It is coming back again this year on Saturday, October 19 to give thrills to participants and spectators alike. The ever-growing success of this unique regatta is confirmed by this edition’s new record of 14 participating maxi yachts. On the race course, world-renowned skippers will be contending for the coveted Doge’s hat, purposely created by Murano’s traditional glassmaker Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team. Among the most famous cities in the world, Venice will be the setting to this not-to-miss show that brings together the popular boats and the city’s luxury hotels.
The following hotels will be taking part in the 2019 Venice Hospitality Challenge: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice; Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice; Belmond Hotel Cipriani; SINA Centurion Palace; Palazzina; The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice; Ca’ Sagredo Hotel; Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort; The St. Regis Venice; JW Marriott Venice & Resort Spa, joined this year by Bauer Palazzo, San Clemente Palace Kempinski and Hotel Londra Palace, with a special contribution by the Alajmo family, a flagship of Italian cuisine.
Venice Hospitality Challenge and One Ocean Foundation
At this edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge, Yacht Club Venezia, promoter of the race, will once again advocate for the ocean protection goals pursued by One Ocean Foundation, an international project personally involved in preserving the marine environment launched in 2018 by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The Municipality of Venice joined their efforts, as it was officially announced last June 19 by the city’s Environment and Sustainability Counselor Massimiliano De Martin, who signed the Charta Smeralda, the ethical code that drives individuals and organizations towards shared behaviors in order to protect the environment. This innovative document is available for anyone to sign at www.1ocean.org.
The 6th edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge has relied on eco-friendly Mure a Dritta for the supply of the crews’ apparel, made in technical fabrics with low environmental impact because of yarns obtained from recycled waste materials, in compliance with the GRS international certification. In line with this choice, pottery plates and bio-compatible flatware will be used at refreshments. Alongside care for the environment, this edition will also focus on social responsibility; the partnering hotels will contribute to a donation to one of Venice’s charities. As to the traditional partners of the race, Generali Italia has been supporting the Venice Hospitality Challenge for years, and is now renewing its commitment to the city for the history and emblem they share, but mostly for Venice’s welcoming attitude towards sports, wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle.
Race schedule
The event will start on Friday, October 18 at 6.30 pm in Piazza San Marco, at Grancaffè Quadri, with “Venezia incontra gli skipper” (“Venice meets the skippers”), where the public will have a chance to get to know the skippers and their crews. As usual, the night will unfold with a standing buffet for all invited guests at the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel. The cannon shot setting off the race is scheduled for Saturday, October 9 at 1.30 pm, and the fleet will once again be based at Marina Santelena, while the San Marco basin, a crucial point along the course, will allow attendees to follow the spectacular competition from the banks. The award ceremony will be held before spectators at the VYP Venice Yacht Pier on the Zattere quays, at 4.30 pm approximately. After the race, the night will go on with an exclusive private party at the Hilton Molino Stucky hotel, as a celebration of the crews and partnering hotels and a statement of the elegance and style that mark this regatta, a unicum in the world. Every hotel will bring along their chefs who will prepare three local recipes, for an overall 14 stands.
Introduced in 2014, the Venice Hospitality Challenge brilliantly reached its first 5 years, and is shipping with full sails across the lagoon towards its 6thedition. The peculiarity of this race is that it makes boats with a minimum length of 60 feet each compete in a city circuit
pointed out Mirko Sguario, creator and organizer of the event and President of the Yacht Club Venezia.
This is why I strongly desired for the race to also be named ‘Grand Prix of the City of Venice’. This year, something unusual for our city will happen, as a BMW car will be parked in the San Marco basin to serve as a race buoy. Past editions confirmed the importance of the race, which gathers the sailing elite in Venice every year and is supported by prestigious sponsors and partners
At the conference, the commissioner of Venice Maurizio Masciopinto emphasized the unbreakable bond that ties the sea and the city. Doing the honors, the mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro stated that
boating is a wonderful world that has always been a part of the history of Venice. Our city needs to go back closer to the sea, and to do this with passion
he commented.
We’re doing our part. Last June, we organized the first Boat Show at the Arsenale and already fixed a date for the 2020 edition, from June 3 to 7. We intend to make this event grow, for all those who live the sea and particularly for the beloved sailing world, which will have a space of its own. We’re not an elite space far from the city. On the contrary, maxi yachts and luxury hotels agree with the idea of re-launching Venice
the mayor added.
This race will call sailing and boating lovers to the city. And those who sail have received a certain education, have their own code to follow to respect the sea, and are always the first to pick up plastic bottles floating in the waves. Here in the lagoon, we do what we can: together with fishers from Pellestrina and operators from Veritas, we removed 150 tons of plastics from the sea in the last year. Where possible, we pick up floating dolphins that might be dangerous to boats. Holding sailing races means to regain the control of waters. I would like to thank Mirko Sguario for believing in this event and investing in beautiful initiatives, in the excellences of the sea, like the maxi yachts and hotels that share this wonderful experience
The 2019 Venice Hospitality Challenge is held under the High Patronage of the Municipality of Venice and sponsored by Generali Italia, BMW Italia, Champagne Moët & Chandon, and Mure a Dritta. The event’s Sustainability Partner is One Ocean Foundation, sided by Media Partners Gentleman, Eccellenza Italia, AD, Barche, Excellence Magazine Luxury, Venezia Made in Veneto, Wonder World and Wonder Cortina. Special thanks to Alilaguna, CMV Panfido, Venezia Unica, VYP Venice Yacht Pier and Ve.La for their valuable collaboration.
