What we do
Every skill corresponds to a facility or a service that we run, or have run. We do not promise anything we have not already done.
01
We run four hostels in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany: Ferrara since 2008, Campiglia Marittima since 2009, Reggio Emilia since 2011, Parma since 2021. We handle the whole service: reception, rooms, cleaning, breakfasts, bar and catering, promotion and bookings. Schools, groups and tour operators are served through the Student’s Hostel brand.
02
This is where we started: ten summers in ERSU Palermo’s San Saverio residence and, in 2010, three historic buildings of the University of Palermo. Since 2014 we have run the University of Pisa’s Le Benedettine guest house, whose guests are exclusively institutional: academics, researchers, visiting professors.
03
Since 2009 the restaurant for guests at the Ostello Estense. Since 2012 Al Chiostro della Ghiara in Reggio Emilia: restaurant, café, banquets, weddings, concerts, exhibitions and markets, with more than a hundred events in its very first season. The guest kitchen at the Gowett. From 2016 to 2026 the Ristorante Santa Barbara in the San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park. And, before all that, the San Saverio Jazz Festival.
04
From 2018 to 2026 we ran Casa Ballarò, a reception centre for asylum seekers in Mizzana, on the edge of Ferrara.
05
The Ostello Estense, Palazzo Gowett and the Ostello della Ghiara are protected by the Soprintendenza, Italy’s heritage authority, as were the former Schiavuzzo Convent and the former Santissima Annunziata Convent in Palermo. Running a hospitality business in a listed building means working with its constraints, not against them.
06
We build and run websites, communication, networks and servers within the Cooperative. All our facilities use the Team System Hospitality management system, and around it we have written our own applications: Antonella 2.0 for quotes in public-sector format, BelloPronto for till and dining room, HR Ballarò for staff.
All our current facilities are concessions from public bodies and universities. Twenty years of this work have given us a few principles.
Our managements last: the Estense since 2008, the Ghiara since 2011, the Gowett since 2009 and now in its third consecutive concession. We believe in relationships with public bodies that are built over time.
Our own staff provide the main services in our facilities. Where needed, someone from the Cooperative lives on site.
The granting body must be able to see how its facility is doing. At the University of Pisa’s guest house every request is also copied to the University; granting bodies can view our management system in read-only mode and receive an annual report on the management.
A hostel in a park or a cloister in a historic centre is also a place for the local community: the Gowett is an information point for the San Silvestro Park, the Chiostro della Ghiara is open to the city.
Our gender equality management system is certified to UNI/PdR 125:2022. We are members of Legacoop and of AITR, the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism.
Municipalities, public companies and other bodies that own hospitality or catering facilities or event venues to be entrusted to an operator.
Universities and student services agencies, for guest houses, residences and accommodation for academics, researchers and students.
School trips, groups and stays in the Cooperative’s hostels: requests go through Student’s Hostel.
Write to us to get to know the Cooperative, discuss a collaboration or ask for our references.
Or write to amministrazione@ballaro.org or call +39 0522 452323