HAPPY BIRTHDAY VILLA d'ESTE !

LookBook SPECIALEDITION MAY2022 Hoteliersguild

a CoutureHospitalityConcept Compilation

Lago di Como Passion for

VILLA D’ESTE IS A LEGEND ON LAGO DI COMO.

ARCHITECTURAL ART. L'ARTE DELLA VITA ITALIANA. LIVING HOSPITALITY. IN 2022 VILLA D’ESTE CELEBRATES ITS 150TH SEASON!

Prominently located on the shores of one of the world’s most romantic lakes. More than a historical Palace. A Tradition. More than just a place. A LEGEND. Reflecting the Art of Living. BEAUTY & ELEGANCE. The perfect backdrop for exceptional service.The flagship of the homonymous hospitality group and is owned by an eminent family of Italian entrepreneurs who also own a luxury retreat in Florence - Villa La Massa.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & tanti auguri!

THE PRIVATE SOCIETY FOR DISCERNING HOTELIERS A league of its own Affiliation by invitation only

HoteliersGuild | WorldGuide AG | Hildegardstrasse 9 | 80539 Munich Germany | t +41225349478 | HoteliersGuild | fmp.hoteliersguild@me.com

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With the mission to connect and inspire hospitality leaders around the globe through the power of unrivalled dedication to sustainable luxury, responsible travel, gender equality and eduction for future generations.

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We are here for good !

Editorial

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ust allow me to reminisce for a sweet moment!

Arriving at Milano airport.

Being wisked away to the waiting hotel limo. 40 minutes later entering into a different world. Villa d’Este! Lago di Como - one of Europes and the world’s most beautyful setting! Welcomed by longtime friends, the inimitable visionary Monty Shadow, ‘The man who was Google before Google. Legendary race boat driver and designer Tullio Abbate, and the then hotel’s GM. A glass (or two?) of chilled rosé champagne. A crazy speedboat ride piloted by Tullio-at-his-verybest. Isola Comanchina! Loooong al-fresco luncheon with Stefano Casiraghi and friends. Pasta, pesci, bistecca fiorentina, dolci… & lots of wine. Enjoying the sunset on board.….

This all happened many moons ago but remains still unforgotten!

Monty, Tullio and Stefano are now resting in peace - how would I wish to repeat those precious moments with them!

And how nice would it be if we could all celebrate a spring escape on the lake again, now with Davide Bertilaccio, the newly appointed CEO of Villa d’Este Hotels and his team!

150 Seasons and still going strong! Happy Birthday from all of us, your colleagues and friends from HoteliersGuild!

Frank M. Pfaller President HoteliersGuild | Publisher

"Grand hotel" and "grande dame hotel" sound romantic and has always captured traveler's' attention and imagination. But what do these terms refer to exactly? Why are there so many books and movies about grand hotels?

In a word, a grand or grande dame hotel is an institution. It is the most important and most famous hotel in town, the one with all the stories (and a juicy scandal or two…) Well, the Villa d’Este has it all!

There are many ways in which a hotel can be important, and a grand or grande dame hotel - we have sought to provide some insights in this special birthday edition dedicated to a true Grand Hôtel!

AUGURANDOVI UN BUON COMPLEANNO E MOLTI MOLTI ALTRI CARISSIMA VILLA D’ESTE!

Dear Frank and colleagues, I'm really honoured to be part of HoteliersGuild and I thank you for the invitation.

As for me, I take the helm at Villa d’Este Hotels during a very significant milestone year. Villa d’Este in fact celebrates its 150th season. I am overjoyed to have been named CEO of this iconic independent group. To join the team during such a historic and celebratory year is a sincere privilege. While I aim to continue to respect the traditions for which Villa d’Este Hotels is famed and adored, I also plan to carry forward graceful innovations of the properties.

This year Villa d’Este is set to host a prestigious calendar of events for guests to enjoy, including the hotel’s first festive season with plenty of magical celebrations planned for Christmas and New Year. They will be memorable! A highlight for the season will be the ‘Villa d’Este Then and Now’ exhibition, taking place throughout the 25 acres of gardens, as well as within the main villa. The exhibition will showcase unseen, archive photography, but also videos, of various iconic spots, telling fascinating past stories of the hotel and giving guests a glimpse of how the property has evolved over time. Villa d’Este’s official celebration party will be on 28 June and will see the hotel host a once in a lifetime gala dinner. Further galas will also be held on 4 and 14 July and 15 August.

Institutional events will also return, including Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d'Este (20 - 22 May), Villa d’Este Style One Lake One Car (1 May), Villa d’Este Vintage Yachting (12 June), and Villa d’Este Style Electric Yachting (17 September). The latter saw the unveiling of the hotel’s new, custom-built electric boat last year - E-Next Villa d’Este.

