Author: fosca

A woman’s bedroom is a refuge for relaxation, regeneration and a little pampering. Here are 8 things it must have to make it a really special, unique and comfortable luxury suite.

1. A beautiful and comfortable bed

It’s the bed that creates the ambience. Nothing should be overlooked: a top-quality mattress, tailored sheets, a warm, light bedspread of the finest fabric, carefully chosen furnishings. Fine fabrics chosen for comfort are sure to last. The colour scheme is important – it’s easier to relax in a bed of gentle tones.

2. Abundant pillows

An abundance of pillows in different sizes will help you sleep like a princess, or support your back while you read or relax for a moment or two. Gather them together, perhaps in different materials and colours, in sizes that suit the bed and avoid an uneasy feeling of emptiness. This will give you an inviting and welcoming bed that is sure to satisfy you! 

3. A beauty corner

Create a special corner where you can pamper yourself in your personal temple of beauty with your perfumes, creams and cosmetics all at hand. It should have a makeup table that is not too large, preferably in a corner with good natural light.

4. A throw

A soft, well-finished throw on a small armchair creates somewhere for you to relax in comfort with a warm drink.

5. Artwork

Surround yourself with beautiful things – artworks, paintings or design objects – to add a touch of class to your room. It is essential to choose items that harmonise colour and style. Paintings are normally hung at line-of-sight height (about 1.6 / 1.7 m), linearly or in a geometric arrangement.

6. A book corner

The woman who works and travels is knowledgeable and cultured. Why not create a small library containing your favourite books?

7. A vintage object

A vintage object tells a story. Certain classic objects never lose their charm. A record player and vinyl records, for example, will allow you to relax to your favourite music.

8. Personal choices

True luxury lies in the details, possesses emotional appeal and expresses your individuality. Everything in your room should be carefully chosen to satisfy your aesthetic needs and give you a feeling of well-being. This is the only way to create a unique and special place.

Beltrami has obtained an exclusive interview with Raffaella Gregoris, founder and creator of Bakel, the only Italian skin-care brand to have established itself in the global luxury market, particularly in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
Read on to discover what “real luxury” means in the world of cosmetics.

How was Bakel born?
Bakel arose from my personal history: I graduated in pharmacy at the University of Bologna, specialising in Cosmetic Chemistry. I have always been very passionate about my work and, during my career as a formulator in various laboratories, I always worried about the use of low quality or ineffective ingredients in cosmetics. I therefore began working as a clinical consultant for pharmacies developing their own cosmetics brand. Then, in 2008, I created the Bakel brand, which used active ingredients only. In fact we proudly boast “100% active ingredients, no unnecessary ones” to emphasise that our products contain no oil derivatives, silicones, preservatives, dyes, alcohol or any other substances that do nothing for skin care and can even be harmful with constant use.

It’s not only in the food sector that labelling is important, but also in the world of cosmetics…
Although things are beginning to change in cosmetics, for years there has been little concern about ingredients. And in many cases, what you pay or where you buy provides no guarantee of product quality.
If we add in the fact that we are talking about chemistry, we can see why it’s not easy for the consumer to understand the purpose of every ingredient in a cosmetic. And while the food sector has to show an expiry date on its products, the cosmetics sector is not obliged to – it’s possible to buy a product that has been on the shelves for years… However, all Bakel products are free of preservatives and display an expiry date. Our packs also contain not only a complete list of ingredients (INCI, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients used by member states of the European Union), but also an explanation of the function of each one.

What does “luxury” mean to you in the cosmetics sector?
To me, luxury in cosmetics means encouraging awareness among consumers of what they are buying, so that they can be sure of acquiring a product with high quality ingredients, and this often means swimming against the tide. For example, marketing surveys show that women see a jar as a touch of luxury: opening one and appreciating the scent or even the colour of the cream is very satisfying. However, looking at the whole product, a jar is anything but luxurious: fingers are full of bacteria, and we dip them in the jar. This simple fact means that we are buying a product that has to contain numerous preservatives, unlike one packaged in an airless container or fitted with a dispenser. Obviously, this kind of technology incurs costs, but also offers markedly better performance…

