VALENTINA DE SANTIS
OWNER & CEO OF GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO, LAKE COMO, ITALY
WHAT IS THE
STATUS AT YOUR
PROPERTY?
The property is
currently closed
and has not yet reopened
for the 2020
season. The issued
lockdown in the Lombardy region
happened before our planned start of
the season, which was supposed to be
on March 13. At the moment we don’t
know when we’ll be able to open, but
the hotel is perfectly ready down to
every last detail - we simply need to
open our doors and fill it with fresh
flowers and welcome our guests - the
fresh flowers and guests are the only
things missing. The team is waiting to
be called to start and the hotel is ready
to re-open as soon as we can.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE
FACING AND HOW ARE YOU
ADDRESSING THEM?
We are facing the same challenges
as every other hotel right now, I
think. We don’t have guests, we don’t
have new requests - but the biggest
challenge we are facing, that I think
the industry and world is facing is the
uncertainty. We are in the heart of
the biggest crisis in the world and the
biggest challenge is not knowing when
this will pass. It makes it so we can’t
have a proper plan as we don’t know
how the world will be after this - I hope
it will be a better world in some ways
but of course there will be new rules
and behaviors.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE A STRONG
REBOUND?
Unfortunately, I don’t have the tools
to anticipate what tomorrow will hold.
I’ve studied and read many articles,
expert studies and interviews but don’t
have the power to see into the future.
However, I believe in our industry,
believe in travel and the immense
joy that travel brings people. I think
that travel is the most enriching and
powerful activity that a person can
do. The feelings, joy, experiences
and memories that travel brings to
people are so precious that I think it
will be one of the primary needs once
everything re-starts. I truly believe in
a strong rebound - as soon as people
have the chance to do it, travel will
start again.
WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY
OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS?
We are not changing our approach
or positioning, nor have we created
a super-detailed strategy for the
future as we don’t know what it
holds for us. The strategy we are
taking right now is to remain in close
contact with our guests, our partners,
and our agents. We are sharing the
lives of our team on Instagram and
eager to hear about the lives of our
guests and partners. We are living
in a very Italian way by putting the
heart, relationships, feelings, and the
connections as first priority. It isn’t
a strategy, it’s really our way of life.
We are ready to re-start, stronger
than ever - we have more energy
and passion than ever and ready to
welcome the world into our hotel, to
our lake, to our beautiful region, and
to our beautiful country - to make
our guests feel at home, loved and
enriched.
16
ILHA