• June 22, 2026

FAM REPORT: White parties and Venetian Slippers 

FAM REPORT: White parties and Venetian Slippers 

FAM REPORT: White parties and Venetian Slippers  773 1024 micebook.

By Elissa Wilson

My first fam, and what better host than Lisa Lernoux-Dock.

From the moment we emerged through passport control in Venice, we were continually spoiled, not just by the experiences, but by the company too. With no stone left unturned, Lisa ensured we were met with opulence, insight and an excellent step count.

Day One

With a Monday morning departure with BA from Heathrow, we arrived in Venice around 1pm and were met by a water taxi that took us across the lagoon to the hotel. The 25-minute journey set the tone for the rest of the trip as we cruised between Venice’s islands, taking in the scenery. From an old Venetian hospital that kept out the plague ‘way back when’ to San Giorgio Maggiore Island, still home to a monastery founded in 982, the history of the city is extensive.

Arriving at the hotel was unlike anything I had experienced before. The Excelsior welcomes you with a private dock adorned with foliage and a red carpet, the hotel sitting proudly behind. The entrance for film stars of the ages, it definitely doesn’t disappoint.

Once we had checked into our rooms, we were hosted for a light lunch on the terrace overlooking the beach before enjoying a site visit around the hotel. Deborah Giustini (MICE Sales Manager) guided us through the property, sharing stories and insights from her 27 years at the hotel and treating us to plenty of facts about the Venice Film Festival over the years. (You can read more about the hotel soon in our Venue of the Week series.)

After changing for dinner in keeping with the red-carpet theme, we gathered in one of the hotel’s largest event spaces, which boasted an impressive two tiers and, unsurprisingly, a large red carpet. We watched a scene from Once Upon a Time in America, filmed at the Excelsior, before the evening’s surprise unfolded. The doors behind us opened to reveal a beautifully adorned white table in the Stucchi Ballroom.

With enormous white Murano glass chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling arched windows and a table spread of fresh roses, peonies and candles, the space was really special. There was also an outside terrace attached, where we enjoyed a Venetian Select Spritz before being seated for a three-course meal.

Day Two

After an early start reading on my balcony with a coffee (it’s a hard life), we met at 9am to take the water taxi into Venice.

Disembarking at San Marco Pier, we were met with the beauty of Venice’s architecture. A significant place of pilgrimage across the last millennium, having been finished in 1094, St Mark’s Basilica is just off the pier overlooking the sea and is home to St Mark’s relics, which claim to have healing properties. Beside it lies Doge’s Palace, a symbol of Venice’s historic political power through its magnitude and Gothic architecture.

We were taken on a tour through the city to discover more about the history of Venice, making our first stop at Caffè Florian, Europe’s oldest coffee house, which has been in operation since 1720. After a quick cappuccino, we resumed our tour and traversed the winding streets of Venice with our guide.

Each island has its own water pump system and a church, and each would have had its own distinct community before the bridges were built, with the first stone bridge dating back to 1337. Along the way we discovered countless gems, such as a park with an art installation featuring Murano glass and red Egyptian marble, and a fruit and veg shop on a gondola.

We were also introduced to a Venetian mask maker, where we witnessed a workshop in progress, with students designing their own masks. Used as tools for social freedom and anonymity, Venetian masks were worn from the 14th century for both festivals and everyday wear.

At midday we sat outside at La Taverna beside the Opera House and enjoyed a quiet lunch away from the bustle of the main streets, before taking our own leisurely stroll through Venice on the hunt for Venetian slippers. After circling the whole of the city a second time, victim to Lisa’s confused google maps, we did eventually track down the shoes, only to realise the shop was adjacent to where we’d eaten lunch. Without this crucial detour, we wouldn’t have seen the quaint back allies or crossed the Rialto bridge; the beauty of Venice is that there is always something beautiful to see!

After taking a water taxi back to the hotel, we embarked on a bike ride around Lido, the beautiful island on which the Hotel Excelsior resides. Serving as the first line of defence in the Middle Ages, Lido is a long strip which looks out to both the lagoon and the sea.

After two hours of cycling, we returned to the hotel to freshen up before a white party on the beach. Joined by Venetian locals and guests, we dined at a single long table on the beach, accompanied by a musical ensemble and the sound of the waves.

Day Three

Beginning the day with half an hour of morning yoga, we stretched the previous day’s stiffness away to the sound of the sea, followed by a buffet-style breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.

Two reserved cabanas provided the perfect base for a relaxing morning on the beach, while the hotel’s extensive water-sports offering ensured there was plenty to keep us entertained. We opted for paddle boarding, enjoying a unique view of the hotel from the water as we drifted along the shoreline. The beach cabanas also offered service, including light lunch options and drinks.

Whilst we experienced the water sports, some of the group took a boat to Burano, the lace-making island, for lunch and a stroll amongst the colourful fishermen’s village. The option to spend the morning embracing culture, craft or the beach really makes the destination unique with the capacity to tick so many boxes (and it’s only a two hour flight away)!

After lunch on the hotel’s terrace, we spent the afternoon making the most of the sunshine (regrettably a little too much, leaving Louise and me sporting a distinctly Mediterranean glow), before departing via water taxi one last time to get to the airport.

Buyers included Louise Whittaker of Lauren Amara Events, Ella Parkinson of VeSpace, Dominic Marder of AMEX Meetings & Events and Christopher Jones of BCD Meetings & Events.

Thank you to our excellent hotel hosts Edvaldo Brito (General Manager), Manolis Peros (Commercial Director) and Deborah Giustini (MICE Sales Manager), and to our brilliant DMC representative Gianluca Masserio (Director of Sales), for showing us how much Venice has to offer.

And of course, thank you to Lisa Lernoux-Dock (National Sales Director) from Iconic Hotels, for a gorgeous group and a fabulous time!

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