Valentina De Santis

Global luxury travel network Virtuoso has honored Valentina De Santis as 'Hotelier of the Year' in this year's sought-after Virtuoso Awards during the evening gala closing the 34th annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas.

For nearly 50 years, Valentina and her family have been an integral part of Lake Como's history, as owners of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo since 1973, now continuing paving the way for luxury hospitality with the June 2022 opening of their latest passion project, Passalacqua.

Each year, more than 4,000 of the industry's top travel advisors and partners gather at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas to reward the 'Luminaries, Legends and Leaders' of tourism and hospitality, celebrating individuals and brands alike who demonstrate unconditional passion for this sector. Announced on August 18th, the awards are considered the gold stamp of the travel industry.

Of the 12 recipients of the prestigious Virtuoso 'Hotelier of the Year' awards - the Oscar of Hotellerie - this is the fifth time that an Italian hotelier will be receiving the award, an incredible honor for the country, and only the second time that an owner of an independent hotel has been recognized in this category.

About Valentina De Santis Bio: As a third-generation entrepreneur with a great passion for her heritage and the field of hospitality, Valentina De Santis was born in Como in 1982. After earning her degree in Economics for the Arts, Culture and Communication followed by a specialization in General Management, Valentina began her career in Bain & Company, a strategic management consulting firm, mainly dealing with projects in the field of fashion and luxury.

In 2010, the centenary year of Grand Hotel Tremezzo, acquired by her grandfather in 1973, she began to immerse herself in the family business with a focus on developing the sales & marketing strategy for the hotel. With a fresh perspective on the industry and generations-long talent, Valentina pursued a new career following in the footsteps of her parents and in keeping the perfect balance between honoring tradition and infusing innovation, all with inspiration drawn from Lake Como.

In 2014, Valentina was nominated among five finalists as Best Hotelier of the Year. In 2019 she was ranked one of the 100 most successful Italian women for Forbes and in 2021 she won the Patrizio Cipollini Award as "Italian Hotelier of the Year" during Duco, a luxury travel show dedicated to Italian excellence.