From Investor Migrant to Expert Facilitator: 10 on the Weekend with Sebastian Downing

10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different IMI Pro, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might during the ordinary course of business.

Our guest this week is Sebastian Downing CEO of Forevergood Hotels and advisor at Invest in Italy

How do you spend your weekends?

I usually either host classic car meets on Sundays at our lovely office in London Bridge or play ice hockey in the winter season at my local club in London. 

What are your top three business goals this year? 

1. To continue building a solid, well-adjusted team.
2. To keep on only working with people I enjoy spending time with, which is a lovely luxury to be afforded.
3. To assist in providing access to the best products in the Italian environment that can deliver both income and residency. 

What’s your biggest business concern right now? 

This industry faces a lot of uncertainty as governments place increasing constraints or even cancel investment migration avenues.

All these challenges, however, also open the path for creating new opportunities and options that we should embrace as our industry becomes more institutional.

Which book is on your nightstand right now?

Why I write by George Orwell.

How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?

The moment I obtained my investor visa in 2020. My journey has given me a unique perspective; I know what it is like on both sides of the coin, being a person looking for investment migration solutions and the person who is facilitating it.

I think that the comprehensive overview that I have is what helps me provide a better service to our clients; I can pinpoint areas of service and aspects that clients need but wouldn’t usually get elsewhere because I have been in their shoes.

What was your proudest moment as a service provider?

Assisting in the introduction of DV SICAF, a fund focused on inward investment into the Hotel sector of the Italian Economy.

We knew the fund was a game-changer and that it would constitute a win-win situation for Italy and the investors, so the day of the launch was something special.

Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?

The total (impending) eradication of the Spanish golden visa was a surprise.

And the response to Portugal’s removal of investment into property of any kind, even though funds under the golden visa, be it that of providers, applicants, or consultants, was also surprising.

If you could go 10 years back in time, what business decision would you change? 

That would make me 17, so I would have probably told myself to meet more people and remind myself that it is okay to make mistakes. 

What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?

Anastasia Barna. She has this aura of integrity and knowledge, two very important traits to help you succeed in this industry.

If all goes according to plan, what will you do five years from now?

Exactly what I am doing now with a larger team and hopefully more time for yoga.