The former historical Italian Communist Party headquarters on Rome’s central Via delle Botteghe Oscure has been destined to become a hotel for some time, and now it looks like being a Hyatt Thompson. 

The new 70-room hotel will be leased

Owner Giampaolo Angelucci announced in June last year that he had reached a lease agreement for the asset with the joint venture between the Rossfin Group and the Ag Group hotel company. At the time, however, it was not yet known to which brand the Ag Group itself, acting as a white label company, would eventually affiliate the new 70-room five-star hotel. 

The Italian debut of Hyatt’s Thompson brand

Emblazoned on the façade of the building that houses, among other things, the flag of the Paris Commune will be the Hyatt Thompson Hotels house brand, marking its debut in Italy. The hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2024 and will be the brand's second in Europe after the Madrid property that opened in 2022. 

The next Thompson is scheduled for Vienna

Luxury lifestyle brand Thompson joined the Hyatt portfolio in 2019, following the acquisition of the Two Road Hospitality group, which also includes the Alila, Destination, Joie de Vivre and Tommie brands. A further Thomson property is in the pipeline in Vienna, with an opening scheduled for 2025.

The second Sicilian hotel for B&B Hotels, partner of Bulgarella Group, is the Hotel Trapani Crystal in the heart of the city centre. 

B&B Hotels has 62 properties in Italy

B&B Hotels, an international chain with almost 700 hotels in Europe and around the world, has opened B&B HOTELS - Hotel Trapani Crystal, bringing the number of hotels in Italy to 62.  Located in the centre of Trapani and a short walk from the port, the B&B Hotels - Hotel Trapani Crystal combines high-level hospitality and comfort with a strategic position and was taken over by the Group to appeal to both business and leisure clients. 

Meeting and co-working spaces

The 70 spacious, elegant and modern superior, deluxe and executive rooms and suites have been restyled, taking inspiration from Sicilian art and culture which also feature in the blow-ups in the reception and public areas.  The B & B HOTELS - Hotel Trapani Crystal also has elegant meeting rooms, co-working spaces and a conference centre with three meeting rooms of different sizes, able to accommodate up to 150 people. 

“This is our second property in Sicily and third opening in 2023”

"We are proud to be able to announce our second property in Sicily and third opening in 2023," says B&B Hotels Italia’s president and CEO Liliana Comitini."The Hotel Crystal represents an important asset for our Group,- says the Bulgarella Group’s general manager Ray Lo Faso.  -We are happy to have reached an agreement with B&B Hotels and delighted to be working together with this solid international group which focuses on sustainability and quality of service." 

Not just for business and leisure, but also suitable for families, Hilton Milan showcases a range of services tailored to meet the needs of the entire family. 

A kids’ welcome gift and a welcome mocktail

The Hilton Milan is a family-friendly property that provides numerous child-friendly amenities, demonstrating its commitment to guests of all ages. For younger guests there is a delightful surprise right from the start as upon arrival, as they are provided with a step stool to make them feel important and involved right from the beginning of their stay.  And, once all family members have checked in, the children are given a welcome kit, which includes a colouring backpack and a jar of sunflower seeds to take home and plant. Older children, aged ten and up, are also offered a welcome mocktail.  

Family-oriented facilities in the family connecting room

The Family Connecting Room, which is for four people, is spacious and inviting, and designed to ensure the utmost comfort and privacy for the entire family. Alongside a cot for babies, the hotel also provides delightful play tents.  And for parents seeking some relaxation and downtime, Hilton Milan offers a babysitting service in collaboration with certified childcare agencies.

Special menus and in-room dining 24/7

The CotoliAMO Restaurant's  fun and colourful menu for children features a selection of nutritious favourites, such as pasta with meat sauce, mini chicken burgers, and classic fish fingers with fries. Additionally, the menu includes some local cuisine options to introduce children to regional flavours. For families preferring to dine in their rooms, a child-friendly version of the In Room Dining service is available 24/7. Furthermore, during July and August, the hotel's Pacific Restaurant dedicates a Breakfast Corner for a delightful start to the day with a selection of pastries, flavoured waters, and a play area with toys to bring a smile to the faces of younger guests.

