Interview with Olivia Richli of Aman Canal Grande, Venice

Olivia Richli is no stranger to luxury — seventeen years ago she began her illustrious Aman career at Amanjiwo in Java, followed by three months each at Amandari, Amankila and Amanusa in Bali in the Aman general manager-training program. She was the opening manager at Amangalli, Sri Lanka, and most recently opening manager of Aman Canal Grande, Venice. We recently had the chance to chat with Olivia about her successful career as a luxury hotelier and about Aman Canal Grande's accolades in the 2014 Andrew Harper Grand Awards.

How does it feel to win both the Hideaway of the Year and the Hotel Manager of the Year awards?

Very strange, quite overwhelming and definitely surprising. I knew what we were doing was good but had not realized that so many others also thought so. It is the result of a huge team effort — from our founder Adrian Zecha’s vision, Count Arrivabene’s wonderful Palazzo, to the wonderful creation that has been made by the team here in Venice. This includes the architects, contractors, designers as well as the operational staff.

How was the adjustment to Europe and Venice after spending so much time in Asia?

It is lovely to move back to Europe, to be surrounded by the beauty of Venice and to be closer to my family. Things do work better here in Italy — but are far more expensive! There are some similarities in the complications of bureaucracies with my experiences out in Asia, but generally the adjustments have not been too dramatic. I miss the tropical climate and the colorful attitude to life in SE Asia and will be sure to go back. I still have a house in Galle Fort in Sri Lanka — it is still home.

Are there any particular challenges to running a hotel in Venice?

The particular logistical challenge of Venice is that all deliveries are made from the water. The challenge of designing an Amanresort inside a protected historical Palazzo within the Health & Safety regulations of the European Union had already been done before I arrived here in Venice. My challenge, and my opportunity, is to ensure that our Aman philosophy and service thrives in this new Aman destination.

What distinctive characteristics do you feel make this property an Amanresort?

I don’t know how he does it, but that Aman fairy dust landed on the Palazzo around mid-April last year when it turned from a building site into an Amanresort. Mr. Zecha is a magician. He pulls together the elements — a little of this, a pinch of that, a lot of the other that ensures that you know you are in an Aman as soon as you enter the Hall of the Palazzo. There is a feeling and a style that pervades Amanresorts and that is here in a 16th-century home on the Grand Canal. Of course there is the contemporary furniture, the white flowers everywhere, the bathroom details that are familiar. Then there is the service: the smile, the white towel, the lack of signing. But most of all with this Aman, it really is a home.

Tell us about the renovation and restoration of the building.

The restoration was undertaken by a team of Venetian experts. The Dottor group has restored some of the most famous buildings in Venice, and they made it look so easy. Their team of artisans and restorers spent 18 months polishing and gilding using only the original techniques and materials. The Ballroom was filled with scaffolding for over a year, with a team of women ensuring that the frescoes and stucco were returned to their original glories, that the Library’s extraordinary leather wallpaper was seamless again. The Chandeliers went back to their makers in Murano for a cleanup and face-lift, with any missing globe or arm being carefully re-blown so that you cannot tell where the new droplets are. The work that goes into a terrazzo floor — or pavement as they call it here — is weeks of layers, carefully applied, dried and sanded before the final stones are selected, placed and then cut and polished into a Jackson Pollock carpet. We have a film of the restoration that is shown on the Bang & Olufsen TVs in each room, showing the scale and extent of the work that went into this beautiful restoration.

Do you have any favorite hidden-away sights, shops or restaurants in Venice?

One of the delights of living here is discovering the hidden corners of the city. My list of favorite things is always changing. We list them in the Compendium folder that is placed in each room and also on the back of each month card in our Calendar. It currently looks like this: The Horses at the Basilica San Marco, the martinis at Harry Bar, the Rialto market on a Saturday morning, the Zattere at sunset, our handmade Aman Venice glasses, the Canova tomb at the Frari, the Campanile of San Giorgio Maggiore, getting lost, the pointy end of the Dogana, the paper cone of the tiniest shrimps at the Antiche Carampane, hot chocolate at Florians, the midnight Marangona bell in Piazza San Marco, the cicchetti at Schiavi in San Trovaso.

Is it as wonderful to live in Venice full-time as it is to visit the city?

It is an extraordinary place to live. I still have not had enough time to discover as much as I would like to — the hotel keeps me hard at work! San Polo is a lovely district, and I am very happy that the Palazzo is located this side of the Grand Canal. There are wonderful churches, restaurants, coffee shops and great shopping right on our doorstep. In the summer months we avoid the other side of the canal and wander around the hidden corners, getting lost, discovering new things. The summer is the time for the islands — cycling on the Lido is dreamy, heading out to some of the little-known islands with jungles for gardens and cool hidden pools for swimming. These are the things that you only get to know when you live here.

What is the best time of the year to visit Venice?

I have been here for nearly a year and experienced every season that Venice looks beautiful in. The only one missing is Carnival, which will be at the end of this month. It is hard to choose when it looks its best — early morning, sunset, midnight. But I do know that I love it when it’s empty, when Venice returns to the Venetians. No queues, empty campos and calles and able to walk straight into the Basilica to see the Pala D’Oro. In December the sun came out and Venice was empty. And Christmas was the best-hidden secret in Europe. No one else is here.

Anything else you would like to share with us?

No, just come.