After a difficult two years for the hotel industry a&o Hostels is relaunching in Italy with the opening of a hostel in Florence in the second quarter of 2023. With 140 keys and a total of 500 beds it follows the two properties that opened in in Venezia Mestre in 2017 and 2019. But it doesn't end here: because German a&o Hostels, with its hybrid hospitality format, aims to expand further in Italy. "At the moment we have an advanced negotiation in Genoa - explained CEO and Founder of the company, Oliver Winter - but we are also looking at Milan, Rome and Verona."

Phillip WinterWith an expansion strategy based on direct acquisitions and rentals, the group is now shifting its focus on rentals to protect from potential market volatility. "In Rome we are looking at two interesting projects for the management of third party facilities," said Marketing Director, Phillip Winter.

Business is based for 30% on groups (especially school groups), 10% on business clients, 20%-25% on families and the remaining 35%-40% on couples, with operators specialized in school vacations playing a major role "Before Covid they were the main source of our business, accounting for about 40% of our total revenues,” said Senior Sales Manager Italy, Annalia Bassi.

The company currently has some 40 facilities in nine different European countries, the majority of which are located in Germany, including the latest opening in Edinburgh last July. In addition to Florence, openings in Heidelberg and Barcelona – the group’s first foray into Spain -  are also planned for the near future.  

Borgo Pulciano in the village of Montone, Garibaldi Hotels’ new property in the central Italian region of Umbria, has opened. Medieval-styled Borgo Pulciano has been completely renovated and transformed into a charming property where guests can enjoy relaxing vacations while discovering the delightful surrounds. 

A room that can host over 200 for events

Borgo Pulciano consists of six cottages with rooms and apartments, a restaurant, a farm, and a meeting room for events and ceremonies that can accommodate over 200 people. There are also two swimming pools, a children’s playground, and health trails both in the gardens and around the property where guests can practice outdoor sports.

A special venue for weddings 

"This part of Italy has a strong vocation for international tourism with its good food, relaxation, art, culture and beauty - says Founder and General Manager of Garibaldi Hotels, Fabrizio Prete - and Umbria also plays a leading role for big events and wedding tourism.  Borgo Pulciano is strongly positioned as an experiential property with horse riding, fishing and gastronomic tours, all of which promote the uniqueness of this part of central Italy."

There has always been a fatal attraction between the world of fashion and the hospitality industry. Now it’s the turn of German fashion designer Philipp Plein, who has just announced that his first hotel in Milan will open in the middle of next year.  The news follows that of his purchase of a showroom, also in the Lombard capital, in via Burlamacchi 5, the former Bikkembergs store.

The hotel will have 18 rooms, a disco and a restaurant

The new property will be the result of the conversion of Palazzo Melzi d'Eril, formerly Spazio Krizia, and is currently owned by Manuel Faleschini, who purchased it from Mariuccia Mandelli’s heirs last April. The Venetian entrepreneur will lease his newly acquired asset to the hotel group controlled by Plein which will be in charge of managing the 18 rooms, the club used as a disco, the cinema, the bistro and the restaurant.

The new formula of the long-stay hotel by Sweetguest allows travellers to the northern Italian city of Trieste to stay for longer periods of time in designer apartments with the comforts of a 4-star hotel and with office space too. 

Four different sizes of apartment 

There are four types of apartment in Sweetguests’s new Trieste property. The studio is the smallest and consists of a main room, kitchenette and living/sleeping area, small entrance, and bathroom. The suite is slightly larger and has a living area with kitchenette, a double bedroom and bathroom. The deluxe suite is the largest, with a living room with kitchenette, dining area and one or two bedrooms. 

A spacious work area 

The home office on the ground floor is a work area with a large meeting table, and a bathroom, which can be combined with a further study to be used as a living area, which has a second table. For smaller group meetings, there is the possibility of using a sofa bed, kitchenette and bathroom.

