Beatrice Parodi is the head of the Cozzi Parodi Group, which unites a number of different businesses in the far west of Liguria.  Management of harbour and tourist accommodation, construction and sale of real estate: these are at the base of Gruppo Cozzi Parodi, which built and continues to manage  Marina degli Aregai and Marina di San Lorenzo, believing in nautical structures as accommodation in the local area. An area that Beatrice Parodi tries to promote in all its facets, from the cycle paths to the care of sea life and plants, with solid support for projects for the protection of cetaceans.

Completing the range of tourist accommodation facilities of the group is also Hotel Riviera dei Fiori, in Marina di San Lorenzo and Aregai Marina Hotel & Residence, in Marina degli Aregai. The sea, but not only the sea. Between Imperia and San Remo, is the Castellaro Golf Hotel & Resort, a 4-star hotel inside a park area of 25 hectares which includes a nine-hole golf course.

Beatrice Parodi, you are the face of accommodation for tourists in Western Liguria.  But in addition to mooring places, there is much more, as you show with your love for this area. How are your ties with the Riviera dei Fiori today?

My relationship with the Riviera dei Fiori is very close and very affectionate because I am proud of my land, of the inland, of the sea, of its unique climate, and I am particularly proud of everything it represents. I believe it is everyone’s duty to care for and respect such a precious asset that makes us stand out and is a tourist calling card for our beautiful region.

You have also always shown strong interest in protecting our seas, in particular for projects supporting cetaceans. In your opinion, are we doing enough to protect these animals?

In the 90s in Portosole, we had very important directors, first Dr. Gavagnin, then Hon. Cozzi who,among other things, had the foresight to already promote in those days, respect for and protection of the sea and environment, topics which at that time were not considered to be as important as they are today.

Afterwards, Portosole became home to, and still is, the vessel belonging to Istituto Tethys, which is an organisation that works on raising awareness for the protection of the marine environment, also through scientific research. I think we are now doing enough to protect the world of cetaceans because now we have much more information and attention on the marine ecosystem. And this, without a doubt, is very positive and useful.

You work on accommodating not only pleasure boaters, but also visitors to Western Liguria who stay in the hotels belonging to the group. How do you organise your work in the management of a marina and that of a hotel? What are, if there are any, the differences in the instructions you give to your staff?

Our priority, both in the harbour and in the hotel, is to accommodate our clients, and by accommodate we mean both in welcoming them and being helpful. We believe it is important to promote local products, discovering the inland, the cycle path and our beaches.   Pleasure boaters don’t always stay in our hotels, but in general they use their facilities like the bars and restaurants. It is important therefore, that all our facilities be set up and managed in the same manner, in order to be welcoming and promote the local area.

Outside of your job, what is your relationship with the sea and how often do you go?

I have an excellent relationship with the sea, in the past, I often spent my holidays boating, where I was able to visit marvellous places and see things that are difficult to see from land. Once, between Corsica and Liguria, I ran into a pod of dolphins, nearly forty of them, is was very exciting. Now I spend my holidays “on land”, I have a beautiful dog who I like to take on long walks in nature.

Giuseppe Orrù

Photos by Claudio Colombo

BOATING IN A PORTRAIT A project by Liguria Nautica and Claudio Colombo showcasing a gallery of Ligurian people or those who have ties with our region, who have left their mark on Italian boating, or who have deep rooted connections with our sea. For each of them, we present a photographic portrait take by Claudio Colombo and an interview with our journalist, Giuseppe Orrù, to better know each person, in their personal lives as well.