Marie-Louise Scio
For Marie-Louise Scio, luxury hospitality is about soul and personality, not star rating. As CEO and creative director of Pellicano Group, which includes the legendary Il Pellicano hotel, a magnificent Tuscan retreat that her family has owned and operated since 1979, Marie-Louise has been refining the concept of la dolce vita by meticulously curating and orchestrating every aspect of the guest experience. Passionate about hotels as long as she can remember, she joined the family business after her studies in design and architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, bringing with her a fresh approach to hospitality centred on subtle sophistication, authenticity and originality. From the hotel’s identity and stylish interior design, to the seamless service and culinary experience, Marie-Louise’s creative vision fine-tunes every detail in order to offer guests a sublime holiday experience that nonetheless feels effortless. With two more properties added to the Pellicano group - La Posta Vecchia in Ladispoli a few miles from Rome and Mezzatorre in Ischia on the Gulf of Naples - and her own creative consultancy that she founded in order to share her expertise with other hospitality brands, Marie-Louise is undoubtedly at the top of her game. We recently caught up with Marie-Louise to ask her about, her inspirations, favourite destination and the things she can’t live without.
Cover photo credits: @Cerruti & Draime
How would you define yourself in three words?
Curious, enthusiastic, authentic
A project/initiative you’re most proud of?
Relaunching the Pellicano group.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Everywhere – art, music, travel, people.
Which art/design/style icons you are most inspired by?
Whoever is real authentic and questions each media.
Which colours are you currently enamoured of?
Blue and mustards.
A timeless design piece you own?
Mies chairs.
What’s an accessory you had for ages?
My 2 gold rings
What item in your closet do you wear the most?
Jil Sander pants.
The beauty product you can’t live without?
Augustinus Bader rich crème.
Three Instagram accounts you check daily?
@eagaletta, @yolojournal, @thrive.
Favourite destination and hotel?
Deetjen's Inn (Big Sur, California)
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?
Rafting in Indonesia.
What do you miss most when travelling?
My son.
Which city would you chose to live in if you had to move?
London.
Your latest discovery?
Clive Davis the music producer.
Favourite gallery/museum?
Museo Borghese in Rome – it’s full of Bernini sculptures
What is on your bookshelf?
Loads of art books.
Who is your favourite hero or heroine in fiction?
Mr. Palomar.
What quote do you live by?
Slowly, slowly even eggs walk.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
It’s all going to work out in the wash.
What is your guilty pleasure?
A great glass of wine.
What is your most treasured possession?
My gold rings.
Your idea of happiness?
Peace.
