For your work, but also for passion, you are a frequent traveller. Which elements, projects or novelties in the hospitality sector have impressed you most in your travels?

After almost thirty years of activity I understood that to innovate in this sector there are not many alternatives but to travel. This means visiting a number of hotels, understanding the projects of others and their level. I personally always inquire about the latest structures and I often combine my family holidays with the visit of these buildings. This way, from one hotel to the other, I almost visited the whole world.

Having said that, I would like to share an anecdote on this topic. About fifteen years ago I won a competition for the design of an important hotel in Rome where a number of characteristics were required inside the room. I had been to Spain the previous summer and what surprised me about the hotel there was the closets with no doors and the clothes on sight – these were the very first models. This, which at that time was a real peculiarity, left me amazed. Apart from the economic savings, this type of structure, which now might seem banal, also allows better room management. The same idea was proposed by me at the competition and allowed me to win. This is an example of how the more you travel, the more you learn.

That of Hôtellerie is a world where there is constant innovation. New products must be employed and every ten years the rooms have to be renovated. It is a changing industry. One more aspect I would underline is that until years ago, the hotel was closed to the city, while now it is completely open. You can have a meal inside, work, meetings, summits and conferences dedicated to the hotel itself. Sometimes they are also used as a location for fashion shows. It is essential that the professional is ready for these changes, which requires moving around.

Making a comparison between today and twenty years ago, what will the future bring?

Several aspects will change in the near future. These are mostly elements that seem to be subtle, but that actually reflect a larger movement of evolution. The first aspect is the aforementioned opening of the hotel to the city. Then, as for the rooms, there will be no more mini bars. Firstly, because they are difficult to manage and, secondly, because it is now clear that the welcome water is sufficient. Then, will be added – I have already seen this in the United States and Japan – dedicated corners where you can stop at any time of the day for breakfast, lunch, dinner or after dinner. These will be conceived as outdoor spaces that will replace the filling of the mini bar. In recent years we have also seen the evolution of the bathroom, which today is totally open. In the latter case, however, there has been, in my view, a “forcing”. The future will lead to creating a room with separate toilet, bidet, shower and basin. Finally, there will be no more desks as there is no more space in the room for support surfaces. Here are in summary the transformations that are taking place.

Are there any recent or ongoing projects that you would like to share with Design Courier?

Currently we have nineteen open yards in Italy, with a hotel in almost every region. Specifically, we recently inaugurated the boutique hotel La Place, located in Rome in Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina. Nestled within an historical palace, Hotel La Place draws on the concept to create a comfortable and familiar, classic and contemporary space, allowing materials, lights and colours to interact with each other. 

We also want to share another structure, Hotel The Major – former Hotel Gallia – in Rome, a hotel whose project dates back to thirty years ago. Over time the clients have changed and the property belongs to another person, but it seems that designing this hotel twice was my destiny. The new project arose from the idea of enhancing the historicity of the existing structure, giving it a contemporary elegance, at the height of the surrounding architecture, thus emphasizing the physical and visual connection with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Thus conceived, the hotel becomes a tool from which you can admire the monumental church up close, accentuating sights and views.

Finally, I would mention Hotel St. Martin – born from the idea of transforming a office complex building of the early 1900s located in the city center, just a few meters from Piazza della Repubblica, into an hotel accommodation – and the redevelopment project of Hotel Niccolò V. Situated on a background rich in history, namely the Etruscan village of Surrena, today’s Viterbo, the aim of this last project was to give a new appearance to the existing structure by establishing a dialogue between hospitality, design and elegance.