Here is an insider’s view of a full-blown no holds barred reception and party held not long ago in Milan, Italy at the five-star Hotel Principe di Savoia. The host and chief party giver was the U.S.-based Biotechnology Industry Association, affectionately known to us insiders as “BIO.” The event was the annual European Partnering Conference. We’re talking about business partnering, not the social kind.
I was there on my own hook as one who every now and then has a need to get filled in on the latest issues affecting the gene-splicers of the world despite being a no-longer-involved dedicated retiree. I figure these guys and their biotech discoveries hold the key to my longevity. Besides, Milan is in Italy, which is the only excuse I needed to make the trip.
Setting the stage one needs to imagine a business conference and exhibition populated by around 7 or 8 thousand souls wandering from exhibit booth to exhibit booth searching for a key contact or connection that could turn their expensive biotech research investment into a blockbuster market success. Little did they know that their particular unique method for turning out a monoclonal antibody, or maybe chimeric antigen receptor, for rheumatoid arthritis or Alzheimer’s is being hijacked by just about all the other people in the room!
Nonetheless at the end of the day and all necessary business partnering having been accomplished, it’s party time. The 7 thousand make their way from the Milan Convention Center to the Gala Reception. The venue is the aforementioned Hotel Principe di Savoia in the center of town.
The hotel’s name “Prince of Savoy” refers broadly to whichever male heir may be lurking around to lay claim to the throne of the now defunct Kingdom of Italy. The Italian equivalent of the Prince of Wales. (See below for an interesting footnote on the current holder of the title). Despite its 19th century appearance the hotel was actually built in 1927 and so by European standards is virtually brand new. All features are designed to push the elegance envelope to the maximum and as far as I can tell that mission was accomplished. Michelangelo and Bernini would have been impressed. The same is true for the kitchen and its staff, headed up from time to time by Michelin star chefs.
What really caught my attention was the extravagance of the food and beverage presentations. Maybe to the Milanese this style of entertaining is no big deal, strictly routine, something they turn out every week for birthdays, wakes and weddings. However I would faint at the cost of duplicating the dishes that were displayed, consumed, and continually replenished, like the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Think about prosciutto di parma, culatello, mozzarella di bufala, parmigiano reggiano, pate’ di funghi porcini, three or four different hot dishes including lasagne, gnocchi, fettuccine, salads, elaborate desserts and on and on.
Not to mention the open bar of course – my first stop on the way to the buffet.
Attending an affair like this requires a certain amount of preparation. Assume you have some advance notice of the size and scope of the event, let’s say a week’s time. At that point you go on a strictly liquid diet. Removing 3 or 4 pounds of body weight will allow you to sample everything on the buffet tables, plus one or two wine selections from the bar, and leave the place at no more than your baseline weight. I unfortunately did not follow this excellent advice, although I thought of it. I could not bring myself to skipping a single meal during the whole time in Milan. So I paid the price. Four pounds up and counting.
Interesting footnote: The current Prince of Savoy whose name is Victor Emmanuel III plus about a dozen other middle names, is a colorful fellow with a spotty reputation. Now 73 years of age he apparently was charged with murder in France some years ago but eventually acquitted. He was convicted of firearms violations, fraud, prostitution and sundry other sordid deeds. However he seems to be able to continue enjoying the good life – in Switzerland of course. If John Gotti was the Teflon Don, Victor Emmanuel III is the Teflon Pretender! By the way Vic III is the baby in the picture, being held by his grandpa, the last official King of Italy and Mussolini collaborator Victor Emanuel II.