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Site: www.grandhotelrimini.com
Built at the beginning of the last century and set in the heart of a breath-taking park overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the Grand Hotel Rimini is universally considered to be the most prestigious hotel of the Riviera.
The location, décor and lavish atmosphere distinguish the Grand Hotel as an ideal destination for an exclusive holiday.
But there is more. The excellent practicality, efficiency, staff professionalism and personalised service make the hotel an ideal venue for meetings, conventions, training projects and incentive stays.
The hotel emanates a long estabilished passion for quality and hospitality.
His name is Antonio Batani, but he is better known as "the Lord of Hotels".
For a good reason. The Select Hotels Group he guides takes pride in the ownership of 10 hotels, giving work to 700 employees. The last purchase was the Grand Hotel Rimini: rather, the most prestigious icon of Italian tourism. As in all significant stories, Batani's life initially appeared to be a very simple one.
It all began in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, where he lived for six years, first as waiter and then as manager of the bar at the train station. In the meantime he acquired experience, slowly perfecting his outlook on life. The call of the Adriatic Riviera was irresistible, however, and in 1957, at only 21 years of age, Antonio Batani returned to his native land. Those years saw the economic boom of the Riviera which was preparing itself to become the "Europe's beach". Here, Batani rented a guest house: family management and good food at accessible prices - a recipe for success. The small-time manager started looking around, bought some land in the area and built his first hotel.
It became a vortex: Hotel Universal, fifty rooms; after which came Hotel Beau Rivage, and still another two guest houses. The acquisition of hotels continued at a rythmic pace. The Diplomatic, Gallia, Aurelia, Doge, Miramonti and the splendid Palace Hotel: these names marked out the steps of a dazzling career.
Today the Select Hotels Group is proud owner of some of the world's leading hotels. Is this the pinnacle of success? Certainly not, at least, not for Batani. Once a target is reached, others spring up at the horizon: it's all a matter of character. And above all, passion.
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