“WE ARE A REFERENCE RESORT IN EUROPE”.
He is, as was said a few years ago, young but sufficiently prepared. At just 33 years of age, Francisco de Lancastre, the new director of golf at Finca Cortesín, already has extensive experience in the golf and tourism industry. After finishing his studies, he took a Master’s Degree in Golf Course Management at the European University of Madrid and, after doing some internships at an important company in the Spanish capital, he was hired for the opening of Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, in his native Algarve.
He spent five years there and did an MBA at the University of the Algarve. He then moved to Dubai, to another high-end resort, The Els Club, where he has been for the last three years before recently joining Finca Cortesín as Director of Golf.
-What was your impression of this complex when you arrived?
-The first impression has been very good and positive. Although I already knew the resort as a client and as a member of the golf industry, because when I was at Monte Rei we had close relations with Finca Cortesín, this is a resort that I always liked, and when the opportunity to come here presented itself, the decision was very easy for me to make.
-So, does it meet your expectations?
-Yes, absolutely. For me it is very important to continue my career in quality products as I have been doing so far, and Finca Cortesín is a benchmark in the golf industry in Spain and Europe.
-What would you highlight about the resort and the course?
-The first thing that stands out is the attention to detail, the quality that the resort transmits, from the moment you arrive until you enter the clubhouse or the hotel, you can see that there is a lot of care when it comes to choosing all the elements that make up the resort. The clubhouse is very cozy and has a proshop where we can offer our clients and members the best brands and products. The hotel is now one of the best in Europe and certainly in Spain. As a resort, Finca Cortesín presents a mature, high quality product, where everything is perfectly integrated: real estate, hotel and, of course, golf.
-Are you going to make changes at Finca Cortesín or are you going to follow a policy of continuity?
-Finca Cortesín will always be a product of continuity. The work that has been done here since the beginning has been a very good and consolidated work, in a long-term strategy. Of course, there will always be something that can be improved, and we will surely make adjustments in customer service with innovative products that we can offer to potential partners and customers who visit us to enjoy our golf course.
Having developed my career in different countries, we always come with new ideas, but, as I say, we will gradually follow the line set by ownership, which has proven to be correct and successful for our business model.
In the short term, we will try to increase the quality and number of golf outings, as well as the number of members, taking advantage of the fact that the golf industry in our region is on an upward curve, obviously always maintaining -and if possible increasing- the levels of quality and service that we provide to our members and clients.
-In this regard, what are your expectations for 2015?
-The outlook is good for the moment. Bookings are above 2014, which has already been a very positive year. I think this is something common to other fields, not just this one, but, given the average price level we have at Finca Cortesín, this increase in bookings will be very important and will help us to make 2015 once again a very positive year from a financial point of view.
-Several editions of the Volvo World Match Play Championship have been held here. Do you have the idea of resuming a tournament of this type or the same one?
-At the moment there is nothing concrete, although the property is working on it. Finca Cortesín is a resort that, due to its recent history, will always be attentive to the opportunities that the European Tour can offer. We will always study the possibilities of having a high-level tournament again.
-You have worked in the golf industry outside Spain. What is the image of Finca Cortesín outside our country?
-The truth is that Finca Cortesín has a very important recognition outside Spain. This recognition and prestige is due to many factors that we have already mentioned, such as the importance of a prestigious international tournament, but the most important thing is to establish a quality base day by day and to have a very well-defined strategic vision for the future in order to position our product in the markets that interest us. The Finca Cortesín brand is now consolidated and that benefits not only our resort, but the entire golf and tourism industry in this region.
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