The Torre del Nera Albergo Diffuso e Spa scattered hotel in Umbria is investing to boost arrivals from Italy, the United States, and northern and central Europe, through international tourism fairs in partnership with the Umbria Region, joint ventures with global inbound tour operators and a digital marketing campaign. 

Strong demand at the end of 2021  

Located in Scheggino in the heart of the Nera Vallei in Umbria just a few minutes from Spoleto, the property will close the year with an occupancy rate of 70%, and a business volume up 40% on 2020. The New Year holiday was sold-out, and with a strong demand for the Epiphany week Italians took the lion’s share, while 20% of guests in 2021 were from Denmark, Benelux, Israel, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Truffles and spiritual trails

“Torre del Nera Albergo Diffuso & Spa is a very particular hotel -  explains Manager, Fulvio Badetti - it is a completely renovated medieval village with 16 apartments.  Each one is different, and our central unit has 12 rooms. We also have a spa and a restaurant that can host meetings, and we are ideally positioned for truffle lovers and for those making spiritual journeys along religious trails.  We have invested a considerable amount in positioning our property on international markets.” 

Scheggino was built by the Duchy of Spoleto

The area around the historical little town of Scheggino is truly unique due to the captivating beauty of the Nera valley. The natural Valcasana springs that flow out of the ground not far from the village, are just one example of the wonderful spectacle offered by nature in this area.

Delphina Hotels & Resorts carried away the title World’s Leading Green Independent Hotel Group at the World Travel Awards 2021.

“We are so proud of this award,” says Elena Muntoni, brand manager of Delphina Hotels & Resorts. “Our next goal is to continue innovating and improving sustainability. We care about our land, and are sure that respecting the environment is one of the ways to create value, especially in a region like Sardinia."

100% green energy and electric car charging ports

For years the company has been adopting eco-sustainable growth policies that respect the environment, culture and Sardinia’s food and wines. Delphina is the first Italian chain to use 100% green energy in all their properties, saving 3,536 tons of CO2 per year. The Gallura-based hotel chain is also synonymous with low visual impact structures, using as many materials as possible from local artisans. Great attention is also paid to sustainable travel with electric vehicles on site for guests within the resorts and charging points for electric cars.

Locally sourced food and less plastic waste

Delphina is also committed to using biodegradable materials, and ditching plastic. All Delphina guests receive a free bottle which can be refilled in the specially installed fountains, saving 68,700 plastic bottles per year. The food and wine on offer support healthy, good and fair cuisine, and are based around locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. In one of the Delphina facilities, the Le Dune Resort & Spa in Badesi, there is a 5-hectare vegetable garden. Delphina also promotes excursions to introduce guests to the nature, archaeology and history of Sardinia’s Gallura region.

The Ho Hotels Collection has acquired the Delfino in Taranto, thus bringing the number of the group's properties in Apulia to five. The operation was completed with a full equity investment by the Italian hotel group.

“We now have 1,000 rooms but our goal is 1,500 by 2025”

"With the purchase of the Delfino property we confirm our confidence in the city of Taranto, and we now have a total one thousand rooms: an important step that brings us closer to our goal of 1,500 keys by 2025," commented Mattia De Gennaro, Ho’s Managing Director.

A hotel with a strong bleisure vocation

A 4-star hotel with 191 rooms under the Mercure brand, the Delfino Hotel overlooks the city's waterfront and has a strong bleisure vocation thanks to its strategic location and to its meetings and events facilities. The property will undergo a major renovation in 2022 while remaining fully operational.

On a decidedly positive note Hnh Hospitality closed the preliminary balance of the 2020-21 fiscal year on 31 October with total revenues from direct management of €34.8 million, up by 62.3% over 2020, and at an even higher level than the pre-Covid 2019 year.

However it must be remembered that this year the company significantly expanded the holdings of the group. In 2021 alone the group saw the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Rome, and the voco Milan-Fiere. On a like-for-like basis when compared with 2020, therefore excluding these two openings, revenues would have still been €31.4 million, a 46.5% rise.

Room rates are up by 30.6%

By analysing the date it can be seen that the average selling price of the rooms (ADR) recorded a growth of 30.6%, from €102.4 in 2020 to €133.8 in 2021. However, the average occupancy of the rooms, being conditioned by varying availability due to the frequent closures in 2020, went from 46.7% in 2020 to 41.3% in 2021.

