The head of the four property Bauers Hotel Group is the “best connected woman” in Venice. Francesca Bortolotto Possati is a native of the city and the granddaughter of Arnaldo Bennati, a Liguarian shipbuilder and “Onassis-like figure” who purchased the Bauer Hotel in 1930. A patron of the arts and a leading member of Save Venice Inc., Bortolotto is a divorced mother of two and began her career as an estate agent and interior designer. She’s undoubtedly one of the most important ladies to know in this part of Italy and of women in business in Venice, in 2010, told Departures magazine: “Women have an important role in Venice. They always have. Especially in art and business. Perhaps that is the legacy of the courtesan – remember, the courtesan had the power. She chose who she would be with. That is the power. And this, I think, is the DNA of Venice: strong women”.

The Roll Call - TRENDSETTERS

1

Arjun Waney

2

André Balazs

3

Danilo Tersigni

4

Nati Abascal y Romero-Toro (formerly The Most Excellent The Duchess of Feria)

5

Oliver Kremer

6

Hugo Campbell-Davys

7

Kate Spivak

8

Jon Levy

9

Michael Polenske

10

Rosemary Conley

11

Francesca Bortolotto Possati

12

Barbara Hulanicki OBE

13

Kelly Hoppen MBE

14

Victoria Beckham

15

Joy Venturini Bianchi

16

Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau (born Lillian Lee McKim; 1931 – 2013)

17

Tom Ford

18

Harry Handelsman

19

Martha Stewart

20

Sara Murray OBE

21

Jo Malone MBE

22

Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah

23

Erik Wachtmeister

24

Natalie Massenet

25

Nicky Haslam (Nicholas Haslam)

26

Hugh Warrender

27

Chris Corbin OBE & Jeremy King OBE

28

Lapo Elkann

29

Charlie Gilkes