There is Less Ciga as the Cristallo in Cortina becomes a Mandarin hotel, and the Marriott Group brand, initially created to enhance the properties of the famous Italian luxury hospitality company, continues to lose valuable pieces from its original portfolio.
After the Danieli, which will go to Four Seasons in 2025, the Cristallo in Cortina is the latest hotel to change hands, while the decision on the fate of the three jewels of the Costa Smeralda: Pitrizza, Romazzino and Cala di Volpe is expected at the end of next winter.
Reopening in time for the Winter Olympics
The Mandarin group has just announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Attestor Capital for the rebranding and management of the Cristallo. The London-based investment management company acquired the Dolomite property exactly one year ago. Closing the second quarter of 2023, the hotel will undergo a substantial renovation and will reopen as a Mandarin Oriental resort in the summer of 2025, ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Suites with Dolomite views
The Mandarin Oriental Cristallo will be the group's first alpine resort and will further expand the company's presence in Italy. Upon reopening, the property will have 83 guest rooms, many with balconies, including 30 suites with views of the Dolomites. It will also have restaurants and bars, flexible areas for entertainment and events, as well as a large spa and wellness facility, with a swimming pool connecting the indoor and outdoor areas. The hotel will also offer guests a wide range of activities including a fully-equipped Kid's Club.
A golden age hosting royalty and celebrities
The Cristallo was built in 1901 in Art Nouveau style by the Menardi family and in the 1930s it was a popular ski destination for Europe’s elite. After the 1956 Olympic Games the hotel entered its golden age as an upscale ski destination, hosting royalty and celebrities including Peter Sellers, Frank Sinatra, Saul Bellow and Vladimir Nabokov. The Cristallo has also been the setting for numerous award-winning films, thanks to its historic, early 20th-century grand hotel charm.
