Giacomo and Stefania: revolutionary hoteliers in the heart of Palermo
Between family tradition and digital innovation
In the world of hospitality, some people choose this profession, while others grow up in it. This is the case of Giacomo Vena, raised in a family of hoteliers, and Stefania Ciaccio, who cultivated a passion for the sector from a young age. Together, they own Palco Rooms&Suites, a refined independent hotel overlooking Palermo’s famous Teatro Massimo, where luxury, music, and innovation combine into a truly unique hospitality experience - further enhanced by Amenitiz.
We met Giacomo and Stefania to talk about family tradition, the art of hospitality, and how technology is transforming hotel management, allowing them to spend more time with guests and less on daily administrative tasks.
Q: Giacomo, how did your passion for hospitality begin?
A: I don’t even consider it a job anymore, it’s part of my life. My parents opened their first guesthouse in 1969, when I was only two years old, and I grew up immersed in that world. Over time, what started as a family venture became my life’s path.
Q: Stefania, how did your passion for hospitality begin?
A: I was born and raised in Switzerland, and I’ve always worked in the hospitality sector out of personal passion. When I moved to Sicily, I managed a property that Giacomo purchased shortly after my arrival. From that moment, he became not only my boss but also a mentor. Working together allowed us to combine our experiences and create a shared project, which culminated in the opening of Palco Rooms&Suites.
Q: Tell us about the idea that eventually gave life to Palco Rooms&Suites.
A: We were living outside Palermo and looking for a home in the city centre when we came across a historic apartment for sale right in front of the Teatro Massimo. We went to see it and as soon as we stepped onto the balcony and saw that incredible view, we said, “This will be our next hotel.”
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to do things differently: to offer a family-style welcome paired with high-level services, to stand out from the outdated hotels that were most popular in Palermo at the time; and to draw on Giacomo’s background as a music composer to make the experience truly unique.
Q: Stefania, what does hospitality mean to you?
A: Many people think it’s simple: guests arrive, you give them the key, and that’s it. In reality, it’s a true craft, requiring empathy, attention to detail, and continuous care for guests. It’s a vocation you can’t fully learn - you have to feel it inside.
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Q: Before Amenitiz, what were the biggest challenges in managing your hotel?
A: Every day, we spent hours manually entering reservations and updating availability across multiple platforms. It was repetitive work that increased the risk of mistakes or overbooking, taking away precious time from our guests and creating frustration for both our team and ourselves.
Q: How has Amenitiz changed your work?
A: It’s been a real game-changer. With automatic reservation synchronization, availability updates in real time, and nearly eliminated errors, we’ve drastically reduced time spent on administrative tasks and can truly focus on what matters most to us: the guest experience.
Q: Which features do you use the most?
A: Definitely the PMS and Channel Manager, which greatly simplify reservation and OTAs management. We also use AmenitizPay for payments and PriceAdvisor for pricing suggestions based on competitors.
Q: What do you appreciate most about Amenitiz?
A: Its simplicity! Even though we aren’t digital natives and don’t have advanced revenue management skills, we were able to start using Amenitiz from day one without major issues. All these features allow us to make quick, informed decisions that have improved our business.
Q: Would you recommend Amenitiz to other hoteliers? If so, why?
A: Absolutely. It has truly changed the way we work. Even without using all its features, for a small property like ours it’s an essential tool: it allows us to manage everything more efficiently and dedicate more time to guests, improving both their experience and our quality of life.
The story of Palco Rooms&Suites shows that modern hospitality is not only about passion and welcoming guests but also about using tools that simplify daily management.
With Amenitiz, even a small property can access intuitive technology to automate complex operations and save time, allowing hoteliers to focus on creating a truly unique guest experience.
If you want to simplify your property management too, click here to book a free demo with Amenitiz experts.
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