INTERVIEW
Bike Italy and the Plaza Opera hotel in Palermo have a long and consolidated partnership thanks to the central location of the hotel and the excellent service, which makes it an ideal base for our guests. Palermo is a perfect base for an extension of the bike tour package before or after the actual tour.
Here is a short interview with Giulia Briguglia, marketing and communication manager of the accommodation.
PALERMO VIEW FROM THE PLAZA OPERA PERSPECTIVE
Bike Italy:
How many years has the Opera Plaza hotel been active? And, how has the city transformed during the years of the Plaza's activity?
Giulia Briguglia:
The Hotel Plaza Opéra opened its doors in 2005. In over fifteen years, I have seen Palermo change its skin, transform itself from a stereotypical sun-sea-citrus city to a beautiful multi-ethnic capital between the Mediterranean and Europe.
Today's Palermo is pedestrianized, full of UNESCO sites, a mecca for foodies, and a treat for fans of contemporary art, opera, street art.
Bike Italy:
What is the relationship between the h Plaza and the city? A city hotel is in the town, but it is still an activity aimed at NOT from the city. Do you feel like you're some hinge? Connection element between the city and the visitor who stays with you for tourism or business?
Giulia Briguglia:
In doing hospitality, we have always wanted the hotel to be a meeting point between the inner world of the traveler and Palermo. A unique place where you can touch Sicilian antiques, observe the island's contemporary art, taste its flavors in the safety and professionalism guaranteed by our international hospitality standards.
From the Teatro Massimo Foundation to the most exclusive contemporary art festivals, we have many prestigious partnerships, passing through museums, boutiques, and independent bookstores; all of them aim to create a beauty network available to guests who can orient themselves within it to discover the city.
Bike Italy:
How has Covid transformed the hotel business? What do you do to maintain the warmth of the welcome even in the presence of a virus that instead requires distancing?
Giulia Briguglia:
We pay great attention to issues that are already dear to us, such as cleaning, also declined in constant sanitation and procedures to every activity within the structure. Some of the measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus applied within the facility represented a challenge: the use of masks, the spacing, the impossibility of contact required all staff members to develop empathy and an even more vital kindness, a smile capable of shining through the eyes, and attention and human warmth that were capable of making our business travelers - who never stopped, even in the most challenging moments of the pandemic - or leisure, in a safe and welcoming place but also elegant and pleasant.
Bike Italy:
How do you see the business recovery? Do you think there may be changes in understanding the stay in a hotel like the Plaza?
Giulia Briguglia:
I believe that some issues, such as attention to our person's care and nutrition, the care of our living spaces, and the search for more authentic values, will remain distinctive features of our movement in the world. Any hotel or service provider to the tourist will necessarily have to remodel its offer in this sense. In addition, we have done some works at the Plaza according to the new ways of using the space. The renovations regard the restyling of the rooms, creating a new area dedicated to food and beverage, from breakfast to evening, in a panoramic room on the eighth plan, and the creation of a fitness and wellness space, move in this sense.
Bike Italy:
Which impact did your activity have due to the cooperation with a cycling operator?
Giulia Briguglia:
The collaboration with Bike Italy is fundamental for at least two reasons:
the first is that every niche operator has specific travel needs. Therefore it pushes us into being highly relevant in the development of the appropriate product and service.
The second is more closely related to cycle tourism and its absolute specialization; collaborating with real experts makes the structure very qualified for this specific service.
Bike Italy:
the last one: how do you see the future of hospitality?
Giulia Briguglia:
Rosy. People need the right time to return to travel, happy and at ease. Discover the world is one of the strongest needs for the human beings, people will travel again as soon as they will be allowed to do.
Are you a tour operator? Bike shop? Travel agent?
A bike tour in Sicily, starting from Plaza Opera hotel?
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