A Grand Hotel
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A Grand Hotel An Interview with Valentina de Santis, Chief Executive Officer, Grand Hotel Tremezzo Grand Hotel Tremezzo suite view (left); exterior (above) EDITORS’ NOTE With broad expe- In Bellagio, our founders were ill and passed away. They had three children, rience in hospitality manage- already managing a few small hotels so they didn’t want to keep running the hotel ment and cultural entertainment, there that were hosting especially big without her. They sold it to a family from Milan Valentina de Santis graduated from travelers who were on grand tours of that was not involved in the business before the University of Milan in 2007 after Europe. Our founders embarked on a and they behaved in a completely different way; completing three years of Bachelor tour of the European capitals on an they weren’t involved and they didn’t keep it in Business Administration and two amazing and very romantic tour, up to date. years for her Master of Science in which were typical of the 19th century. These were the dark years of the hotel. It General Management degree. Her When they came back, they really felt was never closed and they always had guests, family has owned the hotel since the need to build a grand hotel such but the second family just didn’t invest much in 1975, bringing traditional hospital- as they saw in the European capitals. the property. ity from her Italian family through- For this reason, they bought the My grandfather bought the hotel in 1973 out the years. De Santis is viewed Valentina de Santis best piece of land on the lake, because and, because we are a small group, we had as an inspiring and strong woman of the incomparable views. It belonged to do everything step by step, which included leading the spirit behind the storied Lake Como to Villa Carlotta, which is a historical villa and updating the property from scratch. hideaway in the hospitality industry and has botanical gardens that is now next door to us. We started to invest in the property from been nominated among the top five hoteliers in It enjoys the most dramatic views that can be the beginning to take it back to its antique the world by Virtuoso advisers in “Best of the Best experienced on Lake Como and is in the heart splendor. When my grandfather bought the Award: Best Hotelier of the Year 2014.” of the lake. hotel, it didn’t have bathrooms in all the rooms, This hotel opened on July 10, 1910, after so we had to completely upgrade every single PROPERTY BRIEF With over 100 years a few years of construction. It was an uber- detail. In 2010, the hotel’s 100th anniversary, we of history, the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo luxury grand hotel and very modern for the focused on adding a beautiful spa, three pools, (grandhoteltremezzo.com) is located in the time because the owner’s wife was focused and five restaurants. heart of Lake Como, with unparalleled views of on that. She was keen on learning about all I feel Grand Hotel Tremezzo is back to its Bellagio and the stunning Grigne mountains. the latest trends in the world. The hotel itself roots of being one of the leading luxury proper- This art nouveau landmark, which sits adjacent had two lifts which, for the time, was very ties in all of Europe, not just in Italy. to Villa Carlotta’s famed gardens, is an authen- modern. It was also luxurious in every other Was it important to maintain the history tic Art Nouveau palace that offers a warm invit- aspect. while also making the property modern? ing welcome and the delights of a true five-star Our set-up today is going to be different It was one of the crucial focus points. vacation. Guests will be inspired by the roman- from what we had because the guests that used It’s the main strength of the hotel. We didn’t tic setting of the hotel’s “La Terrazza” restau- to stay at our hotel – and we have proof of this want to forget the past. Lake Como is such a rant, without a shadow of a doubt the most from the diaries of the founders – did not stay magical place, especially in the luxury seg- beautiful on Lake Como. Additional facil- for a few days in our hotel like our guests do ment, because it has the romance and magic ities include three swimming pools, the most now. They moved into the hotel for a month or of the past. People come here and realize that exclusive private beach on Lake Como, and over more, with their family and staff, with horses 99 percent of the lake is identical to the way 20,000 square meters of private grounds, and carriages, and with their trunks and beauti- it was 100 years ago. as well as T Spa, which offers exclusive treat- ful dresses. Having the opportunity to welcome ments by ESPA and over 1,000 square meters of The founding family, whose name was guests to a grand hotel like we did 100 years space dedicated to each visitor’s relaxation and Gandola, organized different activities every ago with the same kind of hospitality, and well-being. day for the guests and participated in these offer them the possibility to touch history activities themselves. They would bring them within the details, is part of the vision we Will you talk about the history and heritage up to a mountain with staff or bring them out have for the hotel. of Grand Hotel Tremezzo? on the lake with boats, or organize activities in At the same time, we are conscious that Grand Hotel Tremezzo dates back to the hotel like roller skating. We were also one we are now in a different century and that visi- 1910, so it’s more than 100 years old, and of the few hotels with tennis courts at the time, tors are looking for a very special experiential was designed from the first moment to be a so we had a tennis teacher. They also organized holiday. grand hotel, versus many of our competitors parties every night. As the property has grown, how that started as villas and were converted to Our guests were aristocrats from Europe. important has it been for you to maintain hotels. We hosted the Pope, as well. Many very rich that family feel? This dream of a building comes from our families from Milan came here to spend the One of the best compliments we consis- capital of Bellagio, which sits just in front of us. summer. It was a period of maximum splendor tently receive is how special and genuine the It was a very special moment for Lake Como for the hotel. attitude of our staff is, because we are a family. when luxury tourists were first starting to hit The family kept the hotel for more than 10 The hotel itself is one of the reasons why this destination. years, but after the first World War, the wife got this has happened.• 190 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2017 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 40, NUMBER 1.