Like an orchestra conductor creating harmony between different instruments, the new protagonist of our "UNA è femminile" series coordinates the needs of hotels wishing to affiliate with UNA Italian Hospitality with sound judgment and vision.
How? By enhancing the identity and uniqueness of each property, guiding them through an integration process that respects their essence while aligning them with the standards and values of our chain. Quite a responsibility!
Let’s get to know Nicoletta Ligutti, Franchising Partnership Manager at UNA Italian Hospitality. We will delve into her role and responsibilities, but also go beyond the professional dimension to discover her passions and thoughts.
Welcome Nicoletta! What is your current role?
I am the Franchising Partnership Manager at UNA Italian Hospitality. In other words, I guide properties that want to become part of our hotel chain through the affiliation formula: I listen to their needs, supporting them in strategic, operational, and commercial choices. I am committed to ensuring their entry into the collection happens smoothly, highlighting the uniqueness of each property while ensuring consistency with our chain standards. If I had to explain my job to my little nephew, I would tell him that being a Franchising Partnership Manager is like making a new friend: at first, you introduce them to your other friends, explain how things work in your group, and help them feel at ease without making them change what makes them special.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is seeing a project take shape. When a hotel I’ve guided through the affiliation process starts to perform well, grows, and feels like part of the team, it’s an enormous satisfaction. And then there is the human connection: I enjoy interacting with entrepreneurs, directors, and work teams that are all very different from one another. Every day here, I learn something new.
And the most complicated part?
Finding the right balance between the specific needs of each property and the brand identity of our UNA Esperienze and UNA Hotels brands is a daily and stimulating challenge. Each hotel has its own history, goals, and operational characteristics; my role consists precisely in harmonizing these elements to create a common path for growth, maintaining high standards and quick responses, even in complex contexts.
Outside of work, do you have any specific hobbies or passions?
I am passionate about fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games with friends... the ones where you roll dice and invent stories together. It’s a fun way to unplug and stimulate creativity. Obviously, I also love traveling, organizing itineraries, and discovering new places.
If you could describe yourself with three adjectives, what would they be?
Pragmatic, curious, determined.
And if you could describe your company in three adjectives?
Solid, sustainable, structured.
What advice would you give to a young woman approaching the hospitality sector for the first time?
Observe and listen, always. People come before procedures. Rules can be learned, but the right attitude is refined starting from human relationships.
In the workplace, have you ever had to face prejudices related to being a woman
Personally, I have never had direct confrontations. Occasionally, I have witnessed subtle dynamics or unconscious mechanisms, which are nonetheless perceptible. Over time and with the right awareness, I believe these dynamics can evolve in an increasingly balanced way.
Thank you, Nicoletta. We have reached the end of our interview. But first, one last question. There is still a long way to go to reach gender equality in Italy. In your opinion, what measures could companies adopt to guarantee equality or to meet the needs of women professionals?
In general, I believe one of the aspects to reflect on is the possibility of promoting a corporate culture that is more attentive to work-life balance, valuing organizational models that offer greater autonomy, trust, and real flexibility. Supporting people throughout the different stages of their lives, without them having to give up their professional path, is a fundamental key to building inclusive, motivating, and sustainable work environments.