The 5-star Montana Lodge & Spa in La Thuile and the 5-star Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc have opened: a double new entry for the R Collection Hotels group. 

Two Italian restaurants and the Erre Spa

Acquired under management, the Montana has 55 rooms and contemporary design with innovative materials and traditional Valdostan touches. There are also two Italian restaurants: the Alpine Bistrot and the Ottavio Lounge. In addition there is a wine cellar with 300 labels and the Erre Spa with an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor whirlpool, sauna, turnaround bath, vitarium, private spa area and gym. 

Montana Lodge & Spa

Four properties on Lake Como and three in Milan

The Grand Hotel Courmayeur has 72 rooms and two restaurants: the La Fourchette and the Equinox lounge bar on the terrace overlooking Mont Blanc as well as the Erre Spa, a 500-sqm wellness area. With these two new entries, the R Collection brand now has ten properties. Four are on Lake Como (three already operational and one in the pipeline with an opening scheduled for 2025), one on the Portofino Coast on the Ligurian Riviera, and three in Milan.

Baia Holiday is proposing a series of city breaks in Rome, Venice and the Gulf of Trieste. 

Winter camping holidays in close to the Eternal City

Camping holidays, even in winter, are a solution in close contact with nature and the excellent services and comforts of Baia Holiday facilities make them perfect for a weekend or a multi-day holiday just a stone's throw from art cities like Rome, Venice and Trieste. Camping Village Roma Capitol in Ostia Antica is the ideal choice for those who want to explore the uniqueness of Rome. Located in the protected reserve of the Castel Fusano Pine Forest it is also perfect for exploring historical-archaeological heritage sites like the excavations of Ostia Antica and the Imperial Ports of Claudius and Trajan. With the added value that these are very close to the sea, and it is easy to reach the capital by metro.

The Venetian lagoon and gourmet local fish cuisine

The Camping Village Cavallino, between the coast of Jesolo and the famous Punta Sabbioni, with its refined mobile homes and bungalows equipped with every comfort, is the perfect solution for immersing oneself in the charm of the Venetian lagoon. It also has the Spa Panta Rei, which offers a rich programme of treatments and the elegant Green Park Hotel famous for its Restaurant Sabbioni with gourmet local fish dishes.

A delightful camping village in the Gulf of Trieste 

The Gulf of Trieste is enchanting in every season ,and in winter its atmosphere is literally magical. In one of its most spectacular points, nestled between the white cliffs of Duino and the emerald reflections of the Adriatic Sea, we find the Camping Village Mare Pineta, together with the Residence Mare Azzurro and the Residence Baia Rilke. With beach views and in a beautiful natural setting, they offer comfortable apartments of different sizes. Unique pluses are the proximity to the Miramare Castle and all the wonders of Trieste which is just a few minutes away. 

Officially announced last June, Italy's first Jo&Joe hostel opened its doors a few days ago in downtown Rome. 

Near the Trevi Fountain the hostel has 49 rooms and 210 beds

Following the opening of three hostels in France, two of which are in Paris, and those in Vienna, Rio and Medellin, the Roman hostel is in the heart of the Eternal City, close to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Accor brand hostel is in a former 16th century monastery and has 49 rooms for a total of 210 beds, including 15 private rooms for two with ensuite bathrooms. There are also dormitory-type rooms for four to eight people, and Out of Ordinary rooms with private terraces for two to four guests.

JoJoe Roma Chill Out Room

Antique elements blend with street art

The inner courtyard is the ideal setting for enjoying a drink in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. The common areas, organized around the central courtyard and spread over several levels, include a cocktail bar, a restaurant and pizzeria, a meeting room, a lounge and a rooftop. The layout of the rooms blends antique elements such as wooden coffered or frescoed ceilings, with linear and contemporary pieces, with touches of colour and street-art by local and international artists playing a prominent role. The large windows let in lots of daylight, encouraging the  interchangeability of the inside and outside areas. 

Jo&Joe room

The Monrif Group opens the Hotel Brun which is the group's third property in Bologna.

The new Hotel Brun has 22 rooms

From the renovation of a historic building, the Brun Hotel is the third Bologna property of the Monrif Group. The name of the new hotel is a tribute to the Grand Hotel Brun, which was considered the most prestigious hotel in the city until its closure after World War II. The  Hotel Brun has four levels with the lobby and the breakfast and bar area on the ground floor, while the upper floors house the rooms: six deluxe single rooms, nine deluxe double rooms, three junior suites with a living room and double bathroom, and four attic junior suites on the top floor. 

ph. credits: Giacomo Maestri

“Occupancy was up 18.5% last year”

"The Brun project confirms our development objectives. We are committed to the implementation of facilities that are perfectly integrated into the context in which they are located and that are also a benchmark,- says Nicola Foschini, development and operations director Emiliana Grandi Alberghi (Ega), the Monrif  hospitality subsidiary. - Our management model creates value for all stakeholders and our approach has allowed us to confirm our growth targets, with an increase in occupancy in the last year of 18.5%. The main indicators confirm our positive trend for 2023 with average rates up 23% and ebitda up 24.4% compared to last year. On the corporate social responsibility front we have activated a collaboration with the AGPD association for the inclusion of differently-abled personnel with permanent contracts.” 

ph. credits: Giacomo Maestri

OLM Nature Escape, the first sustainable eco-aparthotel in South Tyrol has opened today.  

A gem of architecture and hospitality with a green heart

The picturesque setting of OLM Nature Escape is a vast expanse of meadows that become a snowy expanse in winter, dotted with woods and majestic peaks.  This opening marks the inauguration of the first sustainable eco-aparthotel in Alto Adige, a gem of architecture and hospitality with a green heart located in Caminata di Tures, in the Valle Aurina valley.

