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| Verdura Golf and Spa Resort in Sicily |
Good news for fans of Rocco Forte Hotels. As reported by The Financial Times, the group has recently secured a $95 million cash investment from Italian sovereign wealth fund Fondo. By selling nearly a quarter of the company, Sir Rocco Forte is able to go “back on the attack” and expand the portfolio after years of being “on the defensive” with cutbacks for the company (including sales of The Lowry in Manchester and Le Richemond in Geneva).
The goal is to double the size of the portfolio in five years with projects planned for Venice, Milan, Naples and Sicily. Other rumored destinations include Shanghai, New York, Paris and Madrid. Sir Rocco Forte launched the hotel group in 1996 with his sister Olga Polizzi as Director of Design.
Rocco Forte Hotels is now comprised of 10 properties in key European destinations, including the Balmoral in Edinburgh, Hotel Amigo in Brussels, and Hotel de Rome in Berlin. A hotel in Jeddah will open next year. For more information, visit www.roccofortehotels.com