By: Joshua Finley

In the competitive world of Manhattan events, successful venues must offer something truly unique. The Glasshouse, led by President Gianluca Sardo, stands out by transforming its space daily for everything from corporate forums to celebrity galas. Drawing from fifteen years in hospitality – from Italian resorts to Giorgio Armani’s restaurant – Gianluca brings a fresh perspective to the events industry.

“In the restaurant environment, every day, we look the same,” he explains. “In the event industry, every day you’re going to see the space activated differently with a different setup, different decor, different lighting, different experience, and different designers.” This philosophy has helped position The Glasshouse as one of New York’s premier event destinations.

Starting in Italian Hospitality

Gianluca’s journey began in Italy’s restaurant business, where he served as director of a resort, overseeing three restaurants and hotel operations. “I started to work there in several environments, including a big resort where I was the director,” he recalls of his early career. Ten years ago, he moved to New York City, seeking new opportunities.

His first role in the U.S. brought him to Eataly, the popular Italian food marketplace originally founded in his hometown of Torino. Managing one of their first Manhattan locations gave him valuable experience with both tourists and locals seeking authentic Italian cuisine. The position also helped him adapt to American culture and improve his English skills.

Gaining Luxury Experience with Armani

Moving up in Manhattan’s competitive hospitality scene, Gianluca next became general manager of the Giorgio Armani restaurant. “Over there, I learned a lot about high-profile clientele and started working with big names and celebrities,” he explains. “It was, let’s say, the first introduction to the event and hospitality world in a higher profile.” After nearly two years connecting fashion with food at Armani, he joined the opening team for Howard Hughes Corporation, helping launch several restaurants and concert venues. Even during the pandemic’s strict regulations, his team kept operations running smoothly.

Leading Operations at The GlassHouse

Summer 2021 marked a pivotal shift as Gianluca joined The Glasshouse, one of Manhattan’s premier event spaces, as Director of Operations before advancing to President. “We host several forums, trade shows, conferences, and more,” he notes. “Our numbers are increasing in revenue in number of guests year over year, and we are ready for 2025 to become our biggest year.” The venue stands out for its purpose-built design. Unlike converted warehouses, The Glasshouse was constructed specifically for events, featuring high ceilings, outdoor spaces, and one of New York’s largest commercial kitchens. This intentional design creates what Gianluca calls a “plug and play” space with built-in flexibility and technology.

Three Keys to Success in Events

Gianluca emphasizes three core principles that drive his leadership approach:

Be an Example: “Everyone is a brand ambassador from the dishwasher to the president,” Gianluca insists. “You need to be a leader as an example. People need to look at you as someone that you inspire or as someone that you need to follow because of how this person behaves.”

Lead with Passion: “When you’re motivated and have a passion for what you’re doing, you need to motivate and make your team dream and pass your excitement to them in order to be successful,” he explains. “This is not a tennis game that you play one by one versus one. This is a team together in order to make experience and events unforgettable.”

Stay Curious: Gianluca stresses the importance of fresh perspectives: “You need to put your shoes on the other side, on the client’s side, and see how you feel it. When you are in the same place every day, sometimes you miss some details – you need to always see from a different perspective.”

Looking Beyond Manhattan

The Glasshouse’s success has Gianluca thinking globally. “In the next 3-5 years, replicate this model that we have here at The GlassHouse in New York City to another city, even around the globe,” he shares. Potential locations include Los Angeles, Miami, and Texas, with European expansion on the horizon. “One day, I would love to have an event space in Milan or a nice event space in Paris and all these bigger cities – London, where a lot of our clientele recently come from,” he notes. His vision extends beyond just physical expansion to attracting top talent who feel inspired by the company’s culture and environment.

For those interested in connecting or learning more about opportunities in events, Gianluca maintains an active presence on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares insights from his career journey.

 Published by Charlie N.