Running a Hotel, Founding a Wine Academy
Deaf Businessman May Be “World’s Greatest”

By Cathryn Carroll

Some people call Roberto Wirth the ‘world’s greatest deaf businessman.’ “It is not an exaggeration,” said Barry Strassler, editor of the e-mail publication DeafDigest. “Wirth defies description.”

Wirth was born in Switzerland to a family that owned many luxury hotels. Europe’s wars forced the closing of all but one—the Hotel Hassler. For 100 years, the Hotel Hassler has stood near the center of the famous city of Rome.

Wirth, the older of two boys, spent his early life watching as people told him that he couldn’t run the family’s hotel because he was deaf. “Lots of people said that,” Strassler said.

And Wirth proved every one of them wrong.

As a young man, Wirth came to the United States. He attended Gallaudet University, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Cornell University. When he returned home to Rome, he had a degree in hotel management. Several years ago, Wirth told his brother, who is hearing, that he wanted to buy his brother’s share of the Hotel Hassler from him. His brother agreed and Wirth became the sole owner, president, and general manager of the hotel.

Roberto Wirth

Approximately 140 employees, all hearing, report to Wirth—and he oversees everything they do. “While we were together, he noticed a small tear in a chair and had it removed for repair,” remembered Strassler. “As we walked around, he noticed a picture on the wall was crooked and walked over and straightened it himself.”

And Wirth didn’t stop with the hotel.

Several years ago, he bought a nearby building, renovated it, and founded an international wine academy. At the wine academy, highly trained professionals teach people how to taste wine. “Roberto likes all kinds of wine,” said Strassler. “The night that we were there, a whole group of Americans arrived from Texas to learn how to taste wine.”

Wirth has served as president of the neighborhood trade association—representing bookstores, jewelry stores, and restaurants. He reads trade magazines and newspapers, all of which are piled high on his desk.

“He is simply awesome,” said Strassler.

To learn more about Strassler’s visit with Wirth, watch for the next issue of The Frat, published by the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf.

To learn more about the Hotel Hassler, visit their website.