The book that tells the story of FN hotelaria's 4 decades of operation was presented on March 9th, the day the company celebrated its 43rd anniversary.
The book FN hotelaria | UMA EMPRESA DO MUNDO (a company of the world) starts from a “simple conviction: companies are not born only from ideas or opportunities. They are born from people. And people carry stories that leave lasting marks” (excerpt from the Introduction). It is this legacy that is celebrated throughout 5 chapters, which document the company's identity and culture, and through the testimonials of some of its protagonists.
From the founders' vision, through regional consolidation, expansion and internationalization, to the present day marked by responsibility and innovation, the journey of FN hotelaria, its values and its heritage of stories and moments are now reflected in approximately 200 pages.
This book is a work by Arteleia, a publishing house dedicated to writing and preserving life stories, authored by the writer, journalist, and historian Sónia Silva Franco. Arteleia's work combines "journalistic rigor with literary sensitivity. Each book is the result of a process of listening, research, and careful writing, conducted with absolute respect for the authenticity of the subject," as stated on the publisher's website.
At the book presentation event, we had the pleasure of hearing from Rubina Leal, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, who highlighted the longevity and dynamism of the company in a special message, in which she congratulated FN hotelaria on its 43rd anniversary.
José Manuel Rodrigues, Regional Secretary for Economy, representing the President of the Regional Government, highlighted "the culmination of a business trajectory that, over forty-three years, has distinguished itself through vision, rigor, and a remarkable coherence between purpose and achievement." He also mentioned that FN hotelaria represents "an example of vision and business excellence."
The book was presented by Luís Todo Bom, engineer, consultant, visiting professor at ISCTE Executive Education, author, advisory member and specialist in industrial engineering and management of Ordem dos Engenheiros (organization of engineering professionals), with extensive professional experience in business administration and former Secretary of State for Industry and Energy of the X Constitutional Government in Portugal.
Luis Todo Bom highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of João Abel de Freitas, founder of FN hotelaria, his creativity, sensitivity, discipline, and unparalleled ability to learn from failures. He acknowledged that the people and the company culture are one of its main competitive advantages and praised the company's audacity in seeking to expand its geographical reach. He also emphasized the challenges of succession in family businesses and stressed the importance of this process happening at the most opportune time.
Sónia Silva Franco, author of the book, recalled that we are in the midst of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Autonomy of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and praised its importance in the development of the Region. She also highlighted the respect for FN hotelaria and its founder, which she observes is widespread throughout the Madeiran hotel sector. She emphasized the company's creativity and resilience, its ability to "open minds, bringing the world to the island", the importance of building lasting relationships of trust, and its ambition to do things differently.
João Abel de Freitas, FN hotelaria’s Chairman, in addition to thanking the entities present, the clients, suppliers, partners, employees ans other guests, reflected in his speech the pride in the insular origin of FN hotelaria, highlighting the need to be irreverent, to embrace the DNA, made of challenge, innovation and true partnership relationships, of a company concerned with being the solution. And it was with great emotion that the former founders of FN hotelaria, who are sadly no longer with us, were remembered and honored.
A musical interlude followed, a performance by Banda Municipal do Funchal - Artistas Funchalenses (local philharmonic band), and a cocktail networking session that included a demonstration of the use of Josper equipment by chefs from the brand and by chef Carlos Magno, representing the association Discípulos Escoffier Portugal (a gastronomic association that pays homage to Escoffier).
This event brought together several guests from the restaurant, hotel and business sectors and took place in the Noble Hall of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, in Funchal.
