The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is the number-one resort in Italy according to the Travel+Leisure World’s Best Awards. This leading family-run independent facility celebrates Italian excellence and timeless charm in Bellagio on Lake Como, thus winning first place in Italy as the best resort.
The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni of Bellagio has triumphed at the 2019 Travel+Leisure World's Best Awards. Awarded as the no. 1 resort in Italy and as the no. 3 in Europe, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, which overlooks the glittering waters of Lake Como, confirms it has an extraordinary and timeless charm. Boasting 150 years of history, the Grand Hotel is a magical place, where you can feel the atmosphere of ancient times, immersed in the environment of a villa that offers one of the most iconic landscapes of Italy. It’s been an historical destination for famous as well as aristocratic guests over the years, members of royal families, statesmen and movie stars. Among them, to mention a few names, are Winston Churchill, J. F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Robert Mitchum, Al Pacino and more.
Its five-star luxury service, a Michelin-starred restaurant The Mistral—which has held the star for 14 years now and is led by Italy’s master of molecular cuisine Ettore Bocchia—and, finally, an in-house spa and wellness centre all serve to enhance the wonder of the Grand Hotel, which stands on a promontory projected towards the centre of the lake, crowned by green mountains and surrounded by magnificent Italian-style gardens. In the interior, the frescoes and paintings of mythological scenes on the walls catch the guests’ eyes, as do the frescoed coffered ceilings, the period tapestry, and the Murano crystal chandeliers. The solemnity of the marble staircases is breathtaking, as is the salle à manger, a royal-style hall lit by bronze and crystal chandeliers, the majesty of which is amplified by large mirrors.
The well-established excellence of the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni of Bellagio won it 43th place at a global level. The awards ceremony took place in New York City at the Paradise Club within the Times Square EDITION. Renowned photographer Pepe Botella took pictures of the show, which included participation from Jacqueline Gifford and Jay Meyer, editor-in-chief and publisher of Travel+Leisure, respectively, as well as some of the leading people in the international sector of hospitality.
To receive the prestigious award for Villa Serbelloni, there was Jan Bucher, son of the current owners and future CEO, who—together with his siblings—represent the fourth generation at the helm of the Grand Hotel: “I’ve spent the past six years working at the most important luxury hotels in the world in order to learn from the best and put this experience to work at the service of the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, which has also been the home of my family for as many as 101 years. This is my first year at Bellagio and I couldn’t wish for a better start.”
Gianfranco Bucher, CEO and Jan’s father, added: “Luxury destinations are on the rise, customers are increasingly demanding, hotel chains grow more and more with new acquisitions: if you keep these things in mind, you can understand our joy as an independent facility. We work hard and with passion to keep the standard high and emphasise what makes this villa dating back to 1872 so unique.”
Antonio Calzolaro, General Manager of the hotel, revealed the secret recipe to its success: “In addition to its unique location and historical character, the strength of the Grand Hotel lies in its staff. We believe that the employees, in order to make our guests feel good, should first feel good themselves in carrying out their own jobs. In this sector, the turnover is high. We strive to make sure our employees are loyal to us, but also because it’s very nice when a guest comes back after a few years to find a friendly face who already knows their tastes and preferences. It’s not by chance that this hotel is run by a family, and we like to think that our guests can enjoy a luxury environment with all the comforts at the same time feeling at ease as if they were within a family context.”
