Veljko Pavicevic

Veljko Pavicevic is a multi-faceted entrepreneur with a hunger for success: in addition to his position as co-founder and GM of Sails Restaurant, he is an in-demand hospitality consultant whose expertise lies in improving bottom-line results through staff motivation, teaching hoteliers and restaurateurs techniques of heightening customer satisfaction via superior service.

Warm hospitality exemplifies Veljko’s disposition: summers spent with his grandmother in Montenegro nurtured his interest in cooking and VIP treatment. Everyone entering her home was treated like royalty, from her welcoming embrace and anticipation of what guests might want to the seemingly endless delectable food coming from the kitchen. Visits always ended with a life-affirming farewell, imparting a desire to return time after time. Her legacy lives on at Sails, where many accents and furnishings from her home now adorn the restaurant. From the welcoming desk outside to fine hand-cut crystalware, her influence and good taste imbue the atmosphere.

Sails’ guests revel in a multi-sensory approach to dining upon entering the restaurant: Veljko’s passionate dedication to tactile and visual décor details, when combined with his stop-at-nothing nature, is showcased through his sourcing of — and frequent visits to — Europe’s most brilliant master craftsmen responsible for hand-making the restaurant’s elegant accoutrements, including breathtaking marble from Greek quarries, supple Italian leather chairs, plus original metal work, all meticulously handcrafted for an unparalleled experience.

As recounted in a 2018 Naples Daily News video interview, Veljko initially arrived in America as a teenager, spending 1997 as an exchange student at Naples High School, forging strong relationships within the community that eventually led him back. Four years later, Veljko returned to the states, this time for a summer-exchange program, where his athletic prowess led to a swimming instructor post in Battery Park for New York City’s Parks and Recreation. Arriving with $400 in his pocket, he had two goals: saving enough money to put himself through college in the USA, plus capital to launch his own business. Within his first week, Veljko landed a second job as an opening-team server at Compass, an Upper West Side eatery, resulting in 18-hour workdays, seven days a week.

Moving expeditiously to achieve his goals, Veljko amassed enough funds that summer to stay in the states. With fond memories of Naples always on his mind, he returned, completing his Bachelor’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University and working full-time at Syrah in Naples. While serving guests from The Ritz-Carlton’s executive team, he was immediately poached to work at Artisans, the property’s five-star fine-dining restaurant. During his tenure, he quickly rose through FOH management ranks via his highly-honed insight for anticipating guests’ needs and preferences; dedication to customer service; plus his effortless communications skills necessary to coach colleagues. His final position required overseeing 35 employees and serving nearly 1400 guests nightly.

In 2009 Veljko left The Ritz-Carlton to create his hospitality consultancy; concurrently, he founded Global Link, LLC, a multinational logistics company tapping into his international network. Through this position, he connected to entrepreneur Corinne Ryan in 2014 while working for a mutual Korean-based client. Corinne and Veljko quickly discovered a shared passion for exploring restaurants around the world; to date, they’ve ventured on more than 20 trips together spanning five continents. Their complimentary talents led to partnering on Sails, whose rare triple 4-Star review from Naples Daily News critic Jean LeBouef has made it a popular destination amongst Naples’ sophisticated locals and visitors alike.