U-Visionary Venezia, a luxurious and charming hotel near the Grand Canal, has opened its doors under the management of Fabrizio Pacini, an entrepreneur working between Rome and the Serenissima. In collaboration with architect Daniele Chiocchio, Pacini has chosen Cinquerosso Arte to curate a selection of artworks in perfect harmony with the hotel’s concept.
We take this opportunity to explore the connection between hospitality and art with a distinguished interlocutor.
Mr. Pacini, can you tell us your entrepreneurial background?
My journey began over 32 years ago. At the time, I owned a construction company, and before long, I became a general contractor specializing in turnkey hotel renovations. In this role, I built properties for third parties in Rome and across Italy, and for about ten years, I also served as the operational arm of Federalberghi Lazio.
In 2012, the construction sector experienced a major downturn, prompting me to make a change: instead of building hotels for others, I decided to do it for myself. At that time, I was in partnership with two other associates, and together, we developed several hotels with great success. Then came the generational shift—our children had grown, so we decided to divide the hotels and go our separate ways.
Today, I own three hotels in Rome and am currently developing a fourth. I also chose to open one in Venice, recognizing its strategic importance. Having hotels in both Rome and Venice places us in a strong position when negotiating with agencies worldwide. Now, we are working to finalize a deal that will allow us to open a top-tier hotel in the mountains soon.
Regarding the hotel in Venice, what is the concept that inspired you?
For U-Visionary in Venice, as for the one in Rome, I relied on my trusted architect, Daniele Chiocchio. And in realising this hotel, Daniele was inspired by Venice’s role as a gateway to the East. A role that is rooted in its history as a maritime republic, and that can be breathed in so much of its architecture. After personally reaching out to Francesca Fazioli, I directed Daniele to Cinquerosso Arte; we met Francesca, viewed the collection with her, and together chose the works that best harmonised with our concept.
What do you think about the relationship between Art and Hötellerie?
From a personal point of view, I am very sensitive to art. After all, I live in Italy, which has a very large part of the world’s artistic heritage, and I work between Rome and Venice, which in turn host a very large part of this heritage. From a professional point of view, this is a great opportunity: it means that we can also offer our guests a privileged window on beauty. Then there is the art that we bring into our facilities, as happened with U-Visionary Venice, or as happened in Rome, where we have been collaborating with an artist from a long time.
Our hotels are luxury structures where every detail is carefully considered, and the artwork must reflect the same high standard. Guests seek a sense of indulgence, and we strive to provide it: through our cuisine, our attention to comfort, even the scents that fill the space.
Art also plays a key role in this, as it helps to create pleasant feelings. As I often say, we often experience emotions without fully understanding why. A guest’s experience in a hotel works the same way: he may not realise what makes him feel so comfortable, but he simply does. And that is what really matters.
