We are proud to present this next issue in our series focusing on the PEOPLE, CULTURE and COMMUNITIES that make up our diverse Waterstone Collection. Throughout the series we will continue to introduce you to PEOPLE who, if you do not know already, you will want to do business with going forward. As ambassadors for their local CULTURES and COMMUNITIES they offer a range of unique experiences with passion and a true sense of hospitality that we believe will help inspire your clients to travel again. These PEOPLE are our friends not only because they are 100% committed to supporting travel advisors and exceeding your clients’ expectations, but because they are honorable, hard-working and loyal people striving to support the destinations they call home. We hope you will support them when your clients are ready to travel again. You will not be disappointed!
“I am the second-generation owner of the Hotel Hassler, and since I was a child it was my dream to become a hotelier, but my father thought my deafness would be an insurmountable obstacle. I grew up in the ‘Hotel’, passing through the various rooms, the Concierge’s desk, watching how the waiters served clients at the restaurant and observing my father manage what appeared to me to be a royal palace. Being born profoundly deaf, all this left an indelible imprint on me and I learned the true sense of hospitality from my family and my observations. I had to face and overcome many difficulties before I succeeded but I never gave up, even when my father attempted to discourage me, but nothing could dissuade me that this was my path in life. Today, the Hassler is still my passion, my home and my family heritage and my aim is to keep it as an independent jewel that continues to shine more and more.”
— Roberto E. Wirth, Owner and Managing Director of the Hotel Hassler Roma
Representing the 5th generation of a family steeped in hospitality, Mr. Roberto E. Wirth has owned and managed the legendary Hassler Roma atop the Spanish Steps for over 40 years. Home to celebrities, aristocrats, dignitaries, and titans of business, the Hassler Roma has never rested on its laurels and continues to upgrade and enhance its slate of services to remain one of the premier independent luxury hotels in the world.
As befitting a thriving dynastic family business, the Wirth family now includes a 6th generation with Roberto Wirth’s twin son and daughter, Roberto Wirth Jr. and Verushka Wirth, holding positions of escalating responsibility in the family enterprise. Both Roberto Jr. and Verushka are assisting their father to evolve their rich history of hospitality at both the Hassler and a growing portfolio of the family’s owned and managed properties:
Understanding the need for privacy and seclusion amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, the 4-room residential mansion Il Palazzetto, adjacent to the Spanish Steps, became an extension to the Hassler just a few steps away in 1999.
With charming walled gardens, a private pool and health center, Hotel Vannucci is a charming and romantic 4-star property with 30 rooms on the grounds of the the historic Villa Mirafiori in the beautiful city of Città della Pieve in Umbria. Strategically located between Rome and Florence, the property is the perfect base for exploring the Umbrian countryside and historic cities of Perugia, Cortona and Assisi.
The Tuscan villa haven, Parco del Principe built in the late 1800’s is a Neo-gothic villa beautifully restored in 2001 by Astrid Schiller Wirth. Her inimitable style of interior design, personal touch and attention to detail can be felt in the main villa containing 5 spacious double rooms, plus an additional 2 room villa located on the estate. The 60 acres of parkland and pool surrounding the villa make the estate ideal for an exclusive use multi-generational family gathering.
In conjunction with his brother Peter, Roberto Wirth developed Borgo Bastia Creti from a secluded little 14th century Hamlet on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, to the elegant, rustic and informal luxury villa resort complex it is today. Old oak beam ceilings, hand-made terracotta floors, antique tiling, and unique furnishings adorn each of the 5 villas (sleeping up to 26 people). Two tennis courts, an outdoor pool and amazing unspoiled 360° views of the surrounding valley complete the sprawling estate.
"Trastevere is my favorite neighborhood. It is one of the oldest, most vibrant, colorful and authentic places in Rome where artists congregate."
"Villa Borghese is a beautiful green oasis full of art and history. I loved going there by bicycle as a child and it is still my favorite place to relax."
"Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori not only for their beauty but also for the atmosphere."
"Via Margutta and the Giardino degli Aranci are both part of the soul of this beautiful city."
"Dinner at Imàgo, the Hassler’s Michelin starred restaurant, is a must: great food and the unique views over Rome and the Spanish Steps."
See below for more information and contact details related to Roberto E. Wirth's iconic Hotel Hassler Roma.
Travel Advisor Contact: Paola Polidori, Director of Sales and Marketing +39 06 699 34 301 | p.polidori@hotelhassler.it
