For our “Five questions to fight back the crisis” we land in Dubai to interview Dario Schiavoni, Bar Director in charge of Bulgari Symposia worldwide events.
Thanks Dario, first of all, tell us who you are
Dario Schiavoni
I’m Dario Schiavoni from Rome, and I’m Bar Director in charge of Bulgari Symposia worldwide events in Dubai, after more than twelve years of international experience.
Could you describe, in short, your bar, its mood and your philosophy of bar?
Our focus remains on “aperitivo”, paricularly on low ABV and mocktails. Our team in Dubai is entirely Italian.
Coming to the covid-19 crisis, how did you react humanly, psychologically at the spread of the virus and the consequent lockdown?
I’ve been urgently transferred from China to Dubai for business purposes and because of the covid-19. Probably I took the last flight from China. I think that our business got hit harshly even before the spreading of the virus because Chinese people travel a lot and all over the world. For my part our hotel tried to protect all its employees without firing anyone. In April I’ve done “basic trating” on zoom: four lessons per day about all the topics: liquor, beer, cocktail and pairing. Other employees have been sent to help us in other situation, such as the villas.
When the re-opening will be announced in your country what you will concretely do? what
Dario
action will you put into practice?
In Dubai the lockdown ended on April 24. Bar and restaurants are slowly reopening with strict hygiene measures. Alcohol is still not permitted and there are inspections every day.
In China the situation is different, also from Beijing to Shangai. Bar and restaurants are working but they’ve very harsh rules. Within 1 km, between two stores, your fever cou..l be controlled four or five times.
Clearly the face mask is compulsory for everyday life. Moreover in China people now use an application with a QR code which is scanned in evey place you go. This allows the population to be divided in different colours. Green means that you are healty and that you have only been in safe places. Yellow and red indicate instead that you have been in contact with an infected person and that self-isolation is required. You still cannot seat at the bar counter and tables should be at least 2 metres distant.
In Shanghai the situation is different, the local business is much stronger than in Beijin, thanks also to the people of our industry which support each other.
What do you suggest to those who will be facing the re-opening phase soon?
Rosso cristallo
I suggest to follow the rules. We are all aware that if someone makes a mistake, this is a damage to our nation and our society.
We should support the small businesses and restart from them, which have been our strength for years.
Hygiene and safety should become an everyday mean.
A suggestion: go local, eat in small restaurants. And also do not forget to held you head high and to always smile. We are Italians.
