For decades, the De Santis family has shaped Lake Como’s landscape of luxury. Under the family’s stewardship, the palatial Grand Hotel Tremezzo has become one of the most celebrated luxury hotels in Europe.
That legacy continues today at Passalacqua, an award-winning lakeside villa known for its grand heritage, opulent Italian craftsmanship and deeply personal service.
In this Travel Weekly exclusive, CEO and third-generation owner Valentina De Santis reflects on balancing family heritage with modern luxury, the art of creating meaningful guest experiences and the philosophy of accoglienza that has made Passalacqua one of the world’s most acclaimed hotels.
Your family has shaped luxury hospitality on Lake Como for generations. How do you personally balance honouring that legacy while still creating something distinctly modern and relevant for today’s luxury traveller?
We always strive to respect our properties’ rich heritage, but the best way to honour the past is, as the saying goes, to “tend the flame, not worship the ashes.” We want to make our history liveable today and into the future, so we need to find fresh ways to keep the magic alive for years to come.
Passalacqua feels deeply connected to Italian art, culture and craftsmanship. What role did Italian heritage and storytelling play in shaping the hotel’s identity?
Italian excellence is at the centre of everything we do at Passalacqua – in the interiors, on the plate and in the accoglienza, the warm welcome that comes from the Latin for gathering together and forming a bond. We created the sense of place; the dolce far niente is up to you.
You’ve spoken about bringing back a sense of “meraviglia” or wonder. In an era where luxury travellers have seen so much, what do you think truly creates emotional impact and unforgettable hospitality today?
In a world drowning in excess, high-end travellers today are looking for something different. “Quiet luxury,” as they’re calling it, prioritises meaningful moments over conspicuous consumption, cultural connections over global brands. Here at Passalacqua we encourage our guests to arrange flowers with our florist or mix cocktails with our barman, from a cruise with our experienced boatmen to a hike along the ancient Sentiero di Sort with a local naturalist.
But, as I said earlier, doing nothing at all is not just acceptable. It’s encouraged. We want the simple pleasures to define the stay, gazing out over the lake under a floral parasol, watching the heritage chickens pick and strut or eating a piece of fruit right from the tree. Wonder at Passalacqua literally grows on trees.
As a female leader in global luxury hospitality, what has been the biggest challenge and greatest source of power in leading a property now recognised as one of the best hotels in the world?
My family always taught me that was something to celebrate – that the “something extra” women bring to the table doesn’t cramp the conversation, it enriches it. At the heart of hospitality are values we have traditionally considered feminine: nurturing, relationship-building, creating spaces where people feel cared for and understood.
Whether or not these qualities are rightly feminine-coded, they are what elevate mere hospitality to true accoglienza. I was fortunate enough to witness my mother and grandmother living this philosophy out loud. They taught me that though elegance may look effortless, it actually requires a strong vision and attention to detail.
The restoration of Passalacqua was described as a “labour of love.” Were there any particular artworks, historical details or cultural elements within the villa that you felt especially passionate about preserving?
It truly was a labour of love, and an experience I am so glad I got to share with my parents. Thanks to their vision, we were able to find a “forever home” for many family heirlooms that belonged to my grandmother, great-grandmother and great aunt. It was such a joy to work so closely together and to bring so much of our own family history into the interiors. This project will forever be a reminder of the impeccable spirit in our family.
How do you leave your own mark when the family legacy is already world-renowned?
I am so proud to be the third generation of my family to work in this business, and I feel honoured to carry on the legacy of my parents and grandparents. At the same time, I have worked hard to put my own particular stamp on the business and bring my personality into our day-to-day work.
For me, that means making the whole enterprise more joyful, more playful and more colourful. I want our company culture to be focused as much on whimsy as it is on excellence. So, heritage chickens and sweets in giant apothecary jars, yes, but also an obsession with the finer details. That’s me in a nutshell, I suppose!
