Fernando Pane, the deskless director with a passion for mixology.
The figure of the hotel manager over the years, also thanks to - or because of - cinema, he has taken on the appearance of a mythological figure, half man and half desk, who must make the fortune of the accommodation facility he manages by living for it, at its service.
But, if there is an exception to every rule, in this story he certainly lives in Florence and walks the streets of the Tuscan capital in the footsteps of Fernando Bread, director of the Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection.
The director, Fernando Pane
Neapolitan by origin, Fernando Pane, born in 1982, has hotel management and hospitality in his DNA. Son of a hotel manager, initially opposed to him following this career as a defensive protocol, he first began studying business economics at university and, at 17, decided to follow the voice of his heart, leaving for Switzerland for his first season as a waiter in St. Moritz. This would mark the path of life that led him to be today the director of Sina Villa Medici.
After his experiences abroad, he spent 10 years in Rome changing three hotels: Flora, Eden and Bernini Bristol. His arrival in Tuscany is in the Argentario peninsula, where he works for six years at the Pellicano, where he will become director. The desire to manage a non-seasonal structure then takes him to Florence.
Here, what is exalted by everyday life is his mastery, mixed with a human value typical of the self identity of Neapolitan culture.
Hungry for knowledge, and supported by a team of professionals in every area of the hotel industry, he is able to manage every piece like a real orchestra conductor. Coordinating it to perfection and without forgetting the value of human relationships, he often joins customers during their aperitifs, from happy Negroni Lovers, to introduce yourself or even just for a chat, taking advantage of the moment in which the guest is enjoying the common areas by lowering their defenses a little.
A director who is more of a Two-faced Janus, the god of beginnings who lingers at the door looking to the future and the past at the same time. The exception that usually proves the rule, with the hope that it can even subvert it.
We interviewed him to get him to tell us about his figure, between past and future, with a focus on the hotel that he has been carefully coordinating since March 2021.
The world of luxury hotels, and in particular the role of the director, are often vague and unclear to the general public. How would you describe your role?
Let's start from a fundamental concept: what is luxury? I always say that luxury is time. Guests who travel in certain types of facilities are used to high-level services, so the real mission is to enrich their time with something they could not have at home and a key role in doing so is played by people, their attitude and their empathetic professionalism that can really make the difference. I see the figure of the Hotel Manager, with due proportions, as that of the Orchestra Conductor who deals with the best performers in the sector (the team!) who must be harmonized and valued like the best of symphonies!
What have been the main changes in your figure? What do you think will be the next ones?
The Director's job is ambivalent: from the outside you can only perceive the glamorous and playful part made of events, beautiful environments, trips and stimulating meetings. But there is a behind the scenes, always to stay in the theatrical field, where hard work is the teacher. The efforts are huge, I have been working hard for more than 20 years, however I am always hungry to learn and discover new things, to put myself on the line, and this alleviates the hard work. Compared to the past I think that fortunately there is more space to emerge at a younger age thanks to a natural renewal of the world of luxury hotels and structures that, by philosophy, set up their hospitality with a more friendly and informal style - but that does not mean less professional! I cannot predict what the next changes will be, but as far as I am concerned my motto is "happily dissatisfied" and therefore never give up and never lose the hunger for curiosity.
As a son of art first, and as a director now, what advice would you give to those who dream of taking this path? Would you like to share with us the most precious one you have received?
My advice, it seems banal, but it is to have passion, dedication and motivation, precisely because it is the most beautiful job in the world but it requires great sacrifices. My father initially hindered my ambition but secretly he just wanted to test me, to see if I really had the right stuff and motivation. When he realized that my drive was actually passion, and not emulation for example, he became my first fan. Perhaps this contrast of my father was the most valuable advice, in hindsight. I therefore invite young people to try, and to see what happens inside them when there are difficulties: it is in that moment, when one is tempted to give up, that true and deep passion reveals itself... or does not reveal itself!
The Hotel
Located in a quiet corner of the city, it guarantees a “buen retiro” from the tourist crowds that afflict and embellish the lily city, embellished by the private outdoor pool. One of a kind in the city. Housed in a nineteenth-century building, the Sina Villa Medici Autograph Collection condenses contemporary luxury with ancient charm, embellished by the gold brocade on the walls, creating a light atmosphere reminiscent of the beautiful season. A true oasis in the heart of Florence capable of offering a wide range of rooms and suites, from those overlooking the lush garden to those located on the top floor with breathtaking views of the city, here tones and shades blend masterfully in an intriguing play of colors and furnishings, the result of careful selection and coordination during the renovation works.
The Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection, is a decoupage of shades and nuances that blend together in a play of colors and furnishings. How would you describe it to someone who can’t even imagine it?
If I had to tell someone who doesn't know Sina Villa Medici, I would say: imagine a happy oasis, a lush garden with a swimming pool guarded in the heart of Florence, a unique feature of the historic center. The exteriors dialogue harmoniously with the interiors that are a perfect match between classic and contemporary, where one does not dominate the other, but rather enhances it: the protection of the past with an eye to the present, a philosophy of life I would say.
The restaurant, Harry's Bar
That of theHarry's Bar with Florence it is a love story that has lasted more than seventy years. Founded in 1953, this brand, thanks to an inimitable style, top-level gastronomy and refined, classy service, has welcomed the international jet set, contributing to the creation of the Florentine Dolce Vita; anchoring the label of icon of the tradition of theAmerican Bar of the city. In 2021 he resumed his journey in the environments of Sina Villa Medici, bringing with it the dishes that have characterised its history as well as the iconic cocktails, mixed with a sure hand, proposed with a touch of originality in the presentation.
Harry's Bar, father of the Florentine Dolce Vita, has been living in the spaces of Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection since 2021. How did this love story begin and how is it evolving?
A lot happened in 2021: first of all, the world was emerging from the pandemic, and everything had to be reorganized. I arrived here in March of that year, just when people started talking about an engagement with Harry's Bar. The hotel wanted to open up to the city, to let not only tourists but also Florentines experience its beautiful spaces, and the first thought was to involve Harry's Bar, a place much loved and frequented by citizens. After the closure of the historic location on the Lungarno, now the Harry's style can only be found here in the hotel, in the garden by the pool, in a truly evocative and cosmopolitan setting. By now it's a well-established marriage, it couldn't be otherwise with two brands so faithful to Made in Italy and to a certain type of hospitality. Another orchestra that works perfectly.
Let's say the world was about to end. You can save a cocktail recipe and a spirit. What legacy do you leave for future generations?
Negroni, what else! Instead, as a distillate, mezcal comes to mind. Lately I have become passionate about the history and processes associated with it and I think it truly deserves to go down in history and, above all, in the future.
