Family Business Done Right with Vito Cinque

At the heart of Il San Pietro in Positano, one of Italy’s – and the world’s – finest hotels, is a family business with a fascinating story. Il San Pietro was built by Carlino Cinque when Positano was a simple fishing village. Carlino’s family believed him crazy for pursuing a life outside their home and even had Carlino impeached for his entrepreneurial aspirations. Luckily Carlino overcame obstacles and his grand hotel came to fruition.  Today, Vito Cinque co-owns Il San Pietro with his brother Carlo, the third generation to take the reins and help their family’s legacy live on. The hotel has become an architectural feat – existing on the precipice of one of Positano’s infamous cliffs. Each room has a view and a beautiful terrace. While a room is a luxury, the staff become like family and your stay is always a consistent, trip-defining experience.  But there’s an art to maintaining luxury with family by your side. Greg and Doug talk with Vito about transforming the Il San Pietro into a world-renowned five-star hotel alongside his brother Carlo, his strategy for remaining competitive as the years go on, how Vito led his staff through COVID-19, plus the key reason Vito believes Il San Pietro has remained a family-owned worldly success.  Key Takeaways [00:54] - An introduction to Vito and Il San Pietro.  [04:17] - The first travelers to the Il San Pietro hotel.  [05:48] - The construction of Il San Pietro’s unbelievable elevator.  [07:25] - What prompted Vito’s Great Uncle to take the risk and move forward with building a hotel. [09:45] - How the hotel’s construction developed over time.  [11:22] - How Vito considers the five-star offering he’s providing to clients. [16:26] - How Vito distinguishes Il San Pietro’s food and beverage services from competitors.  [20:15] - How Vito managed the challenges of the pandemic. [25:55] - What Vito does to ensure guest loyalty and the importance of a strong team.  [29:34] - What visitors should experience on the Amalfi Coast.  [34:02] - Vito’s wine philosophy.  Quotes [08:58] - “This is what we want clients to understand: that when your family has a unique experience, you cannot put this sort of experience in a box. It’s not something that has been planned. It’s like, you find the right plant in the right spot and the plant grows perfectly.” ~ Vito Cinque [12:47] - “Being in a family business, the time for making a decision is very fast, as long as you divide your duties. Me and my brother have two different backgrounds. We take care of two different parts of the hotel. So I run the place, I am the front office person, and he’s the back office guy. He looks at the numbers and I produce.” ~ Vito Cinque [23:45] - “The attitude of the clients has totally changed now. They want to go where they don’t have surprises. They want a place to be consistent. Now the price is not an issue as long as you get what you were expecting.” ~ Vito Cinque Links  Vito Cinque Il San Pietro Zass Restaurant Bee Chic The Il San Pietro Gardens Anish Kapoor Jeff Koons  William Kentridge Bordeaux Connect with our hosts Doug Stokes Greg Stokes Stokes Family Office Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts LagniappePodcast.com Disclosure The information in this podcast is educational and general in nature and does not take into consideration the listener’s personal circumstances. Therefore, it is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized financial, legal, or tax advice. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a final decision.