TravelDailyNews: What is your policy to strengthen your company worldwide?

Sir Rocco: We are mainly in Europe. We are target to luxury hotels in all the major cities in Europe. No one has done this before, to have exclusively luxury hotels in Europe. We have already major developments undergo in summer in Milan, Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. We definitely see Russia as a lucrative market and we are making plans for a further expansion in that region. We have already presence in St. Petersburg and we are going to launch in Moscow.

TDN: What are the main obstacles – benefits in expanding your brand?

S.R.: The obstacles have to do with the right investment especially in the luxury area. In other words you have to be in the right place the right time. It is difficult to do this especially the way market was formed in the last couple of years. We are not thinking to expand our operations beyond Europe for the moment. We are staying in the European market but I can say that New York and perhaps Dubai has a future potential for us.

TDN: Which destinations have more dynamic potentials?

S.R.: I think Rome because the cost is very low and I was able to invest there more easily. I believe all European regions are becoming more and more interesting. But I can say that Romania, Bulgaria and Spain offer more future opportunities for us.

TDN: Do you have a strategic plan when expanding in Europe?

S.R.: I can’t have a definite plan. I know what I want to do and that is my strategy in general. I have to wait for the right opportunity. I look for the right opportunity. Actually you never know when a region is the appropriate to invest. I can’t say that Paris for example or Rome is the right city to invest. London is my home base and I consider London very important for Rocco Forte but you never know. I seek for the opportunity and then I invest.

TDN: How did the bombings in London and in Spain affect your companies’ operations?

S.R.: The impact was temporary and London recovered very quickly. We saw a significant growth especially in London. But we have to mention that when the attacks occurred people were afraid to travel to London or to Spain. I think, from my point of view, that the luxury market didn’t see any dramatic change or fall.