In conversation with Alfonso Pacifico, General Manager, Caruso – a Belmond Hotel (Exclusive Interview)

How is Caruso positioned? What are the USPs? 

Caruso is positioned among the most luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast and wants to become the top of its compset, the most desirable place to stay on the destination. We aim to   reach excellence, delivering the experience that sets us apart through the genuine attitude of our team, supporting our territory with its cultural heritage and tradition, ensuring an ever higher quality of service going above and beyond guests expectations.

What is your comp set?

Our compset in the area can be considered The Palazzo Avino in Ravello, the  Hotel le Sirenuse and Hotel San Pietro in Positano, also if no one of them are part of a big brand as we are, but are privately owned.

Tell us more about the guest profile. Has this changed post-pandemic? 

The hotel industry has certainly undergone a great evolution that has had to align itself with the progressive change in the needs of our guests especially after the pandemic people are more sensitive and for this reason in addition to the beauty of the destination and the choice of the best hotel, they expect to live experiences that are unforgettable, that touch the emotions, that go to create memorable memories.

Undoubtedly fundamental in this transition is the human value, the connection with the local people, true ambassadors of the innate sense of welcome that characterizes us and that they manage to convey with extreme authenticity and genuineness.

Which markets are you targeting? What is the average length of stay? 

We are very happy that Italy has become for us the third market and that in the last two years Europeans have started traveling and discovering this part of Italy, so we hope to continue in this direction attracting alla guests that are looking for excellence. The average length of stay is approximately 4 nights, even if we are having some long stay that could reach 10 nights 

Have travelers changed their habits / expectations? Is luxury perceived differently?

People travel to finally celebrate life, to discover new culture and traditions, to create memories from experience that can treasure forever. The new concept of luxury is the time spent to enrich themselves with a new joy.

What has been your approach to dining and wellness? Do you have a specific focus?

Lots of news at Caruso for this season. As you already know, we will have a new Chef, Cristoforo Trapani, who will enrich our gastronomic proposal by introducing his philosophy in the kitchen. Our Belvedere Restaurant, with its marvelous terrace with an incomparable view of the Amalfi Coast, completely renovated in style, will be dedicated this year exclusively to gourmet cuisine and Cristoforo’s dishes, it will be open every evening only for dinner.

We are investing a lot in this project which we particularly care about and aim to achieve great results. Our Ristorante Pool Grill instead, will offer an informal menu linked to the Campania tradition and will be open all season for both lunch and dinner in the splendid location of our Infinity Pool, repeatedly awarded as the most beautiful swimming pool in the world.

Also the Spa concept has been renovated with a partnership with a new Italian brand Comfort Zone with new signature treatments made with the natural ingredients. 

Post pandemic luxury hotels in many destinations have been facing challenges with Human Resources. What about your property?

This is probably a consequence of the pandemic that changed the point of view of people that probably are no longer ready to face challenges and prefer to stay in their comfort zone.  Despite our working conditions being considered excellent, we did hard work to select all the right profiles for our departments, even if we are proud to be very attractive to all the profiles that are looking to work for such an amazing reality as we are.

What has been your approach to ensuring consistency when it comes to service? 

The focus on the guest and his satisfaction is my main goal, i always start from this point as the main priority to be successful :there are always new actions, new evolutions, small touches, which I love to put into practice to create that “wow” effect that manages to surprise and make the Caruso experience unique and unrepeatable.

The positive guest feedback is the most precious result and is the reflection of an excellent service.

How do you ensure the quality of the product is in sync with service standards?

Team play, a great staff is the secret to deliver  a high quality of service creating a loyalty with guests that can breathe the feeling of being at their home feeling part of a big family. This natural and genuine approach transmit the authenticity of the place that is undoubtedly the added value to the great service we deliver and a dream location like ours.

What novelties shall we be expecting at Caruso this year?

We always prepare new surprises each season for our guests, to give them new opportunities to create memories to remember. This year in particular we start with the new Chef Cristoforo Trapani, the adventure in gourmet cuisine with our Belvedere Ristorante that has become our fine dining restaurant not only for our guests but also all the food lovers that want to spend a special evening. On the other hand, a casual and traditional option could not be missed. our Caruso Pool Grill with a brand new setting, is now open not only for lunch and also for dinner it is possible to experience all the genuine and authentic dishes of the region.

Moreover, to celebrate the deep bond with the region and its history, Caruso became the pioneer of a project that supports the protection, conservation and enhancement of the archaeological site of Pompeii, while promoting the development of a cultural and artistic heritage of inestimable value.

The hotel wanted to play an active role and concretely support the restoration activities in progress by sponsoring the exhibition “Pompeii: art and sensuality in the houses of Pompeii” which opened on April 21, 2022 in the Palestra grande degli scavi and will remain open until January 15, 2023.

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