Evolution of the Bar Business: Strategies for Success

Welcome to the second installment of Opportunity, Business and Lifestyle. The blog was conceived to offer concrete support to hoteliers, restaurateurs and all those who work in the hospitality sector in our beautiful region, in order to diversify and improve the range of services and experiences for customers buying a property or staying on Lake Garda.

In this appointment we went to interview Marco Cosenza of Bartenders Group Italy.

Hi Marco, can you tell us who you are? What do you do and what is your role?

Hi, I am the founder of Bartenders Group Italia along with Andrea Cason, a company established in 2006 that initially focused on providing specialized cocktail bars for private events in the province of Verona. Today, the company is very different and has expanded year after year. We now handle almost 700 events per year throughout Italy and abroad. In addition to catering, the areas in which we operate include training with the Bartenders Academy Italia, online training with our platform Bartendersonline.it, consulting for the creation of turnkey venues with 3bdesign.it, and our recently opened three venues: Romeo Cocktail Bar in downtown Verona, Piano B in Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, and Valverde Caffè in downtown Verona.

What do you do in your spare time?

My free time is very limited; I spend it with my children or, if possible, I travel. Traveling is extremely beneficial for personal growth in every sense.

What is event planning and management for you today?

Events are special activities where nothing can go wrong; it’s very different from running a regular establishment or ongoing business. The level of attention is much higher, mistakes are costly. Today, managing and collaborating to create events is the same as when I started: working on events allows you to be in places you probably wouldn’t have seen and to meet people and encounter situations that are sometimes surreal. Our clients are often major international brands in fashion, automotive, technology, or prestigious private events throughout Italy. Each time is different, each time is exciting.

What innovations are happening in the world of bars and events? What are entrepreneurs doing to meet the new demands?

Through events, we see what trends and fashions will shape the future, often serving as harbingers of new trends. I see customers becoming increasingly discerning, and in my opinion, what new entrepreneurs need to do today is simply stay updated, leave behind old styles of work or teachings,

be influenced by foreign ideas or trends, and create companies that impress in their own way. It’s about doing what you’ve always done, but better, with more focus on quality and details. In the bar and restaurant industry, we need to create locations that speak for themselves, with a service that makes customers feel like they’re in the best venue of all time. Yes, it requires a lot of energy, industry knowledge, and drive. My advice is to get involved only if you have these qualities.