Golfo Aranci: buffet by the pool, a girl covered in chocolate among the pastries. It's controversy

A buffet of sweets by the pool and between one pastry and another a girl in a bathing suit covered in chocolate .

It happened on August 15th at Voi Colonna Hotel in Golfo Aranci and a Milanese manager on vacation with his 14-year-old daughter didn't like it at all. So much so that he published a photo on social media accompanied by a very piqued comment in which he speaks of the female body used "as an object" .

The controversy erupted on Linkedin: «Yesterday evening, after a beautiful day in which many people worked hard to make the many guests spend a carefree day, I am left speechless looking at this scene: a dessert buffet by the pool, on a table a girl 'in bathing suit' covered in chocolate, lying among the pastries », writes Federico Mazzieri.

The manager then turns to the hotel chain: «Voi Hotels stands for True Italian Hospitality, but what does it mean? What do Alpitour managers think of this representation of the female body? When I expressed my dissatisfaction at the hotel they said it was 'the chocolate statue' . How can corporate values such as tradition and innovation be published on one's own website and allow these behaviors to exist in one's own structures, where the body of a woman, of a worker, is equated to that of a crockery to indulge someone's mischievous eye ? ».

The man also reported the comment of his 14-year-old daughter: " Dad, it sucks, this is not a country where you can realize yourself ," he said. And he concluded: «Talking about sustainability and ethics is very simple, making these corporate values alive in everyday life is certainly much more difficult».

Numerous comments on the post, almost all of indignation and disgust, so much so that Voi Hotels replied to the tourist. «First of all, we would like to offer you, your family and in particular your daughter, as well as our customers, the most sincere apologies on behalf of all the Voi hotels management. We deeply regret this incident and wish to firmly reiterate that we never had any intention of representing values other than those we espouse. We are taking immediate action to address this incident constructively and to ensure that no customer needs to feel offended in any way in the future ."

The manager's rejoinder: «I acknowledge but remain perplexed by not having had the possibility of a discussion with your structure management, to whom I asked for a clarification and who did not show the slightest attention to the aspects you indicated in the post ».

The case has also become political: " A shameful episode, a disgusting one ", thunders the vice president of M5s Alessandra Todde. "In addition to being amazed that in 2023 a passive, ready-to-use female model can still be proposed - underlines the pentastellata exponent - , I tried to comment on the episode with my grandchildren, a boy and a girl aged 15 and 13 . Both were angry . Don't be indignant, be angry. They talked about the wrong model that any boys and girls, boys and girls present there, could understand and that the real problem was to change the mind of those who proposed this crap thinking it was pleasant entertainment ».

According to the former deputy minister at Mise, «for something to really change , the minds of many men and, to the same extent, that of many women must soon change. I think the problem lies in the questionable balance of our society, maintained by passing without scruple over the head of those who suffer on a daily basis and which is convenient for those in power. This balance must be changed with education, models, training. And a lot of indignation for episodes of this type ».

Company note

After the controversy, the hotel chain released a note:   «Regardless of who was directly involved in the incident, we feel the responsibility and intend at this moment to directly address the comments and criticisms we are receiving, acknowledging that this is a serious event that in no way represents VOIhotels and its values ».

Again: « We apologize again to everyone, because respect for the person is a priority for us and for not having adequately supervised on this occasion. We reaffirm our commitment to pursue the values we declare and to spread them more vigorously in each country in which we operate, to prevent similar situations from occurring again. Aware that the full understanding, dissemination and implementation of our values at all company levels is a path in constant evolution, we confirm our constant commitment to continue on this path».

(Unioneonline/L)