This New Luxury Hotel Group Wants To Be Italy’s Best Hotelier

Shedir Collection, a new luxury hotel group cofounded by entrepreneur Eduardo Safdie of J.K. Place acclaim, is wasting no time making buzzy inroads in Rome. With two achingly chic boutique properties—Hotel Vilòn and Maalot Roma—already earning rave reviews, the company is poised to unveil two more singular hotels— Umiltà 36 and Palazzo Roma—in the Eternal City this year.

In January 2022, Shedir Collection announced the appointment of a new CEO, Claudio Ceccherelli. A 19-year veteran of Hyatt—where his tenure included stints as general manager of Park Hyatt Milan, Hôtel Martinez Cannes, and Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme—Ceccherelli has returned to Italy to lead Shedir Collection’s expansion within bella Italia and beyond.

I recently asked Ceccherelli a few questions about Shedir Collection and its plans for the future. His answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: Shedir Collection opened Maalot Roma during the pandemic, with two more debuts planned for this year—a bold move, especially given how many luxury hotels have opened in the city recently. Why is Rome such a focus for the company, and what differentiates Shedir’s properties and guest experiences from other five-star hotels in the Eternal City?

A: For many years, Rome has been one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, but lacked a wide array of luxury properties to meet the demand of high-net-worth travelers. The limited offering that did exist was mainly the big international brands.

Once this gap in the market was identified, change was inevitable—and presented the opportunity for dozens of primarily boutique properties, due to the size constraints of the buildings available in Rome’s center. We were confident that Shedir Collection could add value by offering guests the chance to live an experience that blends the boundaries between hospitality, intimacy, and authenticity. First-rate contemporary architecture and refined, residential interiors make our hotels extraordinarily elegant, and able to offer highly professional, personalized, sincere and welcoming service.

Q: Maalot Roma and Hotel Vilòn are the flagship properties of two new brands created by Shedir Collection. How would you describe the difference between them?

A: What sets Vilòn and Maalot apart is the audience. The Vilòn aims to be a private home for savvy travelers who want to experience the Eternal City as a local, but with a private approach. The Maalot offers a lounge-like atmosphere that welcomes an unconventional, fresh, and younger crowd. Set just a few steps from the Trevi Fountain, the hotel features the Don Pasquale restaurant—which is the soul of the hotel—a bar, and 30 bespoke rooms defined by eclectic and vibrant design.

With the addition of two more hotels in 2022, our collection aims to offer four different hospitality experiences in Rome through four different properties—and there is plenty of opportunity to bring those distinct experiences to other Italian destinations.

Whatever the guest profile, one thing is certain: anyone staying with us, whether in Rome or at the Capri Tiberio Palace, will enjoy the ultimate hospitality experience— infused with Italian DNA, modern designs, a cozy atmosphere, and the best location in each destination.

Q: What are Shedir Collection’s expansion plans within Italy? Are there plans already in the works for other markets beyond Rome—and if so, where and when?

A: With the opening of Umiltà 36—scheduled for April 2022—and Palazzo Roma, set to open in the second half of this year, our collection will total five properties by year’s end. Rome will remain one of the world’s most important destinations, so we want to offer varied and exclusive hospitality experiences that meet the different needs of our guests. Our business development plan provides for more openings in strategic Italian cities such as Milan, Venice, and Florence, where there is ample scope for properties and concepts like our existing ones.

Q: Are there plans to expand beyond Italy? If so, where and when? 

A: We don’t exclude the possibility of taking our unique hospitality concept further afield, but for the time being we want to focus on Italy, as there is room to grow in strategic Italian hubs.