The Baglioni Hotels & Resorts group is to open again in Milan on 16 January, 2023. The property will be in the elegant Brera district, the city's artistic heart, on the corner of Via dei Giardini and Via Fatebenefratelli in a 1913 Art Déco building.

Casa Baglioni, which is affiliated with The Leading Hotels of the World, will have 30 rooms and suites, and a Michelin-star restaurant helmed by chef Claudio Sadler, which will relocate from its current location in Via Ascanio Sforza, It will also have a wine cellar, a summer rooftop bar, and a fitness area.

Inspired by the art and design of 1960s Milan

Baglioni, designed by the Milanese studio Spagnulo & Partners, is inspired by the art and design of 1960s Milan, an avant-garde artistic and design historical period for the city.

"Casa Baglioni will be a distinguished and refined Milanese residence," says the group's CEO, Guido Polito. “It will have works of art by great Italian and international artists such as Castellani, Bonalumi, Paolini, Gastel, and Ihmof from the Stefano Cecchi Trust Collection, as well many Italian design pieces."

 

Alpitour is developing a new upper upscale line for the Voihotels to better position the brand on the market, as well as expanding the VRetreats portfolio to around ten properties by the end of the year. These are the goals of the Alpitour hospitality division, which is currently focusing on luxury.

New properties in Sicily and Sardinia

“The VRetreats brand already has four properties, two in Taormina, the Mazzara Sea Palace and the Atlantis Bay, as well as one in Rome, the Donna Camilla Savelli, and one in Venice, the Ca 'di Dio (two owned and two rented),” says Angelo La Riccia, director of sales and marketing. “Another couple of projects are already in the works for next year: a 45-room former Rome hotel on the island of Ortigia in Siracusa and a hotel in Sardinia. And we are in advanced negotiations with three other owners.” 

Waiting for Asia to restart

The generalised increase in luxury hotel rates in 2022, as well as the recovery of intercontinental demand pushed the group's high-end offer to expand.

"Without forgetting the still untapped potential of the Asian market, which has yet to restart, while the Russian market will also recover sooner or later," adds La Riccia.

 Voihotels has 10 Italian and 4 international properties

As for the Voihotels brand, which currently has ten hotels in Italy and four abroad, the company is considering projects for hotels with from 100 to 400 rooms.

“Negotiations are still in the early stages. Until recently many properties were willing to sell their assets or delegate the management. Then came this year's boom, and many backed down. Our aim is to improve the positioning of our brand, which still does not have an ideal market position.”

 

CDSHotels has posted a 35% booking increase compared to both 2021 and 2019 with its properties in Apulia and Sicily once again rewarded by the foreign market.

In fact, compared to 2019 - the year in which CDSHotels had reached its peak of foreign guests - there was a 30% increase in turnover, with a concentration in the first part of the season. 

The first half of 2022 has been positive

"Now it’s time to take an initial stock of this first part of 2022, which, while in many respects has been rather difficult and heralds an even more arduous future, in many other respects has been decidedly positive. This allows us to assume that the market is beginning to reward with increasing appreciation our group’s commitment to improving and expanding what its quality hotels and resort have to offer," says commercial director Ada Miraglia.

Twelve properties in Apulia and Sicily

CDSHotels, headquartered in Lecce, manages and markets 12 properties, including five 4-star and 5-star hotels and seven resorts. These are in Apulia and Sicily, with a total of 2,364 accommodation units, 8,387 beds and eight spas including the Il Melograno wellness centre, at the Hotel Basiliani, which is the largest in the Salento region.  CDSHotels also caters to the MICE segment, with 36 conference rooms and facilities for weddings and banqueting. 

MICE is back on track

The 2022 turnaround saw a return of early booking with a peak of confirmations in by 31 March, the MICE sector is also back on track, with group attendances up on 2019, leading to a 63% increase in turnover. And, as of 21 September there was a 35% increase in turnover compared to the same date in 2021.

“We are geared towards reducing waste and making ecological savings”

“These numbers give us hope for the future” - Ada Miraglia continues. - But, unfortunately, along with the growth in results we also recorded an exponential growth in costs. Our company policies have always been geared towards reducing waste and making ecological savings, and we make every effort to make our guests aware of these needs.   

