“Vela 365 Project” – 4:00 pm.
Let’s go.
There aren’t many people. The small room is almost full, yes, but for a topic this important the turnout feels… limited.
Strange?
No.
That’s Riva del Garda. Beautiful, generous, full of opportunities. But people from Riva tend to “know best” and often prefer to go it alone rather than work as a network. We still think a little too much about our own backyard.
You can clearly see this in trade meetings, training sessions or gatherings like this one: attendance is often low and, as a result, some genuinely good ideas end up going no further than that meeting room.
This time, though, the topic really mattered. A major provincial investment will turn the Conca d’Oro of Torbole, over the next few years, into one of the most advanced and well-equipped sailing (and windsurfing) centres in Europe.
Combined with a crucial – and hopefully imminent – decision that still needs to be made at higher levels regarding traffic, parking and the overall liveability of the area, this could make the Garda Trentino a highly attractive destination for winter training in many water sports. And, as a consequence, it could open up new opportunities for those who believe that Riva del Garda and its surroundings can offer tourism beyond the limits of seasonality.
KEEPING HOTELS (AND SIMILAR BUSINESSES) OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND.
That’s the real point.
And that, ultimately, was also the direction of the interesting meeting we attended. Sailing, the renderings of the new centre and the futuristic aerial video were the hook. Solid and concrete, of course. But the real question comes afterwards: do we truly believe in “365”?
We do.
At the same time, we are very concerned and full of doubts about whether it will actually be possible to keep the engine running for 12 months a year, considering the high costs of managing a large and complex property like ours, and the central issue of the workforce.
The people who create hospitality, who define the quality we are able to offer and who ultimately shape our future.
Still, we firmly believe that our area deserves – and has what it takes – to become a lake-and-mountain version of the French Riviera.
The local economy is strong thanks to many sectors beyond tourism. The climate is mild, and if we really push it, we might even say that winter months are the most beautiful ones: the true quiet, stunning autumn colours, red December sunsets, Christmas markets set among historic village streets, genuinely magical. And the same activities you can enjoy in summer, but without the heat and the “traffic” on the trails.
On top of that, there are shops, outstanding local craftsmanship, restaurants and events that now cater to almost every taste. Even mountain running events, for example, are attracting surprisingly large numbers of participants.
So the question is: do we really want to go in this direction?
Are bars, shops and hotels willing to give it a try?
Of course, it will never be for everyone. But that’s exactly where a broader sense of common good should come into play – something we still struggle with.
Even if I can’t do it myself – because for many businesses it simply won’t be possible, and we might be among them – that doesn’t mean we can’t still commit, each in our own way, to contributing towards this shared goal.
Right?
Are we wrong?
