"We held an international conference at the Westin Excelsior Rome in July 2026, and I want to write this review properly, because the people there deserve it.
The first person I met was Mr. Alessandro Buono, who handled our contract and the financial side, and he set the tone for everything that followed. From our very first contact he was open, warm and completely straightforward. He answered every question fully — often within the hour — and never once tried to sell us something we didn't need. He told us plainly what the hotel could and could not provide, which is worth far more than any sales talk, because it let us plan properly instead of discovering problems on the day. He was also generous with his time: when we asked to see the room at short notice, he made it happen the same afternoon. He then went on a well-deserved holiday partway through our preparations, and I want to say clearly that the excellent start he gave us made everything easier afterwards. A genuinely kind and professional man.
And then Mr. Stefano Basta, the Head of Operations, who carried it through to the day itself — he is, quite simply, the reason this event worked. We came to him with a demanding brief on short notice: a full-day setup, a hollow-square configuration for over 140 guests, translation booths, an external technical team, a VIP group photograph, protocol and security requirements, and changes almost every single day. Not once did he make us feel like a burden. He solved every problem with a smile, with patience, and with real intelligence. When our plan for the group photo looked difficult, he didn't say no — he proposed a better location we hadn't even thought of. That is the mark of a true professional: he wasn't managing us, he was thinking with us. Mr. Basta is an asset to this hotel, and the management should know it.
The venue itself: the Winter Garden is a magnificent room — spacious, elegant, full of light, and with the great practical advantage of an adjoining gallery where all our technical equipment could sit out of sight. It gave the conference exactly the dignity the occasion deserved.
And I must say a word about the wider team, because a hotel is only as good as its people. The reception staff were welcoming and efficient every time, at all hours. The concierge was patient and genuinely helpful with the endless practical questions that come with an event like this. The technical, banqueting and floor teams worked with care and good humour throughout. Over many days and many demands, there was not one weak link among them — and that consistency does not happen by accident. It reflects real quality in the way this hotel is run.
I have organised events internationally for many years. This was among the very best experiences I have had. I already miss the whole team, and I sincerely hope we will be back with another event before long.
Thank you, all of you."