Investors are interested in Italian hotel real estate thanks in part to the gradual recovery of performance compared to pre-pandemic levels. The investment volumes in the Italian hospitality sector amounted to €730 million in the first half of this year, exceeding the levels of the same period in 2021, a year that ended with total transactions of €2.1 billion, the best result ever after the record of 2019, when the €3 billion threshold was crossed. In the last 12 months the incidence of investments in the hotel sector on total investment volumes in Italian commercial real estate (income properties excluding residential, Ed.) was 16%, compared to 5% in Europe. And Rome and Milan continue to dominate the scene.

Luxury and extra-luxury for Rome, and upper upscale for Milan 

At the Wanderlust 2022-The Cbre Hotels Event investors were showing particular interest in the Roman market, aiming to reposition existing properties and convert office properties in the city's historic centre, particularly in the luxury and extra-luxury segment. In Milan the upper upscale segment saw core investors purchasing income hotels or rebranding existing properties. From 2019 to the end of the first half of 2022, the incidence value-added operations in Rome hit 62%, while in Milan it stood at 47%.

Average rates up by double-digits

In terms of performance the average daily rate in Rome and Milan increased by 21% and 14%, respectively, and were the best results among European capitals, with Rome’s second only to Paris in terms of the rate of growth. However hotel occupancy rates are still lower than in 2019, at -14% in Rome and dek -22% in Milan, but in line with the European market. As a result, the average revenue per available room in Rome has already surpassed the levels reached in 2019 (+ 4%) while it remains slightly negative in Milan (-11%).

In addition to the big cities, the resort segment is also doing well

“Since the Covid recovery and for the foreseeable future the resort segment and the cities of Rome and Milan have driven, and will continue to drive, the Italian hotel investment market, absorbing approximately 70% of the invested capital to date,” said Francesco Calia, Cbre's head of hotels. 

Rumors had it that the launch of the property was set for the fourth quarter of this year, but the official communication now places the debut of the new Six Senses Rome at the beginning of 2023. (Reservations are already open, Ed.).

The Eternal City’s urban resort will be the brand's first property in Italy, a green oasis on the central Via del Corso created by the conversion of the 15-century Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini.

The cocciopesto technique

The hotel will have 96 rooms and suites decorated with the cocciopesto technique, a special plaster that was used in ancient Rome, local travertine, and graphic elements with nature themes. The well-ventilated areas, sunny terraces, high ceilings, and large windows will put the emphasis on well-being and conviviality.

The façade has been restored to its former glory

As a result of the restoration the original facade of the building and the monumental staircase have been restored to their former glory. The front of the nearby church of San Marcello al Corso, one of the best examples of Italian Baroque, was also recently restored and is the Six Senses Rome's first sustainability project, with the goal of redeveloping the area. The hotel’s interiors are contemporary in style, with sustainable architectural and design elements, ornamental plants, natural light and airy spaces and the concept is yet another example of Patricia Urquiola's vision.

A café and a rooftop bar

The ground floor will have the Bivium Restaurant-Café-Bar with a show kitchen, Josper grill, and wood oven. The menu, curated by executive chef Nadia Frisina, will feature traditional regional fare and strictly seasonal ingredients. The Notos Rooftop, located on the top floor, will have a menu of tastings and drinks and stunning 360-degree views of the city. 

Recreating the ancient Roman baths

In a 60-minute journey, the indoor spa will recreate the ancient Roman baths, complete with a calidarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium. It will also have a Hammam, biohacking and meditation areas, sauna, outdoor yoga terrace, fitness centre, and five treatment rooms, including one for couples. The Alchemy Bar will provide an opportunity to learn about the therapeutic properties of herbs and plants.The Six Senses Rome is also preparing exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences for its visitors to discover such magical places as Palazzo Colonna, Galleria Borghese and Doria Pamphilj. Painting masterclasses will also be available. 

“We will bring a new concept of luxury to the city”

“I am honored for this opportunity, and proud that Six Senses will make its Italian debut in my city,” says general manager Francesca Tozzi. “Our mission is to bring a new concept of luxury to the city as well as out-of-the-ordinary experiences, while respecting and enhancing the local community through a fun and unconventional approach.”

