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Rocco Forte Hotels Invests In Sicily |
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LONDON, Nov. 13, 2003 -- Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels recently unveiled plans for a US$206.5 million luxury golf and spa resort on the southern coast of Sicily. |
Speaking at a press conference in the Italian Embassy in London he said, “We believe that the new Verdura Golf and Spa Resort will be one of the most exciting luxury resort developments in Europe within the last 25 years. We hope that with the support of the Ministry of Productive Activities and Sviluppo Italia, we will be able to start work next year and open in 2007.” He added, “We already have two very successful hotels in Italy and are keen to expand our presence in this country. Sicily is a beautiful island with a wealth of history and an outstanding climate. This project will create 300 new jobs and help cement the growing reputation of the island as a luxury destination. I am very grateful for the support which the region of Sicily and Il Presidente, Onorevole Salvatore Cuffaro is giving this project.”
Verdura is a small village in southern Sicily, about 45 minutes drive from the international airport in Palermo and close to Agrigento and the Temple Valley. The new resort will be spread out over 494 acres of land in the countryside. The project includes:
· Reception building near the entrance to the resort, involving restoration of the abandoned Verdura railway station. This includes parking space, which allows the resort to be free of traffic other than electric carts to transport guests.
There will be 200 bedrooms, including 50 suites, set into the contours of the landscape to minimize visual impact and provide stunning views of the Mediterranean. All rooms will be at least 430 square feet;
· Two eighteen-hole championship golf courses, plus a nine-hole course, designed by golf course architect Kyle Phillips, who designed the highly-acclaimed courses of Kings Barnes near St Andrews and The Grove in Hertfordshire. The golf club will include restaurant, café bar and retailing;
· A spa complex including 16 treatment rooms, gym, large swimming pool, five thalassotherapy pools and a spa cuisine restaurant;
· Conference center for up to 250 people with eight meeting rooms, a theater and a business center;
· Restaurant in the restored Verdura Tower building, a beach restaurant and several other intimate themed restaurants throughout the resort;
· Private beach;
· Approximately 50 luxury villas.
The development, designed by architect Denton Corker Marshall, will involve the restoration of several existing buildings on the site together with new construction, which will reflect the history and character of Sicily and the region.
The renovation is dependent on approval of a US$58.3 million grant application through a new program launched today by the Ministry of Productive Activities and Sviluppo Italia, the government body responsible for attracting inward investment to Italy. This program features a new “Location Agreement” for Greenfield investment projects in certain locations.
Speaking at the press conference today, Giampaolo Russo, Investment Attraction Manager of Sviluppo Italia, confirmed, “This first proposal for a Location Agreement is to be entered into with Rocco Forte Hotels. The project assumes strategic importance by extending the tourism season, creating new jobs and repositioning the area on the international holiday market.”
The Verdura Golf and Spa Resort will also include a permanent hotel school and training facility.
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