Apulia confirms its role as an ambassador of sustainable excellence in the world
At the Food and Travel Awards 2025, the Vivosa Apulia Resort was awarded as “Resort of the Year”
Apulia takes the international stage thanks to the prestigious recognition awarded to the Vivosa Apulia Resort during the Food and Travel Awards 2025, held at Masseria Li Reni, in Manduria, as part of the eighth edition of the Food and Travel Italia Awards – the most authoritative Italian event dedicated to food and wine, hospitality, and excellence tourism, spread across 18 countries.
“A heartfelt edition” declared Pamela Raeli, publisher of Food and Travel Italia.
The award for “Resort of the Year” was given with the following motivation: immersed in the pine forest of the Ugento Coastal Natural Park, Vivosa Apulia Resort combines Mediterranean elegance and environmental protection. A carbon-positive eco-resort, it integrates renewable energy, plastic reduction, and local supply chains into a model of responsible hospitality.
This recognition places Apulia and Salento among the most virtuous destinations in the global tourism landscape, a concrete example of how nature, culture, and hospitality can coexist in perfect harmony. The resort, certified Carbon Positive by ACCREDIA, is now a model of sustainability and innovation, where every detail – from water reuse to the total elimination of plastic – tells a genuine commitment to environmental protection.
The award is also a testament to a great team effort that is successfully carried out.
“It is the result of the commitment of a united team, which works every day with passion to offer authentic experiences – emphasized Damiano Reale, CEO of Vivosa Apulia Resort -. But above all, it is a goal that belongs to all of Salento. We are truly honored to receive it and we are happy to share it with the entire Vivosa family”.
“Collaboration among people represents a fundamental value for building a cohesive, responsible work environment oriented towards the common good, both inside and outside the company - added Veronica Milo, Sales & Marketing Director -. And valuing each individual's talent, giving space to aspirations and individual insights, means strengthening team spirit and solidarity among colleagues, key elements for achieving shared results”
This was also discussed at a convention organized recently by Vivosa, attended by all employees. The evening was hosted by Maurizia Cacciatori, who, after her competitive career, now brings her team experience throughout Italy as a team builder and motivator, promoting the values of collaboration and shared leadership.
“In volleyball – she said - to score a point you must first pass the ball to your teammate: trust and a sense of mutual responsibility are the essential ingredients of a winning team”. A principle that is fully applied at the Vivosa Apulia Resort, where the culture of teamwork translates into equal opportunities and concrete welfare: 65% of the staff is composed of women and, thanks to a forward-thinking corporate wellness policy, the facility hosts an on-site nursery for employees' children, a virtuous example of how to reconcile life and work in a truly inclusive environment.
The champion then praised the resort's modus operandi, which has always distinguished itself not only as a holiday destination but also as a laboratory of sustainability, culture, and wellness appreciated internationally.
With over 150,000 guests in 2025 and a growing influx of international tourists – particularly from France and the United States – the Vivosa Apulia Resort becomes an ambassador of a territory that knows how to welcome with elegance and respect for its identity.