The Th Group’s turnover is up, and certain to break through the symbolic threshold of €100 million by the end of 2022, thanks to the excellent performance of the Th hotel brand and the successful debut of the generalist Baobab. 

“We should close 2022 with a growth of 109% over 2021”

"We should close at around €133 million, - says the company's CEO, Giuliano Gaiba, - which means a growth of 109% over 2021 and 46% over  pre-Covid 2019, for another €42 million. These are comforting results, and even more so when one considers the context in which we found ourselves, first with the pandemic and then the war and rising inflation.”

Start-up Baobab to close at €20 million

The Th Resorts brand is expected to record a total turnover of 110 million (+17% on the previous year), while the Baobab start-up is estimated to be around €20 million, which is an unhoped-for result for us.” Tailor-made operator Markando is currently undergoing reorganisation and will be relaunched this autumn, “with an innovative project, and experienced, dedicated resources.”

Looking at opportunities in Spain and Egypt

In the near future Th Resorts will see four mountain resorts renew their contracts, and the launch of two new destinations. “One will be Marilleva where we already have one of our historic hotels, and where we will expand together with major financial partners, and one in the Cortina area with the opening of a new hotel in Borca di Cadore." With regards to beach resorts the news will be from Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, "though management opportunities in Spain and Egypt are also being studied. If they go through, this would be Th's debut abroad.”   

The season started later than usual, but then interest quickly picked up and "in June the number of admissions was back in line with 2019. Demand from groups also restarted, so much so that the summer season closed 15% higher than our target,” said Gardaland’s sales manager Stefano Iannicelli. 

“We count for about 25% on foreign tourists”

The organised tourism channel made a significant contribution to the park’s good performance, with numbers very close to pre-Covid levels. "We count for about 25% on foreign tourists, - says Iannicelli.  - It is a segment on which we are focusing for the future, working with international tour operators, travel agencies and DMCs to further boost the share of arrivals from abroad.”

November weekend openings and Xmas festivities

At the park October is traditionally the month of Magic Halloween, followed by the first edition of the Wowkend, a series of special openings on November weekends that will lead guests up to the Gardaland Magic Winter weeks, with events and experiences dedicated to Christmas and the New Year festivities. And, of course, there will be no lack of novelties next year, with a series of interesting new entries "but I cannot reveal the details yet," says Iannicelli.

A new chapter starts for the historic Venice Simplon-Orient Express train with the launch of routes in December to Florence, Paris, Venice and Vienna during the holiday season. 

From Venice to Paris stopping at Florence

This is a unique opportunity to discover the Christmas markets and winter traditions of each city, with the train taking the classical route from Venice to Paris on 2 and 12 December and returning on 20 December. It will stop in Florence on 7 December (Venice-Paris) and 8 December (Paris-Venice) and will leave Paris for Vienna on 17 December, returning to Paris on 18 December.

Eight new suites to be added in 2023

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has 17 original carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, each with its own charm and history. The train has historic cabins and six grand suites, the quintessence of elegance and extravagance, with names that pay homage to the cities that inspired their décor, including Paris, Vienna and Venice. From June 2023 eight new suites will be added. These will feature, among other things, marble bathrooms and a lounge space that converts into double or single beds at night.

Important news at QC Terme, which has acquired the management of the World Palazzo Arzaga Spa & Golf Resort. Located in Calvagese della Riviera, not far from Lake Garda, the property is a 5-star hotel with 84 rooms, previously operated by the Blu Hotels group. It is scheduled to reopen at the beginning of 2023 with the name QC Termegarda, after a renovation that will involve both the hotel and the spa.

A rental cost of €750K per year

The 2021 financial statements of the QC Terme Group report that the rental cost of the business unit relating to the hotel complex will be €750 thousand per year and will cover, in addition to the part dedicated to hospitality, the spa and catering. 

Three hotels in Italy, one in France and one in NY

Golfing activities will remain in the hands of the property. The new opening will be added to the two 5-star hotels in Italy already managed by the company (QC Termeroma and QC Terme Bagni Nuovi). In total, the group manages six hotels in Italy for a total of 280 rooms, as well as properties in Chamonix in France and in New York.