Matias Pesce, CEO & Owner of V&E Hospitality Group, has visionary thinking; he is a transformative leader with a long-term strategy mindset for the organization and its leaders. He can see beyond the immediate challenges and envision future possibilities for the company. By setting a clear and inspiring vision, he aligns the team towards common short-mid and long-term strategies and pushes boundaries to innovate. He inspires, develops, and promotes his team to think outside the box and bring forward breakthrough solutions.

Matias is agile and flexible, able to pivot quickly in response to changing market trends and customer needs. He embraces change as an opportunity for growth and continuously seeks ways to evolve and improve the company, its people, its technology, its processes, and the communities where V&E Operates. His passion is contagious, and he is a genuinely passionate leader about design, creativity, and transformation. Matias strongly promotes and inspires his team to do their best work. He leads by example, demonstrating unwavering commitment and enthusiasm for the company’s mission, vision, and values.

As a visionary leader, Matias has exhibited a remarkable willingness to take risks despite the challenges of change, leading to profound transformations within the company. The organization has embraced innovation through its leadership, evidenced by implementing various groundbreaking projects and initiatives. Matias’s keen understanding of market dynamics has enabled the company to adapt swiftly to changing conditions, positioning it for sustained success in a rapidly evolving business landscape. His leadership style has instilled confidence among employees and stakeholders, fostering a culture of resilience and trust. Moreover, Matias has consistently seized opportunities for growth and expansion, leading the company into new markets and forging strategic partnerships. His ability to communicate a clear vision and drive organizational change has resulted in positive transformations throughout the company, ultimately driving innovation, growth, and long-term success.

Encouraging Creativity

According to Matias, encouraging creative thinking within the organization is pivotal for unlocking innovative solutions and maintaining a competitive work philosophy, mindset, and continuous improvement. By fostering open communication channels, such as brainstorming sessions and digital collaboration platforms, employees are empowered to freely share their ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, promoting cross-functional collaboration breaks down departmental barriers and cultivates a rich exchange of insights, driving creativity through diverse viewpoints.

Embracing a growth mindset is essential, emphasizing that failure is a natural part of the creative process and an opportunity for learning and growth. “Providing ample resources and support, including budget allocation for innovation projects and training opportunities, equips employees with the tools they need to explore and implement their creative ideas effectively,” explains Matias. “Leadership sets the tone by exemplifying openness to new ideas and actively participating in creative endeavors, inspiring others to follow suit. Recognizing and rewarding creativity reinforces its importance within the organization, motivating employees to continuously push the boundaries of innovation.”

Matias’s leadership narrative is a testament to the transformative power of visionary mentorship. His role model has been leadership excellence and a forward-looking perspective for the next 5 to 10 years of company vision. His role model’s shadow casts a long legacy of strategic innovation and bold decision-making, inspiring the organization to follow his and the company’s vision and mission.

His leadership is marked by insight, anticipation, and the proper execution of the long-term strategy to build the company for the following years, aligned with his visionary influence. Matias’s leadership has also been recognized for his position as Executive Advisory Board Member in the prestigious Florida International University (FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management).

During the first five years of his tenure at V&E Hospitality Group, including the two years of significant crisis caused by COVID-19, Matias has achieved a total and absolute transformation of the company with many accomplishments that bear clear testament to this. Among the most notable achievements is the transformation of a set of restaurants into a hospitality group that now encompasses integrated businesses such as over 25 restaurant operations, hotel operations, and real estate ventures. He has created a sustainable business model with high economic liquidity and profitability above the industry average.

Matias has also ensured that V&E was awarded the Key to the City of Miami Beach for its high commitment not only to the community but also to the city & other important acknowledgments, such as VE’s inclusion in the list of the Top 25 most influential independent restaurant groups in the US and one of the largest employers in South Florida. All of this provides proven testimony to an extraordinary increase of value for the organization’s employees, its guests, the communities in which the group operates, and its shareholders through the significant increase in the company’s valuation.

Building A Great Institution

V&E Hospitality Group, which translates to Life and Style in Spanish, is a culinary industry pioneer behind some of the most recognizable and finest restaurant and hotel concepts. The brand exudes a lifestyle concept that blends gastronomy, mixology, entertainment, and a unique vibe into each location. Their mission is to become a profitable world-class hospitality leader, crafting and cultivating extraordinary vacation, dining, and entertainment experiences while showcasing the richness of their Latin heritage. “As we strive to support our local communities, we will provide our guests with skillful, top-quality service and memorable moments of sheer delight,” elucidates Matias. “We aim to become the go-to destination for unforgettable moments while boosting un Estilo de Vida for our guests, friends, team members, suppliers, communities and neighbors.”

One of the most remarkable achievements of the company attributable to Matias’ innovative approach is the successful expansion into new markets, catalyzing unprecedented growth and profitability. Matias’s visionary leadership has guided V&E Hospitality Group through strategic initiatives that have enabled them to identify and capitalize on untapped opportunities. By daring to venture into uncharted territories and embracing calculated risks, V&E Hospitality Group diversified its revenue streams and strengthened its competitive edge in the industry. This expansion has enhanced the brand’s visibility and positioned us as a trailblazer, setting new levels for excellence and innovation in our field.

Matias & V&E Hospitality Group has an exciting lineup of upcoming projects and plans to benefit their community in the coming days. One of their key initiatives is the implementation of sustainable practices across all their operations, focusing on reducing the environmental footprint and promoting eco-friendly practices. This includes initiatives such as sourcing locally grown produce, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and minimizing food waste through innovative strategies.

Moreover, he has been working as priority to enhance social impact in communities and among new generations, strategies such as educational and developmental programs for youth, partnerships with educational institutions such as Florida International University (FIU), fostering social entrepreneurship, corporate volunteering, sustainability initiatives, financial and entrepreneurial education, and cultural events. These initiatives not only benefit local communities but also strengthen company’s commitment to social and environmental well-being. A clearexample of this is our recent partnership with FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where we gave them a gift to create jointly FIU The Vida &Estilo Hospitality Program Fund to help to create and build out training and programming to elevate the skill level of both leadership teams and emerging leaders in the hospitality industry; and the Vida &Estilo Student Support Fund to foster student enrichment and experiences that include scholarships, stipends and student programming.

V&E Hospitality Group is committed to supporting local communities through various philanthropic endeavors. This includes partnering with local charities and organizations to address pressing social issues such as hunger, homelessness, and education. “We believe in giving back to the communities that support us and strive to make a positive impact wherever we operate,” says Matias. “We are continuously exploring opportunities not only for employee but also for small local vendor development and empowerment. We believe that investing in our team members benefits them personally and professionally and enhances the overall guest experience.” In short, the upcoming projects and plans reflect Matias & his team’s commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and employee empowerment. “We are excited about the positive impact these initiatives will have on our community in the days to come,” concludes the pioneering leader.