Blurred boundaries between business and family travel 

 “This project is based on the concept of flexibility.” comments Edoardo Grattirola, Co-founder and CEO of Sweetguest. “The pandemic has accelerated a trend that has revolutionized the very concept of travel. We have seen that the boundary between business and family travel has become increasingly blurred.” 

“Domo will open in other cities like Milan and Rome” 

Sweetguest decided to go for a hospitality model that, thanks to its flexibility and modularity, is able to respond effectively to the different needs of travellers, and introduced this innovative model to Italy, inspired by similar concepts abroad. “We started in Trieste - says Co-founder and President, Rocco Lomazzi -  with the goal of expanding Domo to other cities, including Milan and Rome.”  

For the Dolce Vita train the Orient Express company is no longer just a precious source of inspiration. Because the Arsenale company has partnered with the Accor Group, holder of the most iconic railway brand in the world, to launch the Orient Express La Dolce Vita in 2023. The six branded trains will travel a series of routes through 14 Italian regions as well as international destinations, connecting Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split. 

©Rendering Orient Express La Dolce Vita by Dimorestudio6

©Rendering Orient Express La Dolce Vita by Dimorestudio - Lounge

©Rendering Orient Express La Dolce Vita by Dimorestudio - Restaurant

©Rendering Orient Express La Dolce Vita by Dimorestudio5

16,000 kilometres of tracks linked to the history of Italy

Passengers on the La Dolce Vita train will be able to travel through 14 regions over 16,000 kilometres of tracks, 7,000 kilometres of which are not electrified and represent a profound link with the history of Italy. The routes are designed to provide travel experiences from one to three nights, and will mainly be in Italy, where the Alps, hilly landscapes and southern beaches will take centre stage. In addition, three routes will connect Italy to Paris, Istanbul and Split.

© Rendering Orient Express La Dolce Vita by Dimorestudio OE Suite Deluxe

The Executive lounge in Rome’s Termini station

Before departing from Rome’s Termini station, the Orient Express Executive Lounge will welcome passengers in a convivial and elegant area complete with services and dedicated staff. And from 2024 visitors will be able to stay in Italy’s first Orient Express hotel, the Minerva in downtown Rome. As for the trains, the furnishings of the 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, Honour Suite and restaurant celebrate creativity and art, drawing inspiration from the influences of the great masters of Italian design of the 1960s and 1970s.

© Fonds de dotation Orient Express Heritage

“It’s a great honour and privilege to work with Orient Express”

“It is a great honour and privilege to work with Orient Express, one of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world - underlines the CEO of Arsenale, Paolo Barletta. “We want to take travellers along new routes, places that will create dedicated Italian experiences with authentic local warmth. The journey itself becomes the destination and Italy will never have been so close and sensational. "

“Train journeys that go beyond our imagination in terms of luxury experiences”

“We at Accor consider it an immense privilege to restore the historic Orient Express brand - adds the president and CEO of Accor, Sébastien Bazin - these new train journeys go far beyond our imagination of what is possible in terms of luxury experiences.”

Bluserena, founded in 1985 by Carlo Maresca, manages a portfolio of 13 hotels (eight of which it owns) in the main Italian tourist destinations including Sardinia, Sicily, Apulia, Abruzzo, Piedmont and Calabria. The Bluserean portfolio of over 4,200 rooms in eleven 4-star hotels and two 5-star resorts, has now been acquired by Azora which also holds entertainment services including beaches, swimming pools, animation and sports facilities, and clubs for children and young people.

“Covid has prompted a significant demand for travel”

"This transaction confirms Azora's belief that Covid has prompted a significant demand for travel, and that there will be a strong market recovery as vaccination programmes make headway in Europe,” commented Concha Osácar, Azora’s co-founder. By acquiring the Italian operator, Osácar continued, the Group confirms its commitment to the European hotel industry, and in particular to Italy where growing numbers of international tourists are choosing destinations such as Apulia, Sicily and Sardinia.

