Trump Envoy Paolo Zampolli Faces Rental Heat at Townhouse
Paolo Zampolli’s Gramercy Park townhouse has long doubled as a calling card, showcasing the Trump administration official’s diplomatic credentials, celebrity ties and globe-spanning ventures.
Today, the property is drawing attention for another reason: allegations that it has quietly operated as an unlicensed short-term rental.
The property at 119 East 17th Street appears to have hosted nightly rentals for years despite the city’s crackdown on short-term stays under Local Law 18, Curbed reported. The law, which took effect in 2023, requires hosts renting accommodations for fewer than 30 days to remain on-site during guests’ stays and bars self-contained units with separate locking entrances.
Listings advertised nightly rates for apartment units in the townhouse, including a studio for about $200 per night and a one-bedroom for roughly $250. Another apartment at the property remains listed on Airbnb as a 30-day rental, though reviews reported by the outlet suggest guests stayed for far shorter periods.
Department of Buildings records show the property has been the subject of complaints alleging illegal hotel use, though inspectors closed the cases after citing insufficient evidence.
The rentals appear to have been marketed almost exclusively to Brazilian travelers through Vacation Hub USA-Brasil, a travel company whose website recently went offline after reporting began. The operation allegedly relied on Portuguese-language social media, Brazilian influencers and travel content promoting the townhouse as an affordable Manhattan stay with Portuguese-speaking customer service.
The operation is traced to Fabricio Pereira, a longtime Zampolli associate who previously worked at his modeling agency, and Pereira’s wife, Thais Navarro Leite da Silva, who promoted the rentals in Brazilian media.
Zampolli acknowledged that Airbnb listings exist at the townhouse but denied knowing about Vacation Hub or the people allegedly managing the operation.
He said the rentals comply with New York law and claimed he did not know the Airbnb host listed on one unit despite reported ties to Pereira’s family. Later, Zampolli said he was under FBI investigation and declined further comment. Pereira also said he was under FBI investigation, though the FBI declined to comment.
Zampolli was named ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations in 2011 and is the founder of ID Models Management. Today, he serves as the United States Special Representative for Global Partnerships.
Zampolli — who often gets credit as introducing President Donald Trump to his wife, Melania — also had a stint as a broker at Douglas Elliman, which sued him in 2015 for allegedly hiding roughly $4 million in commission from the brokerage.
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