• April 28, 2026

Rocco Forte Showcase 2026: A Masterclass in Meaningful Event Design

Rocco Forte Showcase 2026: A Masterclass in Meaningful Event Design

Rocco Forte Showcase 2026: A Masterclass in Meaningful Event Design 1024 685 micebook.

By Susie Harwood

When an event has a clear golden thread running through it, that quietly ties every element together, from setting to storytelling, the experience always feels more considered, and, most importantly, more memorable.

This was precisely the effect at the recent Rocco Forte Hotels Showcase at Verdura Resort. Set against the backdrop of Sicily’s southwest coast and close to the hilltop town of Caltabellotta, a designated emerging Blue Zone, the theme of wellness and longevity wasn’t just a loose concept, it was something Rocco Forte Hotels leaned into, shaping the tone of the entire programme.

As Heidi Willams, head of growth and client success at The Good Travel Collective, so eloquently put it: “In this remarkable part of the world, living well into your nineties is not unusual – it’s expected. In fact, the proportion of nonagenarians and centenarians continues to rise here!

“The reasons are refreshingly simple: low stress, daily movement, a Mediterranean diet, a deep connection to nature and strong social bonds. At Verdura, these principles didn’t feel like abstract concepts or research findings, they felt lived – thoughtfully translated into a luxury hospitality experience.”

The three-day showcase brought together corporate and agency event planners from the UK, Europe and the US, with Rocco Forte’s senior team and hotel sales representatives across the portfolio to discover what Verdura has to offer for meeting and incentive groups first-hand and make meaningful connections.

Insights and Inspiration

Morning educational and knowledge exchange sessions added further depth to the programme. A keynote from Leslie de Church on Living Well: Lessons from Italy, Teams, and the Science of Connection explored the surprising overlap between high-performing teams, from NASA missions to military environments, and the social fabric of Italian life, making a compelling case that connection, shared purpose and a strong sense of community are just as critical to longevity as they are to performance.

Taking a more personal lens, Irene Forte reflected on the evolution of her skincare and spa concept, shaped by both scientific research and Sicily’s natural resources. Her session reinforced how principles synonymous with Blue Zones, including diet, movement and social connection, can be translated into a luxury hospitality setting in a way that feels both authentic and experiential, all of which continue to shape Verdura’s holistic wellness offering.

We also took part in interactive think tanks exploring how event technology and AI can be thoughtfully integrated into event journeys and luxury hospitality without losing the all-important human-touch, fostering community and leadership through practices inspired by Italian town structures, and how Rocco Forte Hotels can better meet planner needs.

Authentic Experiences

Across two afternoons, we were given the opportunity to experience Verdura’s group offering first-hand, with a choice of one on-site and one off-site activity designed to showcase the breadth of experiences available.

I opted for an arancine-making class with the resort’s chefs, held in the tranquil setting of Verdura’s organic farm. Here, we learnt the subtle but much-debated difference between arancine and arancina, a distinction rooted not only in shape but also in Sicily’s east-west divide.

The session was hands-on and immersive, offering a deeper insight into the resort’s farm-to-table philosophy as we prepared the local speciality, before sampling the finished result alongside a glass of local sparkling wine. It felt authentically Sicilian and offered a real taste of the destination.

The following day brought a change of pace with a visit to Caltabellotta, the hilltop town that has become central to Sicily’s Blue Zone narrative. Perched high above the coastline, with steep cobbled streets and impressive churches, including the one where Irene Forte was married, the town offers stunning views across the Sicilian landscape.

We breathed the fresh air, admired the wildflowers, tasted local olive oil and sheep’s cheese, visited a local sculptor, and got a peek into the community, culture and pace of life that underpin the region’s remarkable longevity.

Bringing the Portfolio to Life

Throughout the programme, coffee breaks and pre-dinner moments were used to clever effect, with representatives from across the group’s properties showcasing their offering through small, experiential activations. Centred around food, drink and entertainment, these moments offered a relaxed yet impactful way for each hotel to tell its story and highlight what sets it apart.

As expected from Rocco Forte Hotels, the evening hospitality was equally considered. In partnership with experience management company Mutika, we were treated to three themed dinners, each with its own dress code, which became something of a talking point in itself on the UK group WhatsApp chat.

The first and final night dinners took place at the hotel’s Amare and Liolà restaurants, with the second night offering an off-site experience at the Planeta Winery. Menus celebrated local, seasonal ingredients and we were entertained with performances from singers, dancers and DJs from Sicily to Rome who brought a sense of place and occasion.

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family run company, and Sir Rocco and his extended family have shared many a family holiday at Verdura over the years – you could tell listening to Irene that it holds a special place in her heart.

Many of the guests at the showcase remarked that it was the sense of family, one of Rocco Forte Hotels’ core values, that stood out most. Not in an overt or staged way, but in the warmth and ease of interactions throughout the programme, reinforcing the idea that connection here is genuine and very much part of the experience.

Fascinated by the concept of Blue Zones, the theme lingered well beyond the event itself. Curious to learn more, I found myself continuing the thread on the flight home, watching Netflix’s Blue Zones documentary series, which, along with the experience at Verdura, has inspired me to make more conscious choices to live well.

Here’s a few snaps from the experience

Join Our Community

Join our community and receive the latest trending industry news in our weekly Departure Lounge and exclusive invites to events


    WordPress Ads