€30 million invested in renovations

The takeover includes both the hotels and the management company, which will continue to be based in Pescara. The objective is to enhance the Bluserena brand with a €30 million investment in renovations, acquire new hotels in Italy, and new lease and management contracts. “Azora seemed to us the most suitable partner to continue the history of Bluserena and boost  its growth – said Bluserena’s CEO Silvio Maresca – we can now start a new phase of a growth on the Italian market.” 

The Azora fund counts 31 hotels in Europe 

In September Azora closed its latest pan-European hotel investment fund at €815 million plus co-investment capital. With the acquisition of Bluserena, and now holding a portfolio of 31 hotels in Europe, it has committed 56% of its investment capacity. 

The first Italian W Hotel opened its doors a few days ago in Rome. The W Hotel Rome which has 162 rooms in two adjacent 19^th-century buildings is located near the Spanish Steps. The property is owned by alternative investment firm King Street Capital Management in partnership with developer Omnam Investment Group, and Italian asset management company Kryalos sgr. 

Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano

Designed by Meyer Davis, the W Rome Hotel is a blend of traditional Roman architecture and a unique interpretation of the capital’s design. The Giano Restaurant, under Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano, has a menu combining Sicilian and Roman traditions. The property also has a courtyard and a Giardino Clandestino clandestine garden, which will undoubtedly become a new city landmark.  

A rooftop bar, gym and boutique

Pastry chef Fabrizio Fiorani heads the in-house pastry shop Zucchero while other features are the W lounge on the ground floor, a rooftop terrace with the Otto Rooftop bar, the Fuel x Petra Studio Gym managed by Pietro Boselli and the W The Store boutique curated by Daria Reina.

Cervinia, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Selva di Val Gardena, Courmayeur, and the village of Zermatt in Switzerland, are just some of the winter resorts in Gabetti’s Short Rent snow line of 90 exclusive houses and chalets. The new Gabetti line comes after the recent partnership with the specialties and goal-oriented cluster of the Alpitour group, and connectivity, technological entertainment, spas and saunas, gyms, swimming pools and kids' areas are just some of the services available to holidaymakers at New Year.

Exclusive chalets and luxury villas 

"The new snow line - says Emiliano Di Bartolo, CEO of G Rent s.p.a. - allows us to significantly expand by adding exclusive chalets located in the most famous mountain resorts to the luxury villas and apartments we have in Italy and abroad. This gives new impetus to our luxury line of top quality properties for short rentals. Christmas is just around the corner and we are doing our utmost to make these vacations enjoyable and exciting for holidaymakers who choose the mountains to toast in the New Year.”  

Christmas 10% cash-back promo

Coinciding with the launch of the new snow line Gabetti Short Rent has a Christmas Promo with a 10% cash-back discount for bookings made by next 31 December. The promotion, valid for bookings with a minimum value of €5,000 will be usable for subsequent vacations confirmed by 2022.

The expansion of hybrid hospitality is taking hold in Italy, and a good example is the Corte di Milano hostel which opened its doors last September in Rozzano, which is a suburban district of Milan. Aiming to please everyone, from the university student to passing backpackers, and from business clients to the more traditional tourist, it also serves locals as it is close to a large hospital.  

“This is a city within the city”

“Corte Milano – said Development Manager Giovanni Facchetti - is a concept of accommodation that goes beyond the classic hotel-non-hotel dualism. It wants to be a completely new place of hospitality: a city within the city. In fact, alongside the guest rooms there are also spaces for co-working, several meeting rooms, commercial activities and a large courtyard.” 

The Rozzano hostel will have 200 beds

At present there are 60 rooms divided into 12 different types: from the bed in the dormitory to the room with a private kitchen. Another 11 rooms are due to open in the coming months by which time Corte Milano in Rozzano will have over 200 beds. There are three hallways on the floors as well as two shared kitchens, both with a large terrace, and there is a bar on the ground floor. The business centre has three conference rooms, spaces for smaller meetings, a professional kitchen for managing large events and an indoor gallery, as well as a large car park and a laundry room.