Sarasota Loves Italy and Vice Versa

For years, Sarasotans have shown their love for Italy by visiting in droves. Now, its the Italians turn to visit us (and maybe invest too!).

I recently talked with Giorgio Orofino, who owns Stay and Visit Italy Orofino Tours (www.StayandVisit.com). The company, which is based in Sarasota, is a major provider of travel tours to Italy and serves customers from all over North America.

The company has multiple tour groups that leave the U.S. to visit Italy EVERY SINGLE DAY (that is a lot of tourists!). It offers great rates (starting from $499), because it owns one of the largest hotel/resort chains in Italy.

Mr. Orofino, who is also an international business lawyer in Italy, also runs ItaliaUsa (www.ItaliaUSA.it). This company offers business, legal and investment services to Italians in US and to Americans in Italy.

Mr. Orofino reports that there is a large interest among Italians to invest in Florida real estate.

He says, “I have many investors from Italy interested to buy real estate in Florida. I am putting together a large group of buyers now who will buy under a sole company name.”

Mr. Orofino expects to begin the investment activity sometime between now and 2010, whenever he feels that prices have reached the lowest point.

If all goes well, I hope to hear a lot more Italian being spoken in Sarasota in the coming months.

Powered By DT Author Box

Written by Chris Jaensch

Attorney P. Christopher Jaensch received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1992 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1995 from the University of Florida. While at UF, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa Society and Florida Blue Key, the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the state of Florida.

Mr. Jaensch is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Sarasota Bar Association. He has served as President of the Sarasota-Manatee International Trade Club and served as Regional Vice Chair, Tampa Bay, for the Central Florida Chapter of AILA. He was a member of City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee and has been active in several local organizations, including the influential Laurel Park Neighborhood Association in downtown Sarasota.

Mr. Jaensch has over 18 years of experience in the field of immigration and nationality law and focuses his practice on four primary categories (a) investors and entrepreneurs, (b) business executives, managers and professionals, (c) amateur and professional athletes and coaches and (d) performing artists and immigrants with extraordinary ability.