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| Executive Travel |
Serenissimo
Scott Haas
07/01/2004
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Cipriani’s doors first opened in 1958 after
Giuseppi Cipriani recruited investors, including the daughters of the Earl of
Iveagh (scion of the Guinness brewing family). Already famous as the owner of
Harry’s Bar—a watering hole near Piazza San Marco where Hemingway and other
notables drank the first Bellinis—Cipriani brought distinction to the hotel,
along with a clear sense of what it takes to run an exceptional property
catering to an exceptional clientele.
 | | HOTEL CIPRIANI offers magnificent views, a private marina for guests’ yachts and
the only Olympic-size swimming pool in Venice. |
Cipriani’s vision informed the hotel’s
style until 1976, when it was purchased by its current owner, Orient-Express
Hotels. The new management invested $100 million in modernizing the property by
enlarging the rooms, renovating the dining areas and acquiring the nearby 15th
century Palazzo Vendramin for additional guest rooms. Designed by Gerard Gallet,
the restoration preserved the integrity of the architecture, while updating the
comfort factor to first-class levels. With a ratio of one staff member per
guest, the standards of service are indeed premium.
Tutti Italiano
Cipriani’s 103 rooms and suites are divided among three
buildings: the main structure, the Palazzo Vendramin and the attached
Palazzetto. Guests staying at the Palazzo and the Palazzetto enjoy the
additional services of a personal butler. Italian through and through, Cipriani
pays homage to the materials and craftsmanship for which Venice is famous,
especially silks and Murano glass. All rooms are dressed in brocaded draperies,
plush carpeting, hand-painted furnishings and splendid views of the canals and
city.
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