A hotel complex in Isola delle Femmine has turned to solar power to meet its energy needs and attract environmentally conscious travelers. The Saracen Sands Hotel & Congress Centre installed a one-megawatt photovoltaic park, meeting roughly 70 percent of the property’s electricity needs.
European funds drive green upgrades
The solar investment builds on earlier work supported by European Regional Development Fund money. The Sicily regional energy department awarded roughly 650,000 euros through the PO FERS 2014/2020 program to install 121 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels and a solar thermal system. These additions, spread across the hotel’s four-star property, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,000 kilograms annually.
“Guests at our facilities, especially international visitors, pay close attention to environmental sustainability,” said Salvo Zappalà, CEO of Dimsi Hospitality Group, which operates six hotels across Catania and Palermo. “We are directing significant effort toward this area, leveraging European funds, other financing programs, and tax incentives to invest in renewable energy systems that cover a portion of our consumption. We aim to make our hotels not only attractive but also responsible.”
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Major renovation and conference business
Zappalà spent 12 million euros renovating the four-star property after acquiring it. The extensive renovation included updating the hotel’s 252 rooms, upgrading its 14 meeting spaces, and improving the property’s energy efficiency. The hotel employs 150 people on-site, with 70 holding permanent contracts out of 300 total group employees. It offers 252 rooms and 14 meeting spaces ranging from an eight-person breakout room to a main hall that accommodates 1,000 delegates, making it a popular choice for conferences and events.
Conference tourism has enabled the Saracen to operate year-round rather than relying on seasonal leisure travel. Revenue climbed from 2.5 million to 12.5 million euros within a single year, a jump that reflects growing demand from the international market. This increase in revenue has allowed the hotel to expand its services, reinvest in the property, and create more jobs in the local community.
“Conference tourism drives our territory throughout the entire year now,” said Daniela Ducato, director of the Saracen Sands Hotel & Congress Centre. “In the past, the conference segment was limited to spring and fall, but today, thanks to growing foreign interest in Palermo and Sicily, we have finally become a flagship for this industry. Sustainability has become a primary source of renewal and a way to raise facilities like ours that, as they grow, support the entire region. We are not just a hotel; we are a catalyst for sustainable growth and development.”