Francesca Bortolotto Possati


Francesca Bortolotto Possati is an Italian entrepreneur, author, interior designer, philanthropist and hotelier.
She is the chief executive officer of the Bauer Hotel group in Venice, and the granddaughter of Arnaldo Bennati, a Ligurian shipbuilder who purchased the Bauer Hotel in 1930.
She was the only female CEO in the city of Venice as of 2008. A native of Venice, she has also been involved in the city's cultural life over many years.

Early life

Bortolotto Possati was raised in Venice, and moved to the United States in 1982 with her then-husband, Marco Possati. During her time in the U.S., she lived in Texas, Michigan, and New York, and she earned two degrees in English.

Business life

Following her studies, she settled in New York for a time, where she became an independent consultant for interior designers and decorators.
Upon her return to Venice in the late 1990s, she started a real estate agency, but soon after took control of the family estates at the Bauer Hotel.

Public life

As well as a hotelier, Bortolotto Possati is a public figure and a patron of the arts, with a particular focus on Venice. She is on the board of Save Venice Inc., a foundation dedicated to restoring important works of architecture and art in Venice.
She sponsors the Zuecca Project Space.
Bortolotto Possati presents the Ca' Foscari Award at Venice's international literary festival.
She has published a recipe book, Celebrate in Venice, co-authored by Csaba dalla Zorza.
Bortolotto Possati serves on the board of Altagamma, which recognizes Italian companies that have achieved international renown.

Personal life

Bortolotto Possati divorced from her husband, Marco Possati, in 1993; she remains unmarried. She has two children, Alessandro and Olimpia.