There’s something really special about the way hoteliers think about gifting. For many of them, hospitality isn’t just a profession, it’s personal. It’s rooted in family traditions, meaningful memories, and the joy of sharing experiences that come straight from the heart.
This holiday season, we asked a handful of our hotel owners to reflect on the gifts that stayed with them, the experiences they’d love to give, and the rituals they’ve woven into everyday life at their hotels. Their answers are warm, thoughtful, and a little glimpses into what makes each place (and each family) so unique.
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received — and who gave it?
Mariella: A Pistoletto art piece by my parents for my 40th birthday. The art piece, made of wood and mirror, portrays a young woman holding binoculars and looking through them. The name is Person Looking Far Away, and I love the metaphoric meaning of it. It holds a special place in my house in Ravello.
Attilia: A custom book stamp from my sister, perfect for my obsession with books and my dream library. It makes every book I own feel even more personal.
If you could gift one experience at your hotel, what would it be?
Mariella: Preparing homemade cavatelli in my house.
Attilia: A limoncello-making class with Salvatore.
What’s your go-to last-minute gift that never fails?
Mariella: The Pink Closet Lemon Perfume.
Attilia: Our lipstick, Pink Obsession. It is iconic, elegant, and immediately brings the spirit of the Pink Palace with it.
Is there a family holiday tradition you’ve carried into life at the hotel?
Mariella: Yes — the panettone tasting. We taste around ten different panettoni blind and choose the winner based on votes. We also offer panettone at Rossellinis.
Attilia: Panettone tasting.
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received – and who gave it?
If you could gift one experience at your hotel, what would it be?
What’s your go-to last minute gift that never fails?
If your hotel had a signature gift under the tree, what would it be?
Is there a family holiday tradition you’ve carried into life at the hotel?
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received – and who gave it?
My grandmother, who first set foot in Saint-Tropez in 1964 and brought her family along for that adventure, was a doctor. When I was five, she gave me a little doctor’s bag – perhaps hoping to inspire a vocation, since none of her children had followed in her footsteps. I never graduated from medical school at 26, but that same year, I built a hotel for her on her favourite holiday spot.
If you could gift one experience at your hotel, what would it be?
I would promise a perfect winter morning – which is not rare here – to go sea-wading in crystal-clear water before enjoying lunch on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, under the sun. It’s the kind of simple luxury that stays with you : the light, the sea, the warmth, all in harmony.
What’s the most ‘you’ gift someone could give you?
For me, food is all about balance. I’m careful about what I eat, but I’m also incredibly gourmand. Everyone who knows me knows how much I adore the chocolate-covered marshmallow bears by the French pastry chef Cyril Lignac. Luckily, he’s not only a friend of Lily of the Valley – he’s also opened his pâtisserie in Saint-Tropez.
If your hotel had a signature gift under the tree, what would it be?
A week entirely devoted to self-care. Lily of the Valley has created four wellness programs inspired by longevity, and as a busy young mother, I would love for my husband to gift me one. It’s more than a stay in a beautiful hotel – it’s the luxury of time for oneself, the freedom to focus on health and balance.
Is there a family holiday tradition you’ve carried into life at the hotel?
Every Christmas morning, we would go for a walk before opening gifts – our way of beginning the day with gratitude and fresh air. At Lily of the Valley, I’ve kept that ritual alive by the sea: stepping outside early, breathing in the Mediterranean, and feeling that nature, in its quiet way, celebrates too.
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received — and who gave it?
A Slim Aarons photograph capturing the dreamy, old-school nonchalance of poolside living — a lost paradise. My wife, then girlfriend, gave it to me, and I knew she understood me so completely that I wanted to marry her.
If you could gift one experience at your hotel, what would it be?
A sunset sail aboard a restored Greek kaiki to Delos Island and the untouched shores of Rhenea — pure Aegean poetry.
What’s your go-to last-minute gift that never fails?
A piece of jewelry or an accessory from Minas in Mykonos Town — timeless, sculptural, and deeply connected to the island’s creative spirit.
If your hotel had a signature gift under the tree, what would it be?
A vintage View-Master revealing vignettes of Mykonos’ sun-kissed life and the Belvedere’s storied summers.
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received — and who gave it?
Watching my four young children believing in Santa and anxiously awaiting his arrival, placing cookies and milk by the fireplace, and living fully in that moment of magic.
If you could gift one experience at your hotel, what would it be?
A dinner at our Food Circle restaurant. An experience centered on sharing, seasonal ingredients, and the simple pleasure of gathering around a table.
What’s your go-to last-minute gift that never fails?
A beautiful coffee-table book. It’s thoughtful, timeless, and always appreciated.
What’s the most “you” gift someone could give you?
Something simple and inexpensive, but that I truly enjoy or need in that moment. Hotel, Decor and Architecture books are always welcome.
If your hotel had a signature gift under the tree, what would it be?
Our wines and olive oil — honest products that reflect our land, our philosophy, and the way we like to gather.
Is there a family holiday tradition you’ve carried into life at the hotel?
Since we opened the hotel, we gather the whole family there and spend Christmas together. It’s always a lot of fun — and the best part is that no one has to do all the cooking.