Furthermore we will collaborate with Teatro Sociale di Como, with which the hotel has a

long standing relationship, for two themed dinners in May and September. The evenings will showcase Italy’s finest opera performances in an Davide Bertilaccio intimate dinner setting, CEO Villa d’Este Hotels alongside storytelling from talented actors and a themed menu. Under the helm of our Executive Chef, Michele Zambanini, our guests will enjoy exquisite cuisine. For the anniversary season, Zambanini has created a range of tasting menus that will pay homage to the past owners and famous guests of Villa d’Este.

Guests will also discover a selection of new signature cocktails, named after significant, previous owners of the villa.

Additionally, this year will see the launch of Villa d’Este gin, which has been produced using botanicals that can also be found around Lake Como and Villa d’Este. This premium Gin will be available to purchase at our Gift Shop. On the new e-shop Villa d'Este La Boutique we've just launched our 150th season limited edition branded products.

Last but not least, we've made ourselves a gift: we have acquired Villa Belinzaghi, a neoclassical villa perched directly on the shores of Lake Como, adjacent to the hotel.

Previously owned by Villa d’Este and sold in 1967, this historic villa has rejoined our portfolio as a spectacular private residence which will be available for events such as weddings after an attentive restoration to bring back its former splendor. It's extremely important in terms of our development plans, as well as maintaining our heritage by projecting ourselves into the future.

What to say more?! I am really really excited by these thrilling programs and news and cannot wait to welcome our dear guests who, I'm sure, will be as enthusiastic as we are.

Vi aspetto. Ciao e a presto!

V

HOTEL

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The Villa d’Este’s legacy began already back in 1568, when Tolomeo Gallio, the wealthy cardinal of Como with a passionate interest for ar, commissioned the architect Pellegrino Pellegrini ( know as “The Tibaldi”) to build a sumptuous villa overlooking the lake set to become one of his summer residences.

The villa was owned by the Gallios for more than two centuries, then it became property of different eminent personalities over the years: Marquees Calderara, Count Domenico Pino, the Princess of Wales and future Queen of England Caroline of Brunswick, Prince Torlonia, Baron Ciani, Czarina Maria Feodorowna. In 1873 Villa d’Este was transformed into a luxury hotel, becoming a discerning holiday destination for the European aristocracy and upper middle class and an essential stop-over for the Grand Tour.

Today, crossing Villa d’Este’s threshold feels like entering a world apart, where ancient splendour is eternalised in the architecture and atmosphere that denote timeless elegance: lavish halls, decorated vaults, plaster, arches, statues, paintings, Murano chandeliers…

Welcome Lago di como

If a place has a soul, it remains alive forever For centuries a residence of the aristocracy – princesses, marquises, sultans and tsars. And since 1873, an elegant and charming five-star resort; one of the most celebrated in the world. Luxury lake views exemplify the art of living well in a suggestive experience that fills the eyes and inspires the mind.

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Overlooking one of the most romantic lakes in the world, Lake Como, Villa d’Este is surrounded by a wonderful 10-hectare private park. The rooms and suites are overlooking the lake or the park.

The Queen’s Pavilion

VILLA CHIVA

SUITES AND PRIVATE VILLAS, EXCLUSIVE CHARM The 152 rooms and suites with views over the lake and the park, are divided between the Cardinal Building and the Queen’s Pavilion.

For a more intimate and independent stay, it is possible to rent one the four private villas on the hotel’s premises. Villa Cima, on the banks of the lake; Villa Malakoff, a jewel dating back to the 19th century; Villa Garrovo and the Mosaic House.

VILLA GARROVO | ENTRANCE & SITTING ROOM

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IN VILLA VERITAS

The privacy and exclusivity of a private residence is combined with all the hotel’s personalised services - simply luxury.

elegance and charm feels

Villa Malakoff | Sitting room | terrace | dining room

perfectly frozen in time…

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CUISINE

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At HoteliersGuild we are proud to

count with the support of some of the

most established Chefs around the globe.

We promote ‘Sustainable Cuisine’ as an environmentally sustainable food system t h a t u s e s fo o d p r o d u c t s g r ow n , harvested, processed, packaged and shipped or distributed with the minimal environmental impact. These boundaries typically mean of course products meeting the criteria are local or organic, wherever possible. Whether it's cooking green or reducing food waste, everyone can and should take steps toward having a sustainable kitchen and help to take better care of our planet. Even ten years ago, the idea of sustainability wasn’t taken so seriously. But, sustainability and consciousness about the environment among the general population has increased and the idea has become global today.

Culinary Experiences

Guests are welcomed in refined ambiences, with cuisine perfect for any time of the day under the expert guidance of Executive Chef Michele Zambanini and thanks to the flawless service that identifies the hotel’s style.

W hta ’s coo kin g La Veranda is the hotel’s main restaurant and most elegant offering. An amazing ‘pies dank l’eau’ dining experience is available during the warm months.

The Grill offers typical Mediterranean dishes in a more informal yet chic atmosphere.

El Platano is Villa d’Este’s most intimate restaurant, proposing creative Italian cuisine.

Light snacks at the elegant Bar

Casanova and its lake terrace.

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Dreams

Beauty Center

Villa d’este style

b s i r a t s w e n A

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