http://screencast.com/t/MjViODAyNDY

Luxury Hotelier Interviews ~ Rocco Forte.

First of all I would like to precise that I have chosen this article because it talk about my own hometown: Sciacca the city where the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort has been set.
Of course the place presents all the touristic characteristics hoteliers may desire: rugged coast, suggested countryside, Mediterranean climate, clean water, vivid setting, etc.

But what went wrong?

· First of all, a local community that did not quickly understand the importance of the project.
· A populist politic which tried to restrain the development of the project
· A criminal association which tried to threaten the Rocco Forte group through intimidating acts
· A climatic change, which reduce the sunny days

In a good negotiation process the parts try to find a WIN – WIN situation but the local politic did not understand that so quickly.
Sciacca is a city with a huge touristic potential, which still remain unused, but it is not enough to play its role in a pretentious way.

Next to these cons I feel to underline a lot of pros like:

· The mayor’s support to the project
·The regional’s deployment of a specific legislation concerning the development of the golf resort.
· And a niche of the working union which saw a great opportunity for the local worker.

Marriot showed a certain interest for the area but it is not easy to manage a project like the Verdura one in a bureaucratic environment.

The final question is does it worth to invest in this piece of earthly paradise (http://screencast.com/t/NjFmZTc3)? Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman of “The Rocco Forte Collection” would better answer to my question. In any case, the future will answers us.

Ignazio SUTERA

MBA 2

IEMI - CMH