Michelacci Grand Hotel: enthusiasm, joie de vivre and relax immersed in the beauty of Italian nature
Land of great scenic charm, enchanting beaches and lush hills characterize Gabicce, the last town of the Marche region on the border with Romagna region, which has been a source of inspiration for artists and members of the nobility since the 1500s. It is here that we find an extraordinarily chic and exclusive location open all year round: the MichelacciGrand Hotel. Classic furnishings and some antique furniture, art paintings, silver, marbles alternating between white and forest green, allow you to be transported into another dimension.We could call it the “temple of hospitality”, a place immersed in a magnificent natural setting, that of the Adriatic Riviera, with a splendid sea view. The hotel has three swimming pools, one of which is indoor and heated to 32° for the winter, and a large private beach, but what makes it even more attractive is the prestigious Maison D’O, one of the most modern Beauty Farm in the Marche region, with an atmosphere reminiscent of oriental styles and a wide range of wellness and beauty services. The MichelacciGrand Hotel differs from other hotels in Gabicce Mare for the luxurious services it is able to offer its guests.Relax, sun, sea and, of course, a fine restaurant where you can enjoy the heady flavors of traditional Romagna and international food.General Manager of this heavenly hotel is Dr. Federica VannoniMichelacci: a woman of high culture who, after graduating in Italy, has successfully attended several Masters in the most prestigious foreign universities (New York University, London College, SorbonneUniversity in Paris). Dr. VannoniMichelacci is a tourism manager of considerable and relevant importance in the Marche Region and in the Emilia Romagna Region thanks to her ability to choose tourist markets for incoming, bringing customers from all over the world including Jewish tourism. We met with her for an exclusive interview:
How did the idea of founding MichelacciGrand Hotel come about?
‘The MichelacciGrand Hotel was born from an ambitious project of my mother’s, but over time it has had continuous expansions, implementations and completions, with the addition of various sectors, such as the wellness sector with the Maison D’O and the SPA, the congress and banqueting sector of MEMO (which stands for Meeting & Events Michelacci Organization), the kosher department (specialized in welcoming tourists observant of the Jewish religion up to the highest level, Glatt).’
The hospitality industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic, how have you been able to cope with this difficult time?
‘The times in which we live are very chaotic and very unstable. In the last 2 years we have been overwhelmed by huge events (which are usually diluted over decades, if not centuries). They have affected us and still affect us in a very profound and equally sudden way. These events have been
repeated (see the Covid waves that have gripped us since 2020) and have also overlapped (see the pandemic with the war in Ukraine and with the devaluation…).In such an unstable situation, it is very difficult to position oneself on the market at all levels, including tourism, and it is also difficult to make long-term forecasts (I am talking about years). Forecasts can only be short, very short term.Over the past 2 years there has been a lot of talk about RESILIENCE. In general, resilience indicates an individual’s ability to cope with and overcome a traumatic event or period of difficulty. Resilience is also the ability to adapt to the present and a whole variety of new and unexpected situations.This concept, when referring to tourism, means to have great FLEXIBILITY and great capacity of opening towards always new needs. And this must take place in the immediate future. This does not mean IMPROVISATION OR APPROXIMATION.Far from it. It means SENSITIVITY AND STUDY. It starts with a mental preparation that must necessarily be followed by a practical and logistic organization. It means having a CULTURE OF THE GUEST and studying what is necessary and what contributes to making his stay a unique experience that he wants to repeat.’
Relations between Russia and Italy have been compromised due to the conflict with Ukraine, how much do you think it will affect tourism in our country?
‘Great changes are also affecting the tourism and hospitality market. Since 2020 there has been a drastic contraction of the foreign market in general as far as incoming is concerned, – some markets have really “disappeared”. At a time when perhaps we could have started to turn again to the foreign market, the situation has again precipitated with the Russia-Ukraine war.Italy-Russia relations, at least for the moment, seem to be irremediably compromised and therefore necessarily this implies an increasing push to turn to Italian tourists, in the hope of witnessing a corresponding growth of domestic tourism.Surely vacations are getting shorter and faster, so it’s important to study and give “immediate impact effects”. This applies to the restaurant, the room and the beach.These effects must be the first memory that remains to the guest. As vacations become shorter and shorter and customers more and more varied, in the immediate it is necessary to understand what customers want and how to address their desires.’
Do you have any future plans to implement?
‘I have several projects, but for superstition I prefer not to anticipate them. I’ll just tell you this: they all concern the tourism sector. I have a full degree in pharmacy, but I’ve always been fascinated by this world. Working in tourism is a very interesting job, but also a very difficult one nowadays. It’s a job that first of all has to be loved. Especially in a historical period like this one.’
Three things in your life that you would never give up?
‘Family, Education, Respect.’
The art of hospitality is not the only thing that makes our country much appreciated in the world, we must not forget High Fashion and its ability to become an ambassador of intriguing contaminations of Luxury Italian style.Glamorous, modern, original, sumptuous, romantic, sustainable… different styles with one common denominator: the excellence.The Made in Italy, in all its meanings, is an icon of quality, attention to detail and continuous research, and unites worlds only apparently different: fashion and hospitality, the most significant sector for the recovery of tourism in our country. If we move just two kilometers away from Gabicce Mare we find ourselves in Cattolica, in Emilia Romagna, and it is here that fashion designer FabianaGabellini has opened her exclusive Atelier. Haute Couture creations, ready-to-wear, beachwear, formal outfits and wedding dresses that are characterized by fine workmanship, originality, and the ability to excite, small masterpieces that combine art and fashion in an unparalleled way. Dreamlike outfits that perfectly blend with the luxurious elegance of the halls at the MichelacciGrand Hotel. The passion, the love for beauty and culture, the typical Italian savoir-faire join Federica VannoniMichelacci to FabianaGabellini as well as the desire to offer their clients extraordinary experiences and the opportunity to live unforgettable moments as protagonists.
www.michelacci.com
Credits: Ph. ©Leonardo Nobili, Model Arianna Bernardini, Fashion designer Fabiana Gabellini (www.fabianagabellini.com), Location Grand Hotel Michelacci Press: Francesca Fortini