How important are certifications in the cosmetics sector?
Certifications reflect our “no unnecessary ingredients” philosophy and confirm specific production standards. This is why all Bakel products undergo detailed dermatological testing by professional dermatologists in universities and specialised laboratories. To name just a few: “Clinically proven efficacy” guarantees that the product has passed clinical and efficacy tests at various prestigious universities, conducted in conformance with accepted scientific standards; “No animal testing – cruelty free” – means that the ICEA (Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification) certifies that Bakel meets LAV (Anti Vivisection League) standards. Bakel is number 45 on the list of companies meeting the “Stop Animal Testing” standard developed by the world’s major animal rights organisations, led by the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), of which LAV is a member. LAV is the only body in Italy authorised to award the mark guaranteeing the total absence of animal experiments throughout the production cycle, from raw materials to finished product. As a result, Bakel has decided not to export any products to countries, such as China, where it is still legal to test cosmetics on animals.
In the USA we are also recognised as a “Cruelty Free” company by PETA (Products for Ethical Treatments of Animals), the largest organisation in the world supporting animal rights. It created the “Beauty Without Bunnies” program which all companies that don’t test on animals can join. Our products are also gluten free and recognised internationally as Kosher, and we are obtaining Halal certification for the Islamic world.

Like Beltrami, Bakel is 100% Italian. What does “Made in Italy” mean to you?
“Made in Italy” is a concept linked to two of my company’s main assets: the high quality of the production sites and also of the clinical testing of product efficacy performed at various leading universities, such as the University of Ferrara, a centre of excellence in the field of clinical cosmetics.

Bakel has also developed exclusive treatments for the Portopiccolo SPA. Can you tell us something about these 3600 square metres overlooking the Gulf of Trieste?
Portopiccolo SPA by Bakel is situated in an eco-sustainable village that also includes the Hotel Falisia, the only 5-star luxury hotel in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The SPA was designed with natural materials, such as white Karst stone and untreated wood. Bakel has developed exclusive treatments for the Portopiccolo Spa, which is now our second home, drawing inspiration from the area’s natural assets. Here the concept of luxury is combined with personalised treatment. A scientific instrument is used to perform a test analysis of the guest’s skin to ensure that it receives the most appropriate treatment.

 

What is the difference between good and excellent service? How can you make sure that a guest you are meeting for the first time will become someone who returns to your business regularly?
Interpersonal relations are becoming more and more important in the hospitality industry, and guests are looking for memorable experiences.

Here are some recommendations for providing 5-star service.

1) Customized services.

Making your guest feel important is the first rule: your guest should feel pampered from the moment they book until the moment they leave.
Your guest should also get to know you and your staff: you should greet your guest with their name, sign your email messages and answer telephone calls with your name and your professional role.

2) Check in and Check out 24 hours a day.

A quick, simple check in process is always greatly appreciated, especially after a long trip, perhaps with a few hitches along the way. To compete with excellent quality service, it is a good idea to offer 24-hour check in.
It is not by chance that Booking recently selected an Italian start up by the name of Keesy, which offers an automated reception system to register guests to their rooms and receive payment.

3) Bathroom essentials.

Toiletry essentials in the bathroom enhance the accommodation and help to create an unforgettable relaxing experience.
A high-quality bathroom set is a must. The same is also true for towels and bathrobes. Select these items carefully, with a focus on quality materials combined with functionality, as well as practicality from a laundering standpoint.

4) Sweet dreams.

Sleep is a fundamental part of a hotel stay. A perfect night’s rest for your guest starts with the mattress and pillow.
Guests appreciate an ample selection of pillows, because the most comfortable pillow is a subjective choice: some people prefer firm support, while other enjoy a wool effect, and others the softness of down.
The same is also true for the duvet. There are also many available options in terms of materials as well as weight. Of course, the bed linens have an important impact on your guest’s comfort: different materials provide different sensations and answer to diverse needs; for example, the softness of satin or the cool touch of cotton percale.
A combination of quality and functionality are also important in this case, without ever taking the appearance of the room for granted.

5) Attention to detail.

You cannot talk about luxury without talking about an eye for details. The rooms must be impeccable down to the finest details. For example, no worn linens, and perfect maintenance on everything inside of the room. Every single object must be perfect and respond to the standards of the hotel.
Just one small detail out of place could ruin the overall effect.

6) Making your guest feel special.

Authentic hospitality usually is the key to a hotel’s success. The objective is to give your guest a memorable experience that takes into account the aesthetic, technical and human dimensions of the service.

Four tips for a perfect and comfortable luxury hotel-style bed in your home.
The secrets and the details you should never overlook in Beltrami’s golden rules to create the five-star bed of your dreams.

1. How to arrange the pillows.
Beds in hotel suites are vast, and pillows – with perfectly ironed pillowcases – must match the width of the bed to avoid creating an impression of emptiness.
Place decorative pillows side by side, even if they are of different materials, for an inviting and welcoming bed. For a luxury effect, remember to position the pillows perfectly against the headboard.

2. Don’t neglect the details: the valance is often overlooked.
Despite its fundamental role of covering the lower part of the bed, unfortunately it is often made of poor quality material. We recommend a made-to-measure valance in a carefully selected fabric of appropriate colour.
Remember – luxury is always a matter of detail!

