The W Hotels brand, part of the Marriott portfolio, is set to make its debut with a new opulent lifestyle complex in Poltu Quatu in Sardinia. 

150 hotel rooms and serviced apartments

Encompassing more than 240 units, including some 150 hotel rooms and areas designated as serviced apartments, confirmation of the project coincides with the completion of the deal, with the asset management company Castello SGR acquiring a local real estate complex for €70 million. The transaction was facilitated through the recently established Gem Fund and the entire property, currently composed of a 139-room hotel and over 100 residential units, will undergo a refurbishment.

“The Costa Smeralda is a premier global destination”

This venture aligns with Castello SGR's strategic development plan to strengthen its foothold in the hospitality sector. The recent inclusion in the Anima group has further boosted its position, and with a portfolio valued at some one billion euro, consisting of 32 properties and over 4,000 rooms, Giampiero Schiavo, CEO of Castello SGR, highlights the operation's significance in the context of Sardinia's luxury brand allure.

“In the current market dynamics, the hospitality segment stands out as particularly attractive, and this acquisition contributes to the repositioning of properties in the super luxury segment, reinforcing Arzachena with the Costa Smeralda as a premier global destination.”

 

Tradition, art, and faith: during the Easter period the province of Brescia is a treasure trove of surprises and stages a Via Crucis. 

A rare viewing in Brescia’s Rotonda circular church

This is a region with lakes, mountains, rolling hills and the slow flowing Oglio river and, on Friday 22 March in the Romanesque Duomo Vecchio or Rotonda in Brescia (among the few circular churches in Italy), visitors will have a rare opportunity to admire the Treasure of the Holy Crosses. 

A Via Crucis in the Valle Camonica valley

The Easter period is an ideal time to admire masterpieces of art and faith linked to the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. Among the many that the province of Brescia can offer, the Sanctuary of Via Crucis, which is next to the parish church in the small village of Cerveno, in the Valle Camonica valley, is part of the Lombard-Piedmontese tradition of the Sacred Mountains with a Via Crucis. The 14 chapels of the Via Crucis are arranged along a stepped corridor which culminates at the top with the Chapel of the Deposition. Every ten years, in May, the inhabitants of Cerveno stage “Santa Crus,” a living representation of the Passion with over 100 participants, inspired by the characters of Beniamino Simoni's sculptures. 

The props and clothes used in the event can be seen in the Civic Museum

This year it will be held from 26 May to 2 June, in the historic centre and in the countryside around the town. This event is not linked to the rites of Easter, but to 3 May, the day on which the calendar, before the ecclesiastical reform, marked the discovery of the Holy Cross. Videos and photos, props and the clothes used during the event can be viewed at the Civic Museum, where there is also an ethnographic collection that reconstructs the experiences of the Camunian people.

A new Dream&Charme Assurance certification for Milan’s Enterprise Hotel.  

“The competitive advantage is considerable, although not easily measurable”

Following the Milano Scala, now is the turn of the Enterprise Hotel, the first hotel in the Planetaria Group to obtain ESG certification.  "They have turned the hotel inside out,- said the group's general manager, Damiano De Crescenzo. -But it is worth it. Not only from an ethical point of view: the competitive advantage is considerable, although not easily measurable. However, there are now many companies, not only in Northern Europe but also in Italy, that prefer certified solutions, all things being equal.

A perfectly sustainable hotel does not exist

And the costs, all things considered, are low. "Less than one would imagine," De Crescenzo says. “On average, two days of evaluation are required,” explained Dream&Charme's CEO Giorgio Caire di Lauzet. “As an accredited company we cannot by statute carry out any consulting activities, so our rates are not high. I always like to say that the perfectly sustainable hotel does not exist. It is a journey in progress. And it is enough to have three compliant macro-elements out of nine to obtain our certification. Then of course we can improve, every year we do an audit, but in the world to date there is no hotel that has more than seven.”

Dream&Charme has issued certifications in 15 countries

And Dream&Charme's example is already quite substantial, having issued certifications already in 15 different countries, for a total of over 32,000 rooms. The company is the first in the world to have obtained the ISO 17065 accreditation specifically for the hospitality industry. "After more than six years, it was awarded to us in 2020 by Accredia, which is the only internationally recognized Italian accreditation body," said Caire di Lauzet.  

Frasassi Caves (Grotte di Frasassi), one of the most beautiful underground complex in the world, takes part in the 14th Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum to present its amazing offer to thousands of international travel agents.
Copyright: Grotte di Frasassi

The Marriott Group could put its name on the new 130-room five-star hotel under construction on Genoa's Levante waterfront.