Venice is still far from the performance we were used to

Luca Boccato, Hnh’s CEO commented: "2021 was a year of recovery after the heavy decline recorded in the previous year. The rebound was very strong, with performances from June being higher than those recorded in 2019. However, not all of our markets recorded similar growth. Those most dependent on long-range international demand, such as Venice, have only partially recovered and are still far from the performance we were used to.”

“The first signs for 2022 are positive”

For the fiscal year 2022, which has just begun, we are confident, as the first signs are very positive. It will not, however, be a homogeneous trend. The budget just approved by our board of directors estimates revenues, on a like-for-like basis, for the first time in our history of more than €60 million, albeit with an occupancy rate, still conditioned by the effects of the Covid pandemic, of 58%.”

Bologna’s Best Western Plus Tower Hotel was recently acquired by Nuova Asiago Immobiliare, a company owned by the Borletti family which operates in retail, consumer and luxury goods, and real estate.

The Bologna property, managed by Italian hotel operator Hnh Hospitality, is strategically situated near the A14 highway just a few minutes from the Bologna Fiere fairgrounds and the Marconi Airport. It is also well connected with the centre of Bologna and the Central Train Station is just 6 kilometres away.  

Four room types and the Bistrot Tower Restaurant

Standing over 70 metres high, with 18 floors it is the tallest hotel in Bologna and has 149 keys, a bar, restaurant, 11 meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 400, and a fitness room. There are four different types of room: Standard, the exclusive Deluxe, Junior Suites with large living areas, and Junior Deluxe Suites on 50sqm. The onsite Bistrot Tower Restaurant has a modern and dynamic ambience and a wide range of menus, with the emphasis on local traditions and a special focus on presentation and service.

Capital investor interest in secondary tourist markets

"In spite of the slowdown in the tourism sector caused by the pandemic, the sale of the Best Western Plus Tower Hotel confirms that there has been a lot of interest in the Italian hotel market,” says Cushman & Wakefield Italy’s Head of Hospitality, Dario Leone. “This transaction shows the capital investor interest in hotel assets in secondary tourist markets, compared to primary destinations such as Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice."

Gruppo Una makes its debut in Basilicata, adding the 4-star Unahotels Mh Matera to its franchising portfolio.

The new hotel is Gruppo Una’s first property in Basilicata and is in a park of over five hectares, has 132 total rooms (60 with a patio or balcony) as well as a summer restaurant by the lake and the poolside. It also has six F&B outlets and outdoor areas for dining, private banquets and events. 

A Conference Center with 12 meeting rooms

The Olos Spa wellness and fitness center has a gym with large panoramic windows, in addition to an outdoor swimming pool and a relaxation pool with a Jacuzzi, a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, seven emotional showers and a relaxation area overlooking the waterfall and the lake. In the Conference Center there are 12 meeting rooms with natural light, and it has a capacity of up to 1,200 people.

Ideal for both leisure and business clients

"With Unahotels Mh Matera in our portfolio we are now in 21 destinations in Italy with our three brands -  says General Manager Fabrizio Gaggio - the Mtatera hotel has a lot of potential as it is aimed at both leisure clients and business events thanks to the hotel’s exceptional setting and excellent conference facilities.”

Villa Passalacqua on Lake Como is one of Preferred Hotels & Resorts' new additions for next year. The hotel, which opened in June, was formerly an 18th-century building once owned by Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua, and is a partner of the renowned Grand Hotel Tremezzo. From Napoleon Bonaparte to Winston Churchill, Villa Passalacqua has hosted many political leaders throughout its history. Now the resort's 24 elegant suites have been designed and curated by Paolo, Antonella, and Valentina De Santis. 

Heritage suites and movies under the stars

Secret passages, suites with century-old beams from the former stables, and greenhouses with old fruit trees have all been preserved at Villa Passalacqua. Relax by the pool with views of the lake, work out in the outdoor gym surrounded by olive trees, go on lake excursions from the private dock, or enjoy a variety of culinary and wellness experiences, including spa treatments, in the Italian gardens. Guests can also enjoy yoga classes, dinners with local specialities and movies under the stars.

A year of debuts

Preferred Hotels and Resorts's other nine debuts this year are the Sly in Berlin, Sommerro in Oslo, Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Hong Kong, Pendry Park City in Utah, Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences in Florida, Toa Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, and the Pendry in Washington DC.