INTERVIEW- SILVIO VETTORELLO, GENERAL MANAGER GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO: "GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO IS MY PIECE OF PARADISE, IT'S BEEN THE GRANDE DAME OF LAKE COMO SINCE 1910 " (Italy)
An iconic property on Lake Como, Grand Hotel Tremezzo continues to raise its standards year after year, maintaining a level of excellence that makes it one of Italy's most prestigious hotels.
INTERVIEW- SILVIO VETTORELLO, GENERAL MANAGER GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO: "GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO IS MY PIECE OF PARADISE, IT'S BEEN THE GRANDE DAME OF LAKE COMO SINCE 1910 " (Italy)
An iconic property on Lake Como, Grand Hotel Tremezzo continues to raise its standards year after year, maintaining a level of excellence that makes it one of Italy's most prestigious hotels.
On the shores of Lake Como, in the municipality of Tremezzina, a majestic 18th-century bourgeois residence in the “Art nouveau” style, with a superb Italian garden and a five-hectare olive grove dotted with palm trees, rises above the waves. At the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which opened in 1910 as a hotel property, period furniture, century-old frescoes and meticulously tended green spaces give the place a retro feel that takes visitors back to the days when Milan's aristocracy would gather on the shores of the lake for their summer resorts.
Since 2023, the number of rooms has been reduced from 90 to 84 to offer visitors more space. Some of these rooms offer amenities worthy of the most prestigious properties in Milan. These include the 90 m2Emilia Suite, the 80 m2Greta Suite with its spectacular 25 m2 terrace overlooking the lake, and the Rooftop Suites, whose terraces include a jacuzzi. An indoor pool, an outdoor pool and even a floating pool in the lake complete the picture, which Leonardo da Vinci would not have disowned.
The gastronomic offer matches the prestige of the property. Renowned chefs are at work in the kitchen, and Grand Hotel Tremezzo offers a weekend brunch whose success extends far beyond the Lake District. A famous neighbour, George Clooney (What else!), who owns a sublime mansion just a stone's throw from the property, is said to be a fan.
Lovers of treatments can take advantage of the spa's private facilities to enjoy the experience to the full and feel alone in the world. And for those who want even more peace and quiet, the hotel has an outbuilding, Villa Sola Cabiati. Just a few steps from the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the occupants of this private villa benefit from dedicated staff, while still being able to enjoy the comforts of the main property.
Silvio Vettorello, a 40-year-old Ligurian, has been at the helm of this complex since June 2022. Silvio made his debut in the world of luxury hospitality with the Belmond Group, working in the Splendido Hotel and Splendido Mare in Portofino as Front Office and Concierge. In 2006, he joined the Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy in Florence as Reception and Concierge Manager, before taking part in the pre-opening and opening of the Four Seasons in Florence in 2008 as Reception and Guest Relations Manager. After a spell abroad at the Four Seasons Des Bergues in Geneva, where he worked with royalty from all over the world and heads of state, he returned to Italy for thepre-opening and opening of the Armani Hotel Milano in 2011. As Lifestyle Manager, he once again served celebrities, heads of state and royal delegations.
In 2013, Silvio Vettorello moved to the shores of Lake Como, joining the family of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, a member of the Preferred Hotel and Resorts network. Initially Lifestyle Manager - Operations Manager, he was appointed General Manager in 2018. At the same time, in 2017, he took over the management of Villa Sola Cabiati, managed by the same company as a private villa. Finally, in 2022, he took on the role of General Manager of Grand Hotel Tremezzo and its sister property, Hotel Passalacqua, which opened the same year.
For the Journal des Palaces, Silvio Vettorello talks about this property, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Lombardy, which has recently undergone renovation. An interview with the sweet aroma of pomodorro and pasta, which is a feast for the eyes and taste buds, and an irrepressible desire for the dolce vita.
Journal des Palaces: What attracted you to the world of luxury hotels?
Silvio Vettorello: Certainly the opportunity to get to know and serve international travellers who, like me, are on a daily quest for beauty.
How would you define luxury hotels?
For me, luxury hotels are like small reserves of marvellous treasures, where time stands still and where the quest for beauty and the professionalism of the service lead guests to relax and forget their everyday lives, whether it's a short business trip or a pleasure trip.
Can you tell us about the Grand Hotel Tremezzo?
