How do I choose new holiday homes for Maremonti?

Not every holiday home is a good fit for Maremonti. In this article, I'd like to explain how I decide whether a property becomes part of our collection – and why, for me, atmosphere, hospitality and personality matter far more than luxury or size.

Over the past few weeks, I've been asked several times how a new holiday home actually finds its way to Maremonti. Do I actively search for new properties? Can owners apply? And what makes me decide whether a house becomes part of our portfolio?

There isn't really a simple answer. But perhaps the easiest way to explain it is by telling the story of one of our newest additions: Casa Beatrice.

The owners had been renting out their holiday home themselves for many years, investing a great deal of time, care and personal attention in looking after their guests. Eventually, however, the growing complexity of online booking platforms simply became too much. More and more portals, ever-changing regulations, increasing technical and legal requirements – and less and less time for what had always mattered most to them: helping people enjoy a wonderful holiday.

During one of our first conversations, they said something that has stayed with me ever since:

"We're not looking for as many bookings as possible. We want guests who are looking for exactly  what we love about this place."

To me, that sentence perfectly describes Maremonti.  

Our guests aren't simply looking for somewhere to sleep for a few nights. They're looking for a place where they can truly feel at home for a little while.

Interestingly, the complete opposite of Casa Beatrice is our new Villa Luce. It offers luxury in every sense of the word — a beautiful villa with every comfort you could possibly wish for. Yet Villa Luce belongs at Maremonti just as much as Casa Beatrice does. Not because of its pool or its luxurious features, but because its owners share exactly the same philosophy. They hope to welcome guests who appreciate both their home and this wonderful corner of Liguria, who enjoy their holiday with care and genuine pleasure. They are willing to do everything they can to make their guests feel comfortable and welcome. That is why, despite being so different, both houses have found their place at Maremonti.

Of course, I'm always delighted when owners introduce me to beautiful holiday homes. But my goal has never been to keep growing by adding more and more properties. I'm looking for homes with character and for owners who care about their house just as much as they care about the holiday experience of their future guests. I'm not looking for commercial accommodation providers – I'm looking for hosts.

I'm looking for people who genuinely enjoy sharing the place they love with others. Over the years, I've noticed that these are also the owners whose guests return again and again. Not because their homes are more luxurious than others, but because you can feel that they are welcoming people with genuine warmth. And I believe no booking platform in the world can replace that.

That's why I never start by asking how many bedrooms a property has or whether it comes with a swimming pool. What matters far more to me is its atmosphere. I want to know what the house feels like. What is it like to spend time there? What makes this place special? Why do people find peace here?

Only after I've visited personally, walked through the garden, sat on the terrace and experienced the surroundings for myself can I decide whether a house truly belongs at Maremonti.

Of course, practical considerations also play an important role. A property should be well maintained, honestly described and offer the level of comfort our guests rightly expect. But none of these things alone make it a "Maremonti house".

I've seen beautiful holiday resorts that I would probably never include in our portfolio. 

And I've discovered small, simple houses that captured my heart from the very first moment. 

Casa Beatrice belongs firmly to that second category.

It isn't a luxury property — and it doesn't try to be. But it's immediately obvious that the owners have furnished and cared for it with great love. It doesn't feel like a standard holiday rental; it feels like a home. And that's exactly what our guests experience as well.

Just as important as the house itself are the people behind it. A successful partnership is only possible when we share the same idea of what a holiday should be. We enjoy working with owners who are happy to share their home with people looking for exactly this kind of holiday experience.

That's why every Maremonti property is chosen personally by me. I want to know every house I recommend, and I want to be able to say with complete confidence:

"Yes, I truly believe this house is right for you."

For that reason, I sometimes decline beautiful properties. Not because they aren't attractive, but because I feel they don't fit the philosophy of Maremonti. On the other hand, I'm always delighted when I discover a house that immediately feels right — not because it's perfect, but because I instantly know the kind of guests who will feel at home there.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons why so many of our guests return to Maremonti year after year. They know that every single property has been selected through personal experience and careful consideration — never by an algorithm.

Discover Casa Beatrice

Discover Villa Luce

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