Hotel Vovó Carolina is one of the establishments that help tell the story of hospitality in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul. Created by the couple Octavio and Ana Rossi, the hotel reaches 45 years of operation by launching a new hospitality experience: the home of Grandpa Octavio and Grandma Anita.

Originally from Morro Agudo, in the countryside of Gramado, Octavio Rossi built his path with dedication and business vision. Alongside his wife Ana and daughter Marta, he moved to the central area of the city in the 1950s. The entry into the hotel sector came in 1980, just as Christmas was approaching, when Hotel Vovó Carolina began its activities.

Built on family land in a prime location in downtown Gramado, the hotel started with 10 rooms. Today, it has 19 rooms and keeps alive the welcoming essence that marked its foundation. The name of the business is a tribute to Octavio’s mother, Carolina, reinforcing the family character that has always guided the business.

Expansion and family legacy

In 1996, Pousada Vovó Carolina was established on Avenida das Hortênsias. During the same period, their son João Batista Rossi returned to Gramado with his wife Mariah to join the family business.

With a degree in Chemical Engineering and professional experience in the petrochemical industry, João already carried the entrepreneurial spirit inherited from his parents. Before returning to his hometown, he had opened an inn in Guarda do Embaú, on the coast of Santa Catarina.

Today, Pousada Vovó Carolina has 46 rooms and remains under the management of João and Mariah, who are actively involved in daily operations and guest experience.

The legacy of Octavio Rossi, who passed away in September 2023 at the age of 93, remains a reference in the management of the business. Known for his practicality and dedication to hospitality, he remained active until his final years, directly contributing to the brand’s consolidation.

A benchmark in hospitality and breakfast

Over the decades, Vovó Carolina has built a reputation based on hospitality and service quality, with special emphasis on breakfast, which has become one of its main highlights.

According to João Batista, it was his parents who introduced a concept that would become a hallmark in Gramado’s hospitality industry: abundance combined with homemade flavor. Many of the recipes developed by Ana Rossi are still used today, with in-house production of breads, cookies, and other items.

Although hospitality standards have evolved over the years, Vovó Carolina maintains its identity by valuing colonial style and personalized care. Its service philosophy remains focused on attention to detail and responsiveness to guests’ needs in a warm and welcoming manner.

Emotional lodging in the Rossi family home

The celebration of Hotel Vovó Carolina’s 45th anniversary gains a special and meaningful chapter. The Rossi family announces the opening of the residence where Octavio and Anita lived, transforming the space into a new lodging experience that combines memory, affection, and tradition.

Named the House of Grandpa Octavio and Grandma Anita, the initiative is led by their children João Batista Rossi, Marta Rossi, and Maristela Rossi. The project represents a return to the essence that gave rise to the hotel: genuine hospitality learned at home.

“For us, this is a very special moment, because we are offering our clients and guests our roots. It was in this house that we learned hospitality. Our parents, even being very simple people, were born with it in their blood: the pleasure of welcoming others,” the siblings highlight.

The proposal is to offer an intimate and welcoming experience, preserving the family atmosphere with the comfort and services typical of the hotel. The structure has been carefully adapted to host guests comfortably and safely while maintaining the home’s original identity.

Among the highlights are family accommodation, with two double bedrooms that can be configured with twin beds, accommodating up to four or five people; full hotel services, including housekeeping and breakfast; as well as a direct connection system with the hotel reception via phone and emergency buttons, ensuring convenience and attentive service.

With the opening of the house, the Rossi family transforms memory into experience, inviting guests to enjoy more than just a stay, but the essence of a home that gave rise to one of the most heartfelt stories in hospitality in Serra Gaúcha.

Text and photos: Fernando Gusen

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