LUX Hotel & Spa Awards 2016

LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2016 23 Best Luxury Hotel 2016 - Piedmont Opened in 2005, La Villa Hotel is a spectacularly sited country retreat, which Nicola and her husband Chris, were determined to bring back to life. Nicola proudly describes how far the hotel has come in the 11 years since they embarked on this huge undertaking. “When we first started renovating La Villa Hotel it was a run-down winery, which had not been lived in for more 20 years. We fell in love with the building’s 400 year old character and authenticity and wanted to highlight its original features and heritage as much as possible. For us, the brief was very simple- to make La Villa modern enough for comfortable 21st century living whilst retaining its 17th century charm. “From our first visit to Piedmont, we immediately understood it’s attraction - the unspoiled nature of the scenery, lack of organised tourism and the richness of the area’s food and wine culture. We imagined that the guests who would appreciate La Villa would be people like ourselves: independent travellers with over-busy lives who need an environment which lets them wind down as soon as they walk through the door and gives them enough space to breathe and just be themselves. “To do this, our aim is for guests to feel like they’ve gone on holiday to spend time with their friends in their country home. So, from the moment of check-in where guests are received at the bar, they are offered a glass of locally produced prosecco and given time to take in their surroundings before being taken to their room. We always try as soon as we can to find out why our guests are visiting, so that we can tailor our service and advice to suit them. Often, it’s a special birthday or romantic getaway, but given Piedmont’s geography and unique gourmet culture, it could just as often be advice on the best cycling trails, what restaurant to visit, how to fit in as Best Luxury Hotel 2016 - Piedmont Situated in Piedmont’s world famous vineyards, with easy links to major destinations such as Milan, Genoa and Turin, La Villa Hotel is a chic hideaway with a unique atmosphere which makes it perfect for an idyllic Italian getaway. We spoke to owner, Nicola Norton, to learn more about this stylish, independent destination. HS160062 Establishment: La Villa Hotel Website: www.lavillahotel.net La Villa Hotel many of the wineries as possible, or in the autumn, ensuring guests have an opportunity to buy or go truffle hunting for the region’s famous white truffle. Piedmont is not as well-known or as well written about as other regions of Italy, so good knowledge of the area and a strong network of local suppliers is key to helping our guests get the most from their stay. Some guests are very independent and want to explore on their own, so we use our knowledge and contacts to create tailor-made itineraries. For others, we arrange more organised itineraries. “Whichever way you choose to explore the area, it is impossible being here not to become passionate about it. The food and wine is world class: despite being a tranquil getaway we are a hotspot for Michelin starred restaurants (there are 7 within 40 minutes drive of the hotel), and rock-star wineries. And the scenery with its winding roads, hilltop vineyards and villages and views of the Alps is simply breath-taking. In helping our guests feel at home with us, we see it as our role to showcase Piedmont and what it has to offer. This means that we focus exclusively on local produce and suppliers. Our restaurant serves many of the typical local dishes and our chef is always in demand to host cooking classes on how to make the local pasta and risottos. To compliment our food, we have also built up, over the past 10 years, an extensive wine collection housed in the original cellars under the hotel. Today, there are more than 5000 bottles of Piedmont wine, including some rare Barolos and Barbarescos. Nicola continues: “We don’t want La Villa to be seen by our guests as just a place to rest their heads for the night. We want it to be a place that brings a smile to their face, a place they carry with them when they leave and want to come back to”. The team at La Villa is, in Nicola’s view, a key part of their success. “We have a small team who have been with us a long time, and we feel like proud parents watching individuals grow in experience, stature and confidence. Really, we are more like a big family. Chris and I are very hands-on as owners, and we all support each other to ensure that guests always receive the very best service. For us, our guests come first, always. The atmosphere we cultivate among the team is the same as that we show to our guests - very relaxed, informal and friendly, which is also why our staff wear a low-key uniform of a simple t-shirt with our logo on it. We have established ourselves as a holiday escape rather than a corporate hotel, so we avoid things that could be associated with ‘work life’. However, being relaxed yet professional can be a difficult balancing act for the team, including us, and over the years we seen how the team’s natural friendliness and willingness to please has been enhanced by a better understanding of what our guests need to feel looked after ‘in good hands’. The number of returning visitors that make their way back to La Villa every year is a barometer of hotel’s success in its quest for excellence, but, as Nicola emphasises, La Villa does not believe in resting on its laurels, and is always searching for ways to iimprove. “We know our customers very well - what they like and what is important to them. We listen to what they say- and sometimes what they don’t say- and feed that into our plans. Standing still in ever changing world is not an option if you want to remain at the top of your game. It is all the little touches that make the difference, and these make the hotel a great place to visit time and again.”