The International Butler Institute proudly features the most impressive and prestigious faculties in the world among all butler schools, a distinction that is evident even from afar.
Several of our esteemed instructors have previously served at Buckingham Palace, while others currently work within presidential households, European royal courts, or are in service to royal families in the Middle East.
Some of our instructors have also spent several years at TIBA in the Netherlands, while others hold highly distinguished titles such as Meilleur Ouvrier de France, a prestigious national competition honouring the Master of the craft in France, or occupy rare and exceptional positions – such as serving as the Pope’s sommelier or being the Head of Official State Protocol.
As a guarantee of reliability and commitment to high-quality training, the Butler Course will be personally conducted & supervised by José Robles, Head Instructor and Founder, offering you peace of mind alongside expert instruction from a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience at the highest level.
Our Head Instructor, who plays an active role throughout the Butler Training program, is committed to imparting all the knowledge he acquired, with no exception, from his lifetime career serving the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in the world.
He goes above and beyond, even if it means extending class hours or holding lessons during planned days off.
Aware of the highly challenging opportunities students will face after their training, our instructors remain available even after the session ends, offering support on specific situations, such as finding the right wine for a specific dish or how to clean a unique antique.
Beyond the professional benefits of having expert advice readily available, crucial while performing the first steps in the private service career, this demonstrates the passion, commitment, and genuine care that our instructors have for the success of our butler students – a distinctive feature of The International Butler Institute.
Throughout the Grand Butler Program, over 10 technical instructors will alternate, offering a diverse range of perspectives and specialized insights, enhancing the overall learning experience.
This includes a renowned master in the art of floral arrangements, a first aid specialist, a cocktail garnishing artist, or an exceptional chef known for their exquisite culinary creations.
These additions ensure that our students not only learn the traditional skills expected of a world-class butler but also acquire specialized knowledge that sets them apart in the ultra-luxury private service industry.
Marco Bocanelli, currently serves as Royal Head Butler within a royal palace in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he is directly involved in the daily management and coordination of one of the world’s most demanding private service environments.
His role includes supervising palace operations, leading multidisciplinary teams, coordinating royal residences, and ensuring that every activity is carried out according to the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, and royal protocol.
At The International Butler Institute, Marco teaches The Art of Managing and Directing a Royal Palace, sharing the practical knowledge, operational methods, and leadership principles he applies every day in a real royal household.
His courses provide students with a unique opportunity to learn how a modern royal residence is organised and managed, covering royal protocol, Royal Banquet organization, Royal International Travels organization, household leadership, staff management, operational excellence, discretion, and the exceptional standards required to serve royal families and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals at the highest international level.
Marco Bocanelli is a Royal Butler trained years ago by José Robles, Head instructor of The International Butler Institute
Natalia Jaramillo has over 15 years of experience shaping the Luxury Customer Experience for some of the world’s most iconic brands in hospitality, retail, and corporate. Far from traditional, her approach challenges outdated CX models and redefines what luxury means in a world that craves authenticity, empathy, and intention.
She is the creator of Humanistic Luxury™, a philosophy, methodology and transformative framework that bridges operational excellence with emotional intelligence, storytelling with strategy, and intuition with insight by putting people at the center of every organization purpose and strategy.
Her portfolio includes experience with legacy maisons such as Cartier, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and experiential icons like Jumeirah Hotels, Emirates Palace, Conrad and Galeries Lafayette.
She is a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) and holds an Executive Master in Luxury Management & Guest Experience (Glion, Switzerland), Natalia currently serves as Chair of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA) Middle East Regional Leadership Council. She is also an international keynote speaker and educator, having trained and inspired over 10,000 professionals worldwide.
Julius Smith is a distinguished British butler whose career has been shaped by service at the very highest level of the British Royal Household.
Having served at Buckingham Palace, he acquired first-hand experience of the standards, discipline, discretion and precision that define Royal Service.
This exceptional foundation has made him one of the most respected professionals in the international private service industry, recognised for bringing authentic Royal Household standards into every aspect of butler training.
A graduate of the renowned Ivor Spencer School for Butlers in London, Julius has accumulated more than 30 years of international experience serving Royal Families, Heads of State, Ambassadors, Ultra-High-Net-Worth individuals and prominent business leaders.
