Staff from Bristol’s leading four-star hotel will be making sure they know their ‘ciaos’ from their ‘holas’ as they prepare to welcome fans heading to the Champions League Final in Cardiff on 3 June.
With the Welsh capital unable to cope with the high level of demand for rooms over the duration of European football’s showcase competition, means there’s an overspill of people looking for somewhere to stay.
It’s meant many have already eyed Bristol as the best alternative, resulting in venues like DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol City Centre, getting calls from Juventus and Real Madrid fans searching for a room.
Wanting to make sure visitors from continental Europe feel welcome, staff at the city-centre hotel are now brushing up on their Italian and Spanish so they are prepared for the influx of people now heading towards the capital of the West Country.
Fortunately, the hotel already employs a number of Italian and Spanish members of staff who are helping the rest of the team get the lingo just right.
John Dowling, general manager of the Redcliffe Way-based hotel said: “To have fans from Real Madrid and Juventus visit the city is a fantastic opportunity for Bristol to showcase itself.
“We’re going to make sure they are made to feel very welcome so that when they go home they’ll only have good things to say about their stay here in Bristol.
“We’ve currently got two Italian and two Spanish members of staff so it’s currently a score draw when it comes to international relations!
“What’s key is that we do a little extra so that people go away with the right impression and we can’t wait.”
A few minutes’ walk from Temple Meads train station, the hotel is the perfect base for fans to enjoy their weekend, with train journeys to Cardiff about an hour away.