Our Team

Although we work across a wide area of North Sicily, the Solemar Sicilia team remains a close-knit group which has grown out of our origins as a family business. We are very proud of our ability to keep our cleaning, maintenance and logistics work in-house, a choice which we believe guarantees the quality of our service.
Please feel free to share any questions or comments you have with any of us. We are a friendly bunch, and if we don’t know the answer ourselves we’ll always be very happy to introduce you to a colleague who does!
Here are the people who make it all happen…

OFFICE

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Strategy, oversight and coordination

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Decades of hospitality experience

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Specialists in pricing policy

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Problem-solving mindset

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Fluent speakers of English, German and French

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Fast and accurate communications

Fabian – General Manager (Santa Flavia & Palermo)

The founder and director of the company, Fabian Gruessner coordinates all of the Solemar Sicilia team with a personal involvement in quality control. He is the primary point of contact for property owners, from the selection process, through strategy decisions and into the ongoing management process.He also manages relations with local authorities and institutions.

Fabian graduated from the University of Bologna with a degree in Economics and Business, before returning aged 24 to his native Sicily to manage the 50-bed tourist complex Mer et Soleil, on the Mongerbino coast. at the age of 24. Today Fabian has unparalleled insight into the region’s hospitality sector, and in 2025 Italy’s second-largest newspaper named him one of Palermo’s “Lords of the B&B”. His local prominence means that he’s often ahead of the market regarding new developments and market trends, using this insight to help guide your buy-to-let investments and strategic decisions.

Valerio – Manager (Cefalù)

The founder of Solemar Sicilia’s sister company, Property in Sicily, and owner of the language school Solemar Academy, Valerio Gruessner is also an active member of the Solemar Sicilia team. He coordinates property management in Cefalù and Campofelice, with an excellent ability to attract guests through the regular influx of students to Solemar Academy.

A graduate of the University of Bologna with a degree in International Relations, he also spent time at the University of Wollongong in Australia. His work with our Italian school has seen it become one of the most prestigious destinations for language tourism in the country, a full member of the ASILS association of accredited institutions and one of the most forward-thinking forces on Cefalù’s small business scene.

Stella – Supply & Payments

With a background in banking, Stella is the key figure in our financial chain, coordinating all payment flows. She’s the one making sure every transfer you receive is checked and double-checked – and arrives on time.

Claudia – Internal Operations

Responsible for internal operational organisation, Claudia manages all of our HR logistics. You will probably come into contact with her more through her other role, however – she oversees the initial set-up of the apartments before they go online.

Operations Team

These seven dedicated collaborators each take responsibility for one of the areas in which we work, meaning that you will always have a designated point of contact to assist you in the management of your property.

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Full administrative management

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Guest check-in and check-out

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Management of transfers and experiences

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Maintenance of your property

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Professional cleaning services

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Upkeep of gardens and outdoor spaces

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Marketing and promotion

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Constant care and attention

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Service with a smile

Cleaning Teams

Cleaning

We have four separate groups of staff, covering the regions of Santa Flavia & Mongerbino, Palermo & Mondello, Cefalù and Campofelice respectively. These tireless professionals guarantee that your guests will find the apartment spotless, are available for mid-stay cleaning on request and provide constant updates on the condition of your property.

 

Maintenance

We have put our trust in a group of seven experienced maintenance workers for a number of years now, meaning that they have been able to develop a real familiarity with the properties in our portfolio of properties. When things go wrong, they are on hand to keep disruption to the absolute minimum.

External Specialists

If you ever need specialist help that we can’t provide ourselves, the Solemar Sicilia team will always be on hand to help you find trusted local contractors who speak your language.