Throughout his career, he has held senior positions as Butler, House Manager and Private Household Consultant, managing prestigious private residences and leading multicultural household teams across Europe, the Middle East and North America.
His expertise covers every aspect of world-class private service, including formal dining, household management, protocol, staff leadership, luxury hospitality and the creation of exceptional guest experiences.
Julius is internationally respected not only as an accomplished practitioner but also as a highly sought-after trainer, helping to develop the next generation of butlers according to the traditions and exacting standards of British Royal Service.
At The International Butler Institute, Julius Smith serves as Senior Lecturer in Butler Service, Royal Household Standards and Luxury Hospitality.
Drawing upon his experience gained at Buckingham Palace and throughout an outstanding international career, he prepares future butlers and private service professionals to perform at the highest level within Royal Households, Family Offices, embassies, luxury hotels, superyachts and Ultra-High-Net-Worth private residences, where discretion, protocol and uncompromising excellence are essential.
Carlo Attisano is widely recognised as one of Italy’s most distinguished sommeliers and an internationally respected authority in the fields of fine wine, wine education and luxury hospitality. As Vice President of the Italian Sommelier Foundation and senior lecturer responsible for the education of future sommeliers, he has devoted his career to promoting excellence in wine culture while training thousands of professionals throughout Italy and abroad.
His outstanding expertise led him to one of the most prestigious appointments within the international wine community: serving as Sommelier to the Holy Father.
In this capacity, he has been responsible for the selection and management of the Vatican’s official wine programme, including the wines served during Papal Official Vatican events and Apostolic Journeys around the world.
At The International Butler Institute, Carlo Attisano serves as Senior Lecturer in Wine Service, Wine Culture and Food & Wine Pairing.
Drawing upon decades of experience acquired at the highest institutional level, he provides students with an exceptional understanding of luxury wine service, cellar management, formal wine presentation, international etiquette and the principles of pairing wines with world-class cuisine.
The appointment of Carlo Attisano to the faculty of The International Butler Institute reflects the Institute’s commitment to bringing together internationally recognised experts whose careers represent the highest standards of excellence, professionalism and service.
Valeria Paglia is a distinguished Luxury Executive Housekeeping specialist whose career has been built within some of Italy’s most prestigious five-star luxury hotels, including the iconic Hotel Hassler Roma, one of the most iconic hotel in the world, Hotel Splendide Royal Roma, Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa Rome and Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano.
Her extensive experience has enabled her to master the highest international standards of housekeeping excellence, quality assurance, guest satisfaction and departmental leadership expected in the world’s finest hospitality environments.
Today, her expertise extends beyond luxury hotels to the international private service sector.
She is regularly involved in consultancy, operational audits and staff training projects for Royal Palaces and prestigious private residences in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she contributes to the implementation of world-class housekeeping standards.
Throughout her career, she has also worked with Royal Families and Ultra-High-Net-Worth households, supporting private estates in achieving exceptional levels of organisation, discretion and operational excellence.
At The International Butler Institute, Valeria Paglia serves as Senior Lecturer in Housekeeping and Executive Housekeeping Management, where she trains future butlers and private service professionals in the sophisticated housekeeping standards required by Royal Households, Family Offices, diplomatic residences, private estates and the world’s most exclusive luxury properties.
Marco De Vita is an accomplished chef and culinary educator with extensive experience in professional kitchens, luxury hospitality and culinary training.
Throughout his career, he has developed a broad expertise spanning classical cuisine, modern culinary techniques, kitchen organisation and operational management, combining technical excellence with a strong focus on efficiency, consistency and the highest standards of food preparation.
His professional background includes the management of kitchen operations, menu planning, food cost control, hygiene and food safety, team coordination and the delivery of exceptional dining experiences.
His practical approach reflects the realities of both luxury hospitality and private service, where precision, organisation and attention to detail are essential to consistently exceeding client expectations.
At The International Butler Institute, Marco De Vita serves as Senior Lecturer in Culinary Arts and Kitchen Management.
His programmes are specifically designed for butlers and private service professionals who are required to confidently manage everyday culinary responsibilities within private residences, Family Offices and luxury hospitality environments.
Students receive practical, hands-on training in breakfast preparation, kitchen organisation, food economy and cost-efficient meal planning, daily meal preparation, elegant dinner service, menu planning, food presentation, hygiene standards and the efficient management of a professional kitchen.