Venice Hospitality Challenge 2019 Dates Announced

The dates for the sixth edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge - the Grand Prix of the City of Venice - were announced at Ca' Farsetti yesterday. Taking place on Saturday 19th October, the ever-growing success of this unique regatta is confirmed by a new record which, in this edition, sees the presence of fourteen maxi yachts competing. Serenissima, one of the most famous cities in the world, will be the setting for this unmissable show, which combines renowned boats with the most luxurious Venetian hospitality.  

International skippers will compete for the coveted doge's hat, made especially by the Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team, an historic Murano glass factory. The skippers and their yachts competing this year include:

Arca SGR’s Furio Benussi
Way of Life’s Gasper Vincec
Shining M&M’s Miloš Radonjić
Any Wave’s Alberto Leghissa
Adriatic Europa’s Dušan Puh
Portopiccolo Tempus Fugit’s Mitja Kosmina
Ancilla Domini’s Stefano Cherin
Anemos Allianz’s Mauro Pelaschier
Maxi 90’s Francesca Clapcich
E Vai’s Giuliano Pich
Botta Dritta’s Vincenzo Onorato and Adalberto Miani
Kiwi’s Paolo Pesaresi
Idrusa’s Paolo Montefusco
Il Moro di Venezia’s Tommaso Chieffi

The hotels participating in the Venice Hospitality Challenge 2019 are: 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; Bauer Palazzo; San Clemente Palace Kempinski; Hotel Londra Palace and the extraordinary participation of the Alajmo family, who represent the excellence of Italian cuisine.

This edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge will see the Venice Yacht Club once again joining forces with One Ocean Foundation, an international project directly concerned with the preservation of the marine environment. A commitment also shared by the Municipality of Venice, Councilor for Environment and Sustainable City Massimiliano De Martin publicly announced his support last June with the signing of the Charta Smeralda - the ethical code designed to guide individuals and organizations on environmental protection. For more information, visit www.1ocean.org.

The event will commence on Friday 18th October at Piazza San Marco at the Grancaffè Quadri with ‘Venice meets the skippers’ – an event that allows the public to meet the skippers and crew up close. A cannon shot will start the race the following day at Marina Santelena while the San Marco basin, the focal point of the route, will allow the public to follow the spectacular competition from the docks.

The final awards ceremony will take place at the Zattere on the Saturday evening at 4.30pm and will be followed by an exclusive private event at the Hilton Molino Stucky hotel. VIPs will gather to celebrate the crews and partner hotels, consolidating the spirit of elegance and style that characterizes this unique regatta.

The Venice Hospitality Challenge 2019 is sponsored by the Municipality of Venice and is supported by Generali Italia, BMW Italia and Champagne Moët & Chandon, Mure a Dritta. The sustainability partner of the event is One Ocean Foundation and the event is supported by the Media Partner Gentleman, Italian Excellence, CEO, Boats, Excellence Magazine Luxury, Venice Made in Veneto, Wonder World and Wonder Cortina.

Images: Venice Hospitality Challenge