A major development designed by Renzo Piano

The area is part of a major redevelopment designed by Renzo Piano and the leak was published in Genoa’s Secolo XIX daily newspaper. However, so far no confirmation has been received from the real estate group Cds Holding which, in cooperation with the Orion Fund, is overseeing the waterfront development.

Also private residences and offices 

The building intended to house the hotel may also include a number of private residences with hotel services. And, according to Cds' managing director Massimo Moretti, the top floor could have offices for maritime operators and international companies.

Palazzo Durazzo, a newly renovated all-suite, has reopened in the heart of Genoa. 

Owned by the descendants of the family who commissioned its construction over four centuries ago, Palazzo Durazzo underwent a seven-year restoration and now boasts twelve suites, a two-floor lounge with a bar, and a frescoed breakfast room overlooking the port.

Blending original elements with contemporary art

Built in 1624 by the Durazzo family, the palace originally served to host distinguished guests visiting Genoa. After a period of some years as a university campus, it then underwent a meticulous restoration aimed at preserving the historical integrity of the building and original architectural elements such as the ornate facade, refined halls, frescoes, and terrace floors, while a contemporary touch has been introduced with an exhibition of works by contemporary artists. 

“Guests are encouraged to embark on a novel experience”

“The palace, which belongs to my husband’s family, has hosted a myriad of notable figures, from cardinals to princes, governors, and statesmen,- says  Emanuela Brignone Cattaneo, - so it felt natural for us to restore it to  its former prestige. Palazzo Durazzo, as it is today, is the culmination of seven years of meticulous restoration dedicated to preserving its history. Guests are encouraged to embark on a novel experience in this culturally rich, and often underestimated, city.”

We met Kathy Pitton, head of control and marketing of Navigazione Lago d'Iseo at the Berlin ITB fair.

“We want to entice people who visit Lombardy to also visit Lake Iseo“

"Our intention is to present our company, which is a public transport service on the lake, and we also offer services to tourists.  My office presents the company at the main European fairs, the aim being to entice people who visit Lombardy to also visit Lake Iseo. Because even though it is not very big, it is close to Lake Garda and close to Brescia, and we are just 35 kilometres from Bergamo airport so we are also easily accessible by public transport. 

“The island is like a mountain on a lake”

“I would like to emphasize that Lake Iseo is very special with its own particular characteristics.  In fact, it is an Alpine lake and it has three islands including Monte Isol, which is the largest lake island in Europe with a circumference of nine kilometres and a height of 270 metres. You could call it a mountain on a lake. Then there are two smaller, privately owned islands called Loreto and San Paolo.” 

Windsurfing, hiking, wine tastings and cycle paths

The wind on the lake makes it excellent for windsurfing, there is hiking on the mountain, and in the southern part there is Franciacorta with tours of wine cellars for tastings, and there are many kilometres of cycle paths, adds Kathy Pitton.  “We also have very important historical and cultural attractions. In short, we have a lot of history behind us, and I would like to make these experiences known to all those who have not yet discovered them.” 

Ara Maris, a 5-star luxury hotel, the new jewel of luxury hospitality, embraces hospitality as a philosophy of life, with a unique design that captures the essence and energy typical of Sorrento and the surrounding nature along the coast. The furnishings and common areas harmoniously integrate with the landscape, combining elegance and sustainability, offering guests a comfortable and sophisticated environment. Refinement, sophistication, aesthetics, and attention to detail are the trademarks of the Ara Maris, making it an ideal choice for luxury stays.

Read also: GM Fulvio Gaglione’s plans and ambitions for Sorrento’s Ara Maris

As the fatal attraction between the fashion world and the hotel industry continues, Rocco Forte is to open the all-suite Palazzo di Sirignano in Naples.

The property belongs to the Colella family

The property belongs to the family of Nunzio and Anna Colella, which owns the Gutteridge and Alcott brands, and has decided to entrust the management of the Neapolitan Palazzo Caravita di Sirignano to the Rocco Forte Hotels group. 

The hotel will have 46 suites, a rooftop pool and two restaurants

The first mansion to rise along the Riviera di Chiaia with the laying of the foundation stone in 1535, the building was the residence down the centuries of noble dynasties such as the Bourbons and the princes of Sirignano. Renovated by architect Michele Bönan, the palace will now reopen as a hotel in 2027 with 46 large suites, a rooftop with a panoramic swimming pool, two restaurants, private gardens, bars and a large spa.