What drives our project

Today I want to talk about what drives every step we take in this complex and surprising world of tourism.
I’ve long wondered: How can guests trust Unico Stay? And above all, why should they?

Today, we can find everything on our mobile phones, locations, experiences, suggestions, itineraries, packages, products, photos, videos, reviews, and social media pages filled with extraordinary drone-shot reels, perfect sunset glasses of wine, and flawless faces and bodies. With a single click, we receive products and guides, sign up for premium subscriptions, make payments at the speed of light, and are constantly “on”, so should we really be attracting guests from the other side of the world simply because we have locations and experiences to offer? When there are portals filled with pages of such offers? 

...that’s exactly where I encountered the biggest challenge. 

I wanted to share what we’re building and who we really are, and I needed something that went beyond the same old promotional photos and videos we’ve all seen a million times. 
Almost entirely naturally, I found myself offering, but above all, "living" a package, an experience in Tuscany together with two guests, Ashlind McKay and Autumn Carufel, talented photographers, artists, and videographers capable of capturing the essence of our project, but who are, first and foremost, people, they are guests. 
And so, despite all works and family commitments, I took a week of “vacation”, I put on some comfortable shoes and “set off” with them, here in my region, we learned so much about olive oil production, enjoyed a truffle lunch prepared by a professional truffle hunter, went on a rejuvenating hike in nature, raised a toast, and much more.

Then one day, our experience at a painting workshop had just ended, Ashlind and Autumn’s cameras were turned off, and we were all eating and laughing together, oblivious to the passing of time, (because when we talk about “slow travel”, we’re not referring to a trip taken at a leisurely pace, it means living that precious time to the fullest, that specific moment, without checking notifications or opening apps) It means looking each other in the eyes, speaking freely, trying to understand others. It means recognizing an emotion, “not checking” the time.
Right at that moment, we were experiencing “slow time”, there were so many smiles, time had gone beyond itself, it had stretched on, and I had to go home to my children.
Instead of leaving, however, I decided to keep savoring those unique moments and stay fully present, so I went to pick them up and brought them with me, they laughed with us, created a painting of their own, and unwittingly added even more value to that incredible day. 

I realized that these are the very reasons we’re building this project: connection, presence, and understanding. 

I confess that I felt tired during those days, hours and hours, entire days spent speaking English with two American girls who were just as energetic as I was, if not more so, by the end of the day, my brain was a whirlwind of thoughts, ideas, and words, and staying focused wasn’t always easy, for example, trying to make sure my other guests at the agriturismo didn’t miss out on anything, celebrating my son’s birthday at the same time, managing our transfers, and above all, making these two girls feel comfortable, at ease, and relaxed, that’s what drove it all. 

During their stay, we’d also planned to film a short video where I was supposed to talk about Unico Stay, but I hadn’t prepared at all. The time had been so full of emotions and activities that we looked at each other and asked, “when are we going to shoot the video?” Oops, time was almost up, I hadn’t even thought of a brief outline and Ashlind and Autumn told me, “Just talk about what you do in a natural way.” Autumn listened enthusiastically with her big smile, and Ashlind fluttered around me like a light butterfly trying not to let her camera intimidate me. After a few minutes, she says, “Finish.” And I thought, “Really? Shouldn’t we shoot it again? Did it come out badly?” And these were the exact same questions our friends and collaborators asked during the first five minutes of filming… “Is this okay?” “Can I do or say this?” The very next moment, they’d already forgotten that someone was filming them.
All of this was thanks to the incredible talent and professionalism of both of them. There were no poses, no special lighting, or rehearsed lines, all three of us immersed ourselves in every single experience with every single person in the most authentic way possible, living the activity from the inside, and not as extras dressed up and made up just to stand in front of the camera.

For me, it was yet another confirmation that being who we are, without filters, without overemphasizing every aspect of our selves or our knowledge, leads to well-being, sincere relationships, and unforgettable memories in our hearts and minds. 

You won’t find this on social media or in an online store, you won’t find it in a chat with AI, you’ll find it in human connection.

On the last day before we said goodbye, I saw them barefoot outside Agriturismo Raccianello, they had two glasses of wine and were sitting there laughing and talking, with their chairs facing the towers of San Gimignano.
That was exactly what I was offering: authenticity, quality time with real people, stories, faces, and smiles. 

I hope that the transformative, emotional, and rejuvenating journey the three of us experienced will soon transform, moves and rejuvenate you as well.
We’re working on it.
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11/07/2026 Posted by Gessica Cucchiara