Florence is among the top choices for romantic walks and weddings in the capital of the Tuscany region.  

The city is popular for weddings and honeymoons 

The Tuscan capital attracts foreign visitors, many of whom plan weddings and honeymoons there. The Ponte Vecchio reveals its true beauty at dusk when the lights reflect on the water, creating an ideal setting for romantic walks and the exchanging and sealing vows of love. The bridge is also home to numerous goldsmith shops, carrying on the old tradition of Florentine craftsmanship.

Breath-taking panoramas and romantic walks

To discover the most enchanting views in Florence, which is Tuscany’s capital city, horse-drawn carriages, once used for public transportation, now take visitors to many of the city’s most stunning panoramic vistas. Piazzale Michelangelo and the nearby Church of San Miniato al Monte remain popular for romantic walks in Florence, while the Boboli Gardens are perfect for a hand-in-hand stroll, allowing couples to enjoy the breath-taking panoramas that unfold before their eyes.

The Brunelleschi is a luxury boutique hotel

Two other architectural marvels that offer breath-taking views are the terrace of the Museo degli Innocenti and the Biblioteca delle Oblate. The exhibition space of the latter has a café with a window that directly overlooks Brunelleschi's dome. The Brunelleschi Hotel, named after the renowned Renaissance architect and sculptor, is an exclusive luxury boutique hotel and ideal for couples. It captivates guests with the artistic treasures housed within its walls. Nestled in a welcoming square in Florence's historic centre, just a short walk from the cathedral, Palazzo della Signoria, and the Uffizi Gallery, the Brunelleschi Hotel is surrounded by the city’s most famous shopping streets and museums.

Michelin dining and personalized cocktails  

The Santa Elisabetta is the hotel's gourmet restaurant, and one of the most esteemed gastronomic destinations in Florence, holding a prestigious two-star rating from the Michelin Guide. Chef Rocco De Santis is the mastermind behind the hotel's cuisine. For a more casual dining experience, the Osteria Pagliazza on the ground floor offers a delectable menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. Adjacent to the Osteria is the Tower Bar, where guests can relax with original and personalized cocktails, which can also be enjoyed in the gourmet restaurant.

The Grand Hotel San Gemini is the new Umbrian new entry for Una Esperienze.

The hotel is in a handsome 18th-century stately home

Following the news of a new hotel in Cagliari, now comes another new entry with an affiliation contract, as the Grand Hotel San Gemini Una Esperienze is added to the company's upper-upscale collection. Overlooking the Piazza del Duomo, the property is housed within the walls of the Palazzo dei Principi di Santacroce, a handsome 18th-century stately home.

A spa, fitness centre and picture gallery

Renovated in 2021, the 4-star Grand Hotel San Gemini has 30 rooms, as well as a centuries-old park with a swimming pool. In addition, there is the Canova Fitness, with personalized training programmes, and the Canova Private Spa, with a Jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath. There is also a small picture gallery in the Count Ottelio Room with works by Umbrian and other artists from 1500 to the present day. The property is owned by the Tacconi-Ottelio Group, led by Antonio Tacconi.

“We make continuous investments in our franchising project”

"We are enthusiastic to welcome the Grand Hotel San Gemini Una Esperienze ,- says Fabrizio Gaggio, general manager Una Group. -This property reconfirms the value of our franchising project in which we strongly believe and which we support with continuous investments."

The UNA Group has expanded its franchising with the UNAHOTELS T Hotel Cagliari, a 4-star hotel with restaurants, bars, a large conference center and a spa. 

Fine 4-star accommodation

“We are delighted to welcome the UNAHOTELS T Hotel Cagliari, which proudly carrys the UNA Group brand. This expands our range of 4-star hotels,” says Fabrizio Gaggio, General Manager of Gruppo UNA. The hotel, consisting of 207 rooms and situated in the heart of Cagliari, is composed of four interconnected blocks, and includes an iconic 15-story tower.  “The addition of this new property brings the number of our affiliated hotels to 18. So, alongside directly managed properties, we now have 52 hotels, making us a leader in Italy,” says Giorgio Marchegiani, CEO of Gruppo UNA.

