Boscolo, urban hotel in Milan
Face to face with Roberto Boscolo
It comes into being the first urban hotel in Milan. Situated on the very central Corso Matteotti, overlooking the Duomo’s pinnacles, the new Boscolo Hotel Exedra opens its doors to the city. The five-star-luxury owned by the Italian chain, was conceived as a proper gathering and communication venue for all those people that experience the city of Milan: what is key are in fact the services offered, from the catering that is open 24/7, to the Spa (which closes at midnight), to the area reserved to exhibitions and art shows.
The Exedra stems out of the talent of architect Italo Rota who entirely revisited the palace on Corso Matteotti that formerly hosted the headquarters of the Imi Bank. Hotel rooms are all different from each other, so to highlight the importance of customization. The hotel hosts over 150 rooms, from the Superior Room to the Presidential Suite, whose prices range between 800 and 7000 euros per night. Clients can choose among three restaurants: one mainly serving boiled and roast meat, the second mainly serving fish and the third, serving international cuisine, is situated on the eighth floor and has a terrace with view over the Duomo.
To enrich even more the eating-venues scenario, there are Lambruscheria, managed by F&De Group (specialized in eno-gastronomic traditions of the Po Valley) and champagnerie. The Spa Suisse, stretching over 1000 sq meters, is provided with a pool with falls, sauna, hammam and six massage cabins. Among the treatments, there is also a champagne-elixir peeling with rose petals and a beauty treatment with ultrasonic-wave technologies. The director of the newly inaugurated hotel is Roberto Boscolo.
Why did you choose to open a hotel in Milan?
Milan is not a capital but it actually is as if it were one: fashion, economy, design are here. We want this hotel to be the very first work built for the 2015 Expo; the Exedra was indeed conceived not only as a hotel but also as a gathering venue for the Milanese and Milan’s guests. I wish to underline the fact that 70% of the hotel area is public. This kind of hotel launches a new way of being in the hotellerie sector. In fact this format will be maintained for the construction of the new 5 star hotels of the group and for the renovation of existing ones.
What are the common areas?
The setting of the street side conveys the idea of a city entering the hotel. In fact, big glass windows open up on Corso Matteotti, as if the people inside were the protagonists of the stage and those outside could enjoy the view of internal spaces. The common areas are the three restaurants that already exist, plus one that will be inaugurated in a few weeks and that will be headed by a very important chef whose name cant yet be revealed. The Lambruscheria, champagnerie and the day Spa are also open to anyone.
How did you choose this location?
I was visiting the building with my father Angelo, when it was still occupied by the Bank. He was walking down the aisles and could already imagine how the hotel would have been. Then he told me: “Within nine months, I will create a hotel that has no precedents, and then you manage it for the years to come.” I accepted the offer and that’s how this jewel came into being.
What can you tell us about the Boscolo group?
Today, the Boscolo Hotels Group owns seven five-star hotels that create the BoscoloHotels5 chain, and sixteen four-star hotels, the BoscoloHotels4. Atop of this there is the Boscolo Travel inside, a tour operator that specializes on group and individual trips in Italy and Europe; the division Hotel Engineering dealing with project management services for the hotel industry; the Boscolo Food % beverages; the Boscolo Academy (School of culinary arts); and the Boscolo Catering. All this means: 2000 employees, and an annual turnover that in 2008 amounted to 270 million euros.
What are your future projects?
In 2010 we will open a new four-star hotel, in Milan, hosting 300 rooms, three restaurants and a conference centre with the capacity to host 1000 people. The architect in charge of the project will be Simone Micheli that has already realized the Exedra Spa. By the end of next year we should also be opening another five-star hotel in Bari that a key-city for the southern part of Italy, but that has suffered for years the lack of a high-standard hotel facility.
Alessandra Iannello
Arts And Culture, Leisure, Not To Be Missed, People And Brand, Taste, Travel And Holidays,
Tags: Boscolo, Boscolo Hotel Exedra, Italo Rota, Luxury hotels, Milan, Roberto Boscolo
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