A part of the Rocco Forte Accommodations assortment is Verdura Resort, which has hosted DP World Tour occasions. What function does golf play within the visitor expertise at Verdura?
Verdura is extra than simply golf; it’s an entire resort with tennis, an important spa and actions for kids and youngsters, making it excellent for households. Concerning golf, we provide two 18-hole championship programs, excellent follow amenities and a nine-hole course.
Once we constructed Verdura, the imaginative and prescient was to create the very best golf resort in Europe. We’ve rebuilt and improved the programs after floods and different challenges, and our ambition stays to be the go-to golf vacation spot in Europe. The hospitality there’s top-notch, with pleasant employees, glorious meals and high-quality service — all important to the
visitor expertise.
Is Verdura Resort encouraging the involvement of households and juniors in golf?
Completely. We’ve golf professionals who spend lots of time with younger gamers to introduce them to the sport and assist them enhance. Whereas some complimentary golf programmes for juniors are being mentioned, the main target stays on fostering a welcoming surroundings for households.
Rocco Forte Accommodations are identified for mixing luxurious with native authenticity. How do you obtain that?
We fastidiously take into account the historical past and character of every vacation spot. For instance, at Verdura in Sicily, the structure displays the area’s Arab historical past.
My sister, who manages the decor, ensures the native tradition is integrated subtly however meaningfully. We additionally encourage native involvement, significantly in our meals and beverage operations, which helps create a genuinely native environment. Pleasant and beneficiant employees full the genuine expertise.
What have been a number of the most difficult moments in your small business profession?
There are a number of moments that stand out. The takeover of the Granada Group was intense — a extremely managed course of requiring meticulous focus for 2 months. The 2009 monetary disaster was robust as a result of gross sales dropped dramatically, and we needed to negotiate with banks to maintain the enterprise afloat. Extra lately, the COVID-19 pandemic was a nightmare.
We needed to adapt to a always altering surroundings with governments opening and shutting borders at brief discover. It was vital to maintain our employees employed and preserve morale, supported by authorities help. We managed to outlive due to robust money reserves and assist from our banks.
How do you see the connection between hospitality and sport, significantly golf, evolving sooner or later?
Actions, together with sports activities like golf, are more and more vital to the hospitality sector. Company wish to expertise extra than simply their lodge keep; they wish to be energetic and discover their environment.
After intense work intervals, do you at all times flip to golf to unwind?
Golf is a keyway that I loosen up, as I discover that it helps to take my thoughts off every part else as a result of it calls for focus.
I take pleasure in practising and may spend lots of time hitting balls, which oddly sufficient I discover stress-free. I additionally run usually, which helps me handle stress.
Trying forward, what are your plans for Rocco Forte Accommodations and Verdura Resort?
We plan to develop thoughtfully, specializing in high quality fairly than amount. I don’t need a cookie-cutter operation however fairly distinctive, particular properties the place we will present personalised service.
The posh sector calls for ever-higher requirements, particularly post-COVID, and we should justify pricing by delivering distinctive experiences. For Verdura, the objective is to excellent operations right here earlier than contemplating growth into different golf locations like Spain, Greece and even the U.S.
Lastly, if you happen to might play a spherical of golf with any three individuals, residing or historic, who would they be?
I’d like to play with Sir Henry Cotton when he was in his prime, and to see how he performed in these days. I’d additionally wish to play with Seve Ballesteros, who was a exceptional participant, and Ben Hogan, whose swing stays an icon amongst golfers and professionals right now.