Ph credits: Bittichesu​

Ph credits:  PGDessì​

Conference facilities and a tower for parties

The TConference facility features four conference rooms and four meeting rooms with natural light and equipped with top-of-the-line technology. The TBar is for breakfasts and cocktails, the TBistrot an inviting setting for informal lunches and aperitifs with views of the TGarden, and in the TRestaurant the culinary choices celebrate the delicacies of Sardinian cuisine. From the Tower, which is a venue for private parties and small events, there are breathtaking 180° views of the city. Wellness is another standout feature of the hotel with the TSpa.

The Le Méridien Visconti Rome, in the enchanting Prati district just a few steps from St. Peter's Basilica, presents the Paparazzo Bar & Rooftop. 

The perfect choice for cocktail hour

Located on the 7th and top floor of Le Méridien Visconti Rome, and open all year round, the Paparazzo Bar & Rooftop pays homage to today's Dolce Vita. Nestled under the Roman sky, guests experience unique evenings sipping creative and original cocktails and savouring tasty small dishes. And thanks to the panoramic windows the terrace adapts to any kind of weather. 

Soft music and Executive Chef Giuseppe Gaglione's Mediterranean bites

Paparazzo pays homage to the golden Dolce Vita 1960s, a modern and relaxing cocktail bar, with one eye on the past and one on the present. Elegant but at the same time informal and the perfect choice for an aperitif accompanied by tasty gastronomic bites it is open every day from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The dishes are faithful to Italy’s gastronomic traditions, and the coloured lights, soft music and elegant design provide the backdrop for Executive Chef Giuseppe Gaglione's typical Mediterranean creations made with seasonal ingredients. 

A contemporary-style boutique hotel, the newly opened Nh Milano Buenos Aires has 100 elegant and modern rooms. The wow feature is the Mash-up Cocktail Bar, designed to be a focal point not only for hotel guests but also for locals. The hotel also features a terrace and a panoramic gym.

“Important for both business and leisure travel”

“We are thrilled to include NH Milano Corso Buenos Aires in our portfolio of Milanese properties, as this city holds strategic importance for both business and leisure travel,” explains Marco Gilardi, NH Operations Director for Italy and the USA. “It allows us to cater to a young, cosmopolitan clientele that is constantly seeking new experiences. In three words: pop, young, and dynamic.”

Socializing from cocktail time to after-dinner drinks

To highlight the hotel's focus on engaging with the community, the NH group commissioned a study on how Italians socialize over drinks, aperitifs, or cocktails after dinner. It revealed that over 75% go out for drinks at least once a month, with 45% doing so at least once a week. Sone 11.5% expressed a preference for hotel bars which they perceive as sophisticated and with a good selection of cocktails and wines, and high-quality service. A significant 47% identified the aperitif as the ideal occasion, while 26% indicated dinner time, and 27% preferred after-dinner drinks.

Masseria Soluco in Puglia is the latest new entry into the Talea Collection Group. 

Four suites and a saltwater swimming pool

Located in the Monopoli countryside, the farm has six rooms, including four suites, and a saltwater swimming pool. Masseria Soluco is an ancient building complex which, after a long period of abandonment, was the subject of a meticulous recovery and conservation restoration project.

“Our hotels stand out for their beauty”

“We are proud of this addition to our portfolio,- says Andrea Sabato, general manager of the  Talea Collection. – This new opening confirms our dedication to enhancing the Apulian region and our commitment to further expansion towards international markets. The farm caters for guests who want authenticity, beauty, and contact with nature, and it fits perfectly into our development plans. Our mission is to generats a lasting social and environmental impact for the local area and its inhabitants with hotels that stand out for their beauty and as centres of creativity and innovation.” 

Hotels, a beach club and a DMC 

The Talea Collection portfolio also includes Il Melograno with the Mùmmulo Restaurant, the boutique hotel La Peschiera with the SaleBlu Restaurant, the Tamerici Beach Club in Monopoli, the Cala Ponte Hotel in Polignano, the Talea Trulli & Dimore properties and the DMC Talea Collection.