The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is my corner of paradise, the grande dame of Lake Como since 1910. It was the first palace to open on the lake with the intention of becoming a grand hotel, and it embodies the quintessence of Italian hospitality. For me, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a family: the 270 people who work with me in the hotel, with their smiles and impeccable service, are the soul of the hotel.
The property has been renovated. What kind of renovations?
The hotel is constantly renovated every winter by the De Santis family during the seasonal closure, from mid-November to mid-March. The aim is to offer guests a product that is as new and modern as possible. The latest renovations include: the new Junior Suites, the majestic Grand Rooftop Suites with panoramic lake views and a private terrace with Jacuzzi, the wine cellar managed by Mirko - our sommelier - and our Sense of Lake boutique, where we sell the made-to-measure collections created in collaboration with international brands and made in Italy for our properties.
How does this hotel stand out from the competition around Lake Como?
When I arrived in 2013, the first thing that struck me about Grand Hotel Tremezzo was its fantastic location: right opposite the village of Bellagio and the Grigne mountain range. Another aspect I'd like to highlight is the delightfully homely atmosphere in terms of hospitality that still characterises the hotel today. These two factors, in my opinion, are what make it unique, in addition to the F&B offer. In fact, we have five different outlets in the hotel, which means we can offer our guests a complete and varied range.
The hotel has an 'outbuilding' just a few minutes' drive away, the Villa Sola Cabiati, built in the 16th century. What services does it offer that are different from those of the hotel?
Villa Sola Cabiati is the private villa we manage just a few steps from Grand Hotel Tremezzo. The villa immerses guests in a wonderful atmosphere, taking them back to the days of the great Italian noble families. Guests staying at the villa have at their disposal a villa manager and a dedicated team of maids and butlers, as well as a magnificent garden with a swimming pool. From this season, it will be open all year round. When the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is open, Villa Sola Cabiati guests can enjoy all its services: restaurants, swimming pools, spa, etc.
What culinary experiences do you offer?
At Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Executive Chef Osvaldo Presazzi has been part of our family for 35 years. Under his direction is the restaurant La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi, the only restaurant in the world still serving the dishes of Maestro Marchesi, the first Italian chef to be awarded 3 Michelin stars. Viviana Varese is the new Chef di Casa at our wonderful sister property Passalacqua. Her cuisine is closely linked to tradition and the local area, offering a wide range of dishes that are perfect for sharing, whether for lunch or dinner with the family. One of Viviana's best-loved and best-known dishes is the emblematic “pasta and potatoes”, hot and steaming.
What are the advantages of the hotel spa and the treatments it offers?
The spas at our two hotels are essential. At Tremezzo, the T Spa, which is also open to non-residents, uses the Santa Maria Novella line of products for its treatments. These are natural, personalised products that encapsulate the scents of the lake and our park, such as iris, jasmine, and azalea. In a separate building, the T Spa Suite is the ideal place to spend time relaxing with your partner. The T Spa and Infinity Pool are also available for private use after closing time, where you can enjoy a glass of wine while soaking in the warm water and watching the sun set over Bellagio.
At Passalacqua we use the Seed to Skin product line, which goes beyond the purely natural trend, combining the power of nature's healing properties with the results-oriented effectiveness of advanced science. The spa includes a wonderful wet area in the villa's underground tunnels and a brand new indoor pool.
What kind of local experiences do you offer your guests?
We offer a wide range of activities for our guests: - A boat trip to see the lake from the lake is a must. Our hotels have a private fleet of seven boats, including two magnificent Riva boats. - The Grand Hotel Tremezzo, just 40 minutes from the Valtellina region, is a point of interest for wine tasting. It will also host the 2026 Winter Olympics. - We often recommend a hike to the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, dedicated to the Beata Vergine Maria del Soccorso, one of the nine Sacri Monti in Piedmont and Lombardy included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. - The hotel also offers a range of activities for its guests, including Italian cookery courses, pizza making courses, painting courses, etc.
What advice would you give to a young person wanting to make a career in the luxury hotel industry?
My motto has always been: “If you can dream it, you can do it”. The key is to persevere in your desire to pursue this career. It's a job that involves a lot of sacrifice, but at the same time gives you the opportunity to get to know new cultures, sometimes very different from our own.
Another piece of advice I'd give is to be curious and, above all, to travel!
A journalist for 20 years, Guillaume is a fan of exclusive places where comfort, quality of service and gastronomy are combined. All this, tinged with a simplicity and a smile that are the prerogative of the ultimate luxury.
