Luxury Italian hotel bans taking of selfies

If you're headed to Hotel Byron, Italy then might we suggest you leave out the selfie sticks and completely forget about taking any selfies, period.

Reason?

The 5-star hotel located in Tuscany is reportedly a hot favourite of celebrities, hence the decision to ban selfies to protect said treasured celebrity guests and their privacy.

The hotel boats a clientele including the likes of Naomi Campbell, Daniel Craig and Donatella Versace, and hotel  manager, Mr. Salvatore Madonna, says celebrities are becoming increasingly vexed about the idea of other guests capturing them in the backdrop of their own selfie, and sharing these pictures on social media.

To this end, the hotel has now posted signs banning selfies across the hotel, including in its gardens, pool, and restaurant.

According to the Daily Telegraph, quoting Mr Madonna, super model and diva extraordinaire, Naomi Campbell was the first celebrity who voiced her concerns about inadvertently ending up in someone's holiday selfie.

Madonna reportedly said Miss Campbell had originally wanted mobile phones of all guests confiscated but explaining he wouldn't be able to do that, a selfie ban was imposed instead.

Thus, guests must now sign a "good taste" agreement upon arrival, stipulating leaving selfie sticks at reception, and turning off mobile phones at dinner.

The ban also reportedly includes celebrities themselves.

Said Madonna of the ban:

"We are not going to be all about this. If a couple or a family take a selfie and there is no one famous behind them, we won't say anything. But (celebrity guests) come here for peace and privacy and we do our best to provide it for them."

He added further:

"The ban is designed not just to protect the image of celebrities. Above all, the intention is to limit their excessive use and to encourage respect for other people."