Issue No.21 - Polo De’Marco Magazine Issue No.21 - International Edition | Page 18

1. As the 2nd generation owner
of Hotel Hassler - what is it like
to be the heir to the Bucher
Wirth dynasty? And what are the
responsibilities that you have as
General Manager?
I am second-generation owner of the
Hotel Hassler and, representing the fifth
generation of a famous hotelier family, I
believe in carrying on the rich tradition
of the Bucher-Wirth Swiss hotel dynasty
and, as General Manager, I have been
deeply inspired by my father’s model. For
almost two centuries, the Bucher-Wirth
family has made a strong impact in the
field of luxury hospitality and continues
to do so.
I consider myself as the master of the
house: I always keep an eye on every
aspect of the Hotel in order to give our
guests the best service and experience when in Rome.
I welcome and greet them to make them feel at home
and willing to come back. I put all my passion and
dedication to “the woman of my life”, I need to look
after it as if it were a living being and treat it with
velvet gloves and love it with all my heart. We aim
at making our guests fall in love with the Hassler let
them experience an unforgettable journey in Rome.
The Hassler celebrated its first 125 years and I am so
proud!
2. According to one of your interviews - you
stated that the hotel was considered as a one
star hotel where the bathrooms were in a
separate wing. Now, Hassler Hotel is a 5Star
hotel and part of The Leading Hotels of the
World. How do you think the culture of the
hotel has changed and where do you see it in
the future?
The Hassler is an independent hotel but being
member of The Leading Hotels of the World for
many years has helped us strengthen our presence
in different markets and reach the right target of
customers. During its history, the Hassler witnessed
many implementations. Originally, it was a four-
star hotel and the rooms had no private bathrooms
but only one sink with towels. Furthermore, in
rooms there were chamber pots and in the corridors
there was one bathroom for each floor. My father
completely demolished the old hotel, maintaining
the old façade, and in rebuilding it, he modified
the rooms structure including private bathroom,
added four floors (8 floor in total), - moved the
restaurant – usually based on the ground floor – to
the 6th floor (making it the first Roman panoramic
hotel restaurant)… The Hassler thus became a five-
star hotel. In addition, when my father married my
mother, who had lived in New York for many years
and had many important American friends who
came to Rome to visit her, the Hassler started being
very popular especially overseas. We have been the
first hotel to have a Penthouse suite located on the
7 floor; in 1978 we organized the first New Year’s
Gala Dinner in the Eternal City, meanwhile the
others Hotels were closed; furthermore my mother
organized, in the 60’s , the first Thanksgiving Lunch
in Rome . To keep up the success and improve it we
are strongly focused on Sales & Marketing activities
and actions, without forgetting one of the most
important thing that a luxury hotel has to provide
to its clients, I mean of course an excellent service.
In Italy there are many independent hotels, most of
them – above all at the seaside and in the mountain
– are seasonal hotels. Italy has a great hospitality
tradition linked to family-run properties. However,
things are changing: international hospitality chains
are buying many family-run hotels (these families
are selling because it is more convenient from an
economic point of view). It is a shame… The Hassler,
being an independent hotel, has its own character, its
personality, its history and this is becoming very rare.