3. The bedspread – a decorative item, elegantly dressing the bed and protecting the sheets.
It should be in a style that blends with its surroundings, and it is therefore important to choose suitable fabrics of good quality. Beltrami emphasises the importance of a careful choice of colour to match the furniture or create an elegant contrast.

4. Eiderdown and pillowcases, the final touch for a truly sumptuous bed, and an alternative to bedspreads.
The duvet must be exactly the right size for the bed, and complemented by Oxford pillowcases. Not only aesthetic, but practical – relaxing warmth and comfort with no bedclothes to disturb!

 

The Italian who likes to provide Service with a capital “S”.

He is one of the Italians who best represent the future of hospitality in the service-driven ultra-luxury sector. He has lived in London for over 5 years, and was once the Manager of the Arts Club, one of the city’s best-known members’ clubs, located in exclusive Mayfair. Before that, he was Guest Service & Butlers Manager, and subsequently Front of House Manager, at Claridge’s, the luxury Mayfair hotel. He graduated from The International Butler Academy in Holland, an exclusive school dedicated to the training of butlers, and obtained further specialisation in the United States. He is currently an Independent Consultant for luxury brands. Moretti reveals the secrets of impeccable room service.

 

What are the essentials of impeccable room service?

Impeccable room service must incorporate the three dimensions of service common to all aspects of hospitality. Specifically, the aesthetic, technical and human dimensions.
In the particular case of room service, the aesthetic dimension obviously means impeccable presentation of the trolley, while the technical dimension goes beyond the mere act of serving coffee to include food quality and staff know-how. Finally, the human dimension involves the ability to interact with the guest to create that special emotional contact that distinguishes the ultra-luxury sector. It’s all about reading between the lines, being visible and invisible at the same time.
Details, also, are important in room service, the small acts of attentiveness towards the guest that create a unique experience – something that applies to all three dimensions.

 

How do you create room service magic?

Serving breakfast for two in a suite means entering into people’s lives, and you create magic with small gestures that make a difference: opening the curtains gracefully, or courteously offering the newspaper even if it has not been ordered. It means using your eyes to anticipate and understand the guest’s wishes. In a certain sense this work calls for generosity.

 

Can you describe for us the items used for room service?

To begin with there’s the trolley. With dozens on the market, you must always choose one that is functional and compatible with the hotel’s image. One of the most important items is the tablecloth, and the cutlery also plays a key role – and, of course, the salt cellar and pepper pot, still acceptable on the room service trolley, although chefs might object to them in the restaurant. One of the most important components of the trolley’s magic is hidden under the tablecloth; it’s a box that helps to keep dishes at the right temperature, just as they were when they left the kitchen.
Finally, a fresh flower always adds a flourish.

 

How has the concept of luxury service changed in the last 10 years?

To succeed today you need to offer the best in personalised service, which is why we try to learn each guest’s preference.
Also, technology has changed luxury. For example, some chains have apps that allow guests to send orders to the hotel’s restaurants, but in the ultra-luxury sector the human dimension is still essential for creating rewarding interactions.

 

What does today’s luxury hotel guest expect to find?

I like to think that the luxury or ultra-luxury hotel is the only place where everything is possible. The modern world always has yet another novelty for you to spend money on, but not time or memories. Luxury offers both, through unforgettable experiences.

 

Is there any particular incident in your career that you remember with affection or that makes you smile?

One incident that still makes me smile happened when I was the Guest Service & Butlers Manager at Claridge’s in London. I was checking that everything in a suite was perfect, and went out on the terrace. Suddenly I found myself locked out in the cold, and I was there for 4 or 5 hours before someone was able to let me back in. I didn’t want to knock because the guest was resting, but the guest got up to call room service at one point and noticed me through the window.

 

What do you like most about your job?

We have the ability to make people’s lives better. Working in the luxury sector is a little like being the conductor of an orchestra. Everything must be perfect, and our job is to create experiences that guests will remember forever by playing a small part in their lives. It’s like a daily adrenaline rush for me.

 

Every Beltrami product begins with the raw materials. At Beltrami we insist on knowing the origins of our materials, and we only buy crops in the peak of condition as assurance of the highest possible quality.

Additionally, we constantly monitor the properties of our cotton to ensure a consistent and homogeneous product. Fibre length and moisture content, for example, are much more important considerations than the cotton’s provenance, which may not be a reliable indicator of quality.

Finally, the cotton we buy to provide you with the best product is always free of contamination from chemicals and other impurities, distinguishing us from other producers who use lower grade cotton and artificial fibres.

We believe that high-quality raw materials require closely managed and certified production methods that include fair treatment of workers.