Michaelangelo L'Acqua

Global Music Director SH Hotels & Resorts

Michaelangelo started his career in 1999 when the iconic fashion designer Tom Ford asked him to be music director for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. In those early days, Ford and a list of marquee fashion designers and mentors taught him not to think in music genres, but rather in colors and moments, luxury and nuance, and how sound can shape one’s visceral connection to their surroundings, and create memories that resonate for a lifetime. From those early days of his career until now, Michaelangelo has evolved into a music creative director in the worlds of luxury and lifestyle hospitality.

Over the years he has served as the global music director for W Hotels where he was able to develop a first of it's kind entertainment platform that was scaled globally as the brand’s footprint expanded to over 50 hotels across 4 continents.

Upon leaving W Hotels, he created L’Acqua Agenzia, a sensory branding and cultural programming creative agency. Agenzia effectively engaged each of the Five Senses: SOUND, SCENT, SIGHT, TOUCH, and TASTE when creating a brand’s DNA, a physical environment, or a consumer experience:

L’Acqua Agenzia is a creative brand strategy & cultural experiential development agency catering to client needs in the luxury travel, lifestyle, hospitality, fashion and entertainment industries.

In 2022, SH Hotels & Resorts asked Michaelangelo to become the global entertainment director for SH Hotels & Resorts, where he currently oversees 1 Hotels, Baccarat and Tree House brands.

Lastly, Michaelangelo serves as music director for the marquee charities of amfAR “The Foundation for AIDS Research,” Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Unicef, The Prince Albert II’s Global Ocean Foundation, UNICEF, Steven Tyler’s Jane’s House and the New York City Food Bank.