Special RepoRt
( Zucchetti ) has this capacity to do things in The righT momenT , with the right attitude , with the right people .
Vincenzo Finizzola
that his glance is at once attracted to the things which should be improved — even if they ’ re small details .”
The details help make a guest ’ s stay at Villa d ’ Este “ not exactly at a hotel but the private room of a hotel ,” says Droulers , who sold his shareholding in 2008 and ended his tenure as a CEO and part owner in 2011 after nearly 45 years with the hotel . He remains a board member .
“ A hotel should not compromise about its approach because if the hotel is successful it must be faithful to the crowd that goes to the hotel , and newcomers must fit into the crowd ,” Droulers says . “ It ’ s not the opposite , otherwise you ’ ll change everything .”
Indiani echoes that thought . “ I used to meet clients that were 80 years old , telling me , ‘ I used to come here at the end of the Second World War when I was 20 years old with my parents . And since then , every two , three years , I have to come back for a long weekend , because I ’ ve got so many fond memories .’”
The hotel has embraced modernity , however . Zucchetti says he balked initially at installing WiFi on the hotel ’ s terrace — who wants to share that charming lake view with someone ’ s Zoom meeting ? – but gave in . However , “ the priority is not to change the perception of the place ,” he says .
That WiFi comes in handy , though . Zucchetti , who is married with two teenage sons , conducted this interview over video from a sunny suite that is one of his favorites because a particular celebrity always stays there . Peering over his shoulder during the conversation was a portrait of 17th-century Spanish soldier . ( After the interview , Zucchetti panned his computer to show off the terrace and lake ).
Timeless percepTion If that soldier were visiting today , he might only recognize the main mansion , built in 1568 by a cardinal as a summer residence and converted into a hotel , along with another villa on the manicured grounds , in 1873 . Today it and a sister property in Florence , Villa La Massa , are family-owned and members of The Leading Hotels of the World ; two other hotels are in Como .
Villa d ’ Este arguably is ground zero for a luxury , history and sense of place that so many other hotels strive for . Zucchetti balances the hotel ’ s historical gravitas and timeless appeal with the demands of affluent , occasionally famous clientele with contemporary demands .
“ The timeless perception is also due to the location we are in . We cannot deny that the location we are in is supreme ,” Zucchetti says . “ But there is a lot to do with the intangibles that you manage to deliver … Authenticity , I know , is a little bit abused in this era , because it ’ s not easy to keep authenticity for a long time unless you really have a clear vision of the importance of this for your property .”
Zucchetti ’ s clear vision heps the hotel maintain that authenticity . As Indiani says : “ To be someone , you must have stayed at least a weekend in Villa D ’ Este .”
40 hotelsmag . com November / December 2020