Riccardo Zuccoli’s journey, now General Manager of Mangia’s Pollina Resort, between hands-on experience and shared leadership

Inside Mangia’s was created to tell the stories of those who, every day, help shape our vision of hospitality. Different journeys, international experiences, professional and personal choices that intertwine in an authentic narrative of growth, ambition and continuous evolution. 

This is the story of Riccardo Zuccoli, General Manager of Mangia’s Pollina Resort. 

Let yourself be inspired by the journey that shaped his vision. 

“Rome will always be home” 

For Riccardo Zuccoli, it is difficult to identify a single place that defines him. 

Born in Northern Italy, raised mainly in Rome and later relocated between Sardinia and Sicily, he learned from an early age to adapt to different contexts and realities. 

“Rome will always be home.” 

A city that represents the place of his personal and professional growth, but also the starting point of a journey that has led him today to lead Mangia’s Pollina Resort. 

An ability to adapt that, over time, has become one of the distinctive traits of his approach to hospitality. 

When I realised that operations were my path 

Riccardo’s professional journey spans several areas of the hotel: Conference & Events, Sales, Food & Beverage and Operations. 

But it is precisely the move into operations that marks an important turning point. 

“That role allowed me to truly see a hotel from every angle.” 

An experience that allowed him to understand how important it is to know every aspect of a property in order to lead it effectively. 

“I realised that what truly drove me was being on the ground, supporting the team and living the day-to-day operations.” 

From that moment on, his professional growth increasingly oriented towards managerial and leadership roles. 

Growing by working across every department 

Having worked in different functions allowed him to develop a cross-functional view of hospitality. 

A perspective he now considers one of his greatest strengths. 

“Every department has its own dynamics, priorities and challenges.” 

Knowing the work of the people directly means better understanding the team’s needs and supporting them more effectively. 

“Having experienced it personally, I can better understand the daily challenges that each department faces.” 

An awareness that continues to shape his managerial approach. 

Leadership means being present 

Over the years, Riccardo has developed a very concrete vision of leadership. 

For him, leading a property means above all being present. 

“A General Manager must be visible.” 

Leadership is not exercised solely from an office, but through daily contact with people. 

“It is important to be a point of reference for everyone, from Heads of Department to seasonal staff.” 

A constant presence that makes it possible to build trust, listening and a sense of belonging. 

The choice of Mangia’s 

After experience in leading international organisations, Riccardo chose to take on a new professional challenge by joining Mangia’s. 

A decision driven by the desire to keep learning and growing. 

“Every new experience brings with it new perspectives and new opportunities for growth.” 

For him, what truly matters is not the size of the organisation, but the ability to make a tangible contribution to a growth project. 

“Every company has its own culture and its own way of working. Engaging with new realities always allows you to enrich yourself.” 

A challenge called Pollina 

Leading Mangia’s Pollina Resort represents a significant responsibility. 

A historic property for the group, with a strong identity and great development prospects. 

“Knowing that I was chosen to contribute to the future projects of the resort is a great motivation.” 

A challenge he faces with enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility. 

“The greater the responsibilities, the more I enjoy rising to the challenge.” 

For Riccardo, growth and challenge continue to travel together. 

The lesson no master’s degree teaches 

Despite a solid academic background and years of professional experience, the most important lesson did not come from university. 

It came from people. 

“When I started, I wanted to prove how good I was.” 

Over time, however, his way of seeing leadership changed profoundly. 

“I understood that without a team, you get nowhere.” 

An awareness developed through direct experience and daily work with increasingly large teams. 

The greatest value? People 

Today Riccardo identifies teamwork as the true factor that determines the success of a property. 

“You can be extremely talented, but without people who believe in the project and work with you, sooner or later you sink.” 

For this reason, he considers the growth of people a fundamental priority. 

Because it is precisely people who transform a strategy into concrete results. 

Looking ahead 

For Riccardo Zuccoli, hospitality is a journey built through diverse experiences, growing responsibilities and a constant desire to learn. 

A path that has led him to understand that individual success only has value when it contributes to the growth of a team. 

Because, in the world of hospitality, the most important results are never achieved alone.