Head of IT (F/M/X)

About Orient Express

Artisan of travel since 1883, Orient Express sublimates the art of travel with its luxury trains, hotels, and sailing yachts. The brand has just launched its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, in Rome – which will be followed by Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in 2026. The experience continues with the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, followed by Orient Express Corinthian in 2026, the first of two Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and finally, the return of L’Orient Express train to railways. Since 2022, Orient Express is part of Accor Group’s leading collection of luxury brands with a century-old legacy in the hotels and fine- dining sectors. In 2024, Accor and LVMH entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Orient Express. Follow the journey at @orientexpress on Instagram or visit the website at www.orient-express.com. 

We are looking for our Head of IT at Orient Express to be responsible for the end-to-end management of IT systems supporting the brand’s luxury ecosystem, including hotels, trains, yachts. This role ensures that all technology platforms operate seamlessly, securely, and in alignment with the high standards of the Orient Express brand. Operating in a complex, multi-environment setting, you will play a critical role in delivering reliable operations while driving digital innovation and enhancing the guest journey.

Key responsibilities: 

Project Management & Openings

•Lead IT aspects of new hotel openings, train and yachts launches

•Manage end-to-end IT projects: planning, execution, and delivery

•Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget

IT Operations & Service Delivery

•Ensure 24/7 availability, performance, and reliability of IT systems across all properties

•Manage IT service delivery, including incident, problem, and change management

•Administer and optimize key operational systems, including Property Management Systems (PMS), Central Reservation Systems (CRS), Point-of-Sale (POS) systems

Corporate IT & Middleware Governance

•Own and manage the corporate middleware platform, acting as the central integration layer between all core systems (PMS, CRS, CRM, and operational third-party platforms)

•Design, maintain, and optimize system integrations, APIs and data flows

•Ensure high availability and performance of the middleware environment, and lead troubleshooting and resolution of integration issues

•Ensure documentation and maintain a clear mapping of interfaces and dependencies

Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance

•Define and enforce IT security policies and standards in compliance with GDPR and other regulations

•Conduct regular risk assessments, audits, and vulnerability testing

•Manage identity access controls and endpoint security

Digital Guest Experience & Innovation

•Deliver premium digital services aligned with luxury standards

•Identify opportunities to innovate and elevate the guest experience through technology, in collaboration with operational stakeholders

Leadership, Team Development and Financial Management

•Lead and develop IT staff across multiple locations

•Foster a service-oriented and proactive IT culture

•Prepare and manage IT budgets (CapEx and OpEx), track and control IT expenditures

•8+ years’ experience in IT, preferably in the hospitality/travel/luxury industries.

•In-depth expertise on project management and customer relations

•Experience managing multi-site and complex environments

•International culture, travel availability

•Fluent French & English 

•Strong abilities in organization, communication and deductive skills

•Ideally in-depth knowledge of hotel, train or yacht operations and IT environment

•Partnership & Trust with leadership and business stakeholders

•Ability to work in a fast-paced, international, and luxury-driven environment