I’ve been working toward — one property at a time, with the same care and selectivity I’ve brought to every market I’ve ever worked in.
The relationships, the market knowledge, and the trust I’ve spent 26 years building don’t change. The geography does — and that’s the point.
Currently open to
Italian hotels, boutique properties, and villa collections seeking representation in the Canadian and North American travel market. Flexible, contract-based arrangements available.
How I Work
Hands-on, relationship-driven,
and built for the long term
01
Select Partnerships
I partner with a limited number of properties to ensure genuine focus, strategic depth, and measurable results. Quality over volume, always.
02
Tailored Strategy
No one-size-fits-all approach. Every property is different, and every strategy is built around your specific offering, market position, and goals.
03
Dual-Market Presence
Based between Canada and Italy, I’m present in both markets — I visit properties, know owners, and carry that knowledge into every agent conversation.
04
Flexible Engagement
Contract-based support — focused and accountable, without the overhead of a full-time hire. Ideal for boutique properties entering or growing in North America.
Who I work with
Properties with character,
intention, and a sense of place
Boutique Hotels
Independent properties with a distinct identity and a story worth telling
Luxury Villas
High-end private rentals seeking qualified North American guests
Design-forward Stays
Unique, architecturally or culturally compelling accommodations
Experience-driven Properties
Properties offering more than a room — wine, culinary, artisan, cultural programming
Growth-minded Owners
Ready to invest in long-term North American market development
The best results come from strong partnerships, not quick wins.
I’m not here to get your property listed — I’m here to grow your business.
— Emily Spadafora
Let’s connect
Let’s grow your property together.
If you represent a boutique hotel or villa in Italy — or if you’re a travel professional looking for the right partnership — I’d welcome a conversation.
Emily Spadafora
International Hotel & Villa Representation
Business Development · Canada & Italy
emilyspadafora.com
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