Smeralda Holding – the Italian company owned by the Qatar Investment Authority sovereign fund and owner since 2012 of a property and land on the sea along the Costa Smeralda – has announced big changes for summer 2019.
The strategy to prolong the summer season, already applied in the previous two years, also continues in 2019, with the aim of inviting visitors to experience the Costa Smeralda not only in the months of high holiday traffic, but also in those periods in which the climate is milder, the sea is crystal clear and one can take advantage of a holiday and a break from everyday life characterised by nature, relaxation and- why not? – exclusivity and privacy.
Excellence and hospitality are the two key words for summer 2019: characteristics that have always characterised the offer on the Costa Smeralda, a proposal which is now enriched by the restyling of a number of key venues in the Gallura area, with new areas dedicated to children and families, food and Michelin-star chefs, partnerships with prestigious and luxury brands, an increase in services dedicated to lovers of wellness, exclusive events created specifically for the Costa Smeralda public, and much more to create an even more hospitable “world”, comfortable and welcoming, ecological and healthy.
World-famous architects have redesigned the atmospheres of the Costa Smeralda and have created made-to-measure concepts, the result of targeted research, created on the basis of the needs of adults and children, and in line with the high standards of environmental sustainability and with the policies of the Smeralda Holding Group and the Sovereign Fund of Qatar world-wide.
“The Costa Smeralda represents a prime destination for the national and international elite – commented the CEO of Smeralda Holding, Mario Ferraro – a place where one can experience an unrivalled and timeless level of hospitality without compromise.
The constant search for excellence and attention to detail, harmony, respect for traditions and for the environment are the characteristics of this land, and every year we strive to enrich it, also thanks to the collaboration of important names from the world of food, architecture, design, lifestyle and wellness. All the changes made for the 2019 season form part of an industrial plan and a strategy for the promotion of the destination that aims to intensify, diversify and profile the activities of entertainment to the various target ages of the Costa Smeralda. Our aim is to become ever more attractive, interesting and fun, beyond the wonderful natural setting in which we find ourselves, which remains the main attract of our tourist offer.”
What is new for the upcoming season?
The Cala di Volpe is re-opening for summer 2019 with significant refurbishment works: ten suites, corridors and the hall designed by Bruno Moinard (4Bi & Associés) with a style carefully studied to recreate that harmony with nature and that tranquillity that is typical of the Hotel, preserving the original spirit but with a look to the future, the creation of a Shiseifo Wellness Spa by the architect Rodolfo Dordoni, and, following the success of the pop-up venue last year, the opening of the permanent Japanese restaurant Matsuhisa by Nobu San within the hotel.
The main entrance to the Hotel Romazzino has been totally re-designed by the architect Piero Lissoni, who has created a concept studied to welcome guests with a concept of space that is better suited to the new trends in luxury hospitality, integrating them in a harmonious manner with the pre-existing architecture. The entrance to the Romazzino Spa has also been renovated by the architect Roberto Murgia (RMA). Studio Stoerr has created the first Kids’ Club in the Hote, which will enhance the offer for children and their families, a theme which is dear to Smeralda Holding, for some time now committed to the creation of family-friendly structures and of activities dedicated to children, in order to render family holidays and time spent together magical and unforgettable, far from the hectic pace of everyday life.
The famous bar in the Piazzetta of Porto Cervo – Il Portico – and the Restaurant La Pergola have been completely renovated by the BlackSheep firm.
In the Old Port, for the second year running the luxury temporary Waterfront Store will be playing host to world-famous brands and luxury boutiques such as Dolce&Gabbana, Riva, de Grisogono, Bugatti, BMW and Technogym, and for the 2019 season, will play host to a rich programme of brand-new international events, enriched with initiatives aimed at entertaining younger visitors, for an ever-increasingly kids friendly Costa Smeralda.
As well as the prestigious Spas in the hotels, lovers of Health & Beauty can also count on a wide range of activities dedicated to wellness and nature, thanks to the variety of nature trails immersed in the splendid flora of the Costa Smeralda, activities and initiatives dedicated to physical well-being and to physical and mental regeneration, organic food and wellness products offered in the best shops and restaurants.
Big changes also concern the local area, which thanks to the investments for over 80 million euros set aside by the Costa Smeralda Consortium – an association set up in 1962 by Prince Karim Aga Khan and of which Mario Ferraro is vice-president – in order to improve the usability of the destination in the interests of the community, raising the efficiency of the infrastructure, increasing the prestige of the consortium area and protecting the natural beauty.
For the beginning of the 2019 season, another 5 km of walkways have been created (between Cala di Volpe and Capriccioli, between Porto Paglia and Stella Maris, and along Via del Galeone), with a delicate rounded wall and roadside flowerbeds, in order to facilitate communications and promote running and trekking.
The Costa Smeralda Consortium has also organised a 2019 season rich in multicultural events that will provide the setting for the summer, and render it unique, with exclusive and prestigious musical, culinary, sports and cultural events with a selection of guests, artists, and famous names, rendering the offer from the Costa Smeralda even more unique and enjoyable for both consortium members and tourists.
Milan/Porto Cervo, 14 May 2019