The indoor-outdoor pool is heated in winter

In the South Tyrolean dialect Olm means both alpine hut and continuity, and the aparthotel has 33 ApartSuites (for two to six people), 25 of which also have a private Finnish sauna. Equipped with a small kitchenette, the suites also have terraces with relaxation areas. The property features a large spa and wellness area complete with a gym, a yoga room, a relaxation area, two massage cabins, a steam sauna, a Finnish sauna, and a swimming pool extending from the inside to the outside, which is heated in winter.

Tapas buffets and themed menus

The stay includes breakfasts that combine local traditions with the use of its own products or those sourced from local suppliers. Additionally, guests can enjoy an intercultural APÉRO dinner with a tapas buffet on selected days (by reservation). On other days the OLM dinner is an opportunity to savour a continually changing themed menu crafted by Chef Berni Aichner.

OLM ApartSuite

OLM is a member of Ecoluxury Retreats of the World

Dine-around options feature proposals from local insiders and dinners curated by external chefs. Each apartment is equipped with its own kitchenette, providing guests with maximum independence, and there is a shop selling local products. OLM, now part of the prestigious Ecoluxury Retreats of the World, is completely energy self-sufficient. Green travel is facilitated with electric vehicles, e-bikes, and five charging stations for electric cars. There are also 40 covered parking spaces.

A new 5-star hotel, the Collina Luxury Relais, is set to open at Christmas in the Bergamo area. 

24 beds, a gourmet restaurant and outdoor and indoor pools

Situated in Clusone in the Val Seriana, just 45 minutes from Bergamo, and surrounded by a vast park of 26,000 sqm, the resort will consist of five wooden chalets with Jacuzzis of which three will be junior suites and six suites, along with a 120sqm penthouse, for a total of 24 beds. The resort will feature a range of amenities, including a gourmet restaurant called Beides, a bar, an open cellar, both outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a fitness room, a meeting space, a wellness centre with its own product line, covered parking, and a helicopter landing area.

This is the Bergamo area’s second 5-star, with a third on the way

The property is owned by local entrepreneur Luciano Verzeroli who owns Vemec di Ardesio, a company specialized in the design, development, and production of components for industrial machinery. The operational and commercial director of the resort will be Alessandro Urru. This luxury resort is the second 5-star in the province of Bergamo, after La Dimora Hotel in Brusaporto. Another 5-star property, Villa Sasetta, with 60 rooms and a gourmet restaurant, is currently in the pipeline for Bergamo, while the arrival of the Collina Luxury Resort reflects the growing appeal of upscale accommodation in the area.

Courmayeur will open the winter season with two Italian musical heavyweights: Ghemon and Alfa.

The winter season will start on 8 December 

Courmayeur once again becomes a stage for Welcome Winter 2024, the official kickoff of the winter. For this new season of downhill skiing and sun and snow experiences, the big winter kickoff party will feature two Italian music heavyweights, Ghemon and Alfa. The inauguration will be at 6 p.m in the Jardin de l'Ange on Friday 8 December, the long Immaculate Conception weekend, followed at 6.30 p.m. by Push the Button, the lighting of the Christmas tree with the participation of Courmayeur’s  professional athletes and ambassadors.

Two popular and talented musical stars 

The protagonists of the event are two of the most talented and appreciated Italian artists. Ghemon, aka Giovanni Luca Picariello, from Avellino, who started out in the world of hip hop and now interprets soul and rap as well as songwriting. And Alfa, aka Andrea De Filippi, born in Genoa in 2000, who swings between pop, rap and indie, tracing an original path that is rooted in his songwriting which is much appreciated by Generation Z.

The Palazzi dei Rolli are some of Genoa’s most splendid UNESCO World Heritage treasures. 

Staying as a guest in a noble palace

The City of Genoa, in cooperation with a group of tour operators, has created the Rolli Experience, an experiential itinerary that provides exclusive access to splendid noble residences and magnificent palaces that in the second half of the 16th century were part of a very particular form of public hospitality. For those who want to live the dream of staying as a guest of the ancient Republic of Geno, the city now offers a programme with many exclusive art, history and flavoursome experiences in these historic residences.

Enjoy a Renaissance gala dinner in the Palazzi dei Rolli

Guests will spend the night in the enchanted rooms of the Palazzi dei Rolli; a guided itinerary led by professional tour guides to discover the history and art treasures of these magnificent palaces. The itinerary will also consist of several convivial moments, including Renaissance gala dinners (including the New Year's Eve dinner with entertainment) and aperitifs, in the company of the best of the Liguria Gourmet circuit and the Historical Workshops. The Rolli Experience will be available on 8-10 December 2023, 15-17 December 2023, 30 December 2023-1 January 2024 and  5-7 January 2024.

Having opened its doors at the end of July, the Furore Grand Hotel on the Amalfi Coast gets its first Michelin star.

Chef Vincenzo Russo’s first Michelin star

The five-star Furore Grand Hotel on the Amalfi Coast, owned by the Irollo de Lutiis brothers, has earned its first Michelin star, thanks to its young and talented chef Vincenzo Russo.  

chef Vincenzo Russo

“The first step on an ambitious and challenging path”

"The awarding of the Michelin star is certainly an added value,- commented Pietro Irollo de Lutiis,- and the first step on an ambitious and challenging path towards the positioning we wish to give the Furore Grand Hotel. This important recognition confirms that our strategic decision to invest in a young and talented chef like Vincenzo Russo, under the supervision of Enrico Bartolini, has proved successful.”

Bluh Furore

The average age in the kitchen is 30 or less

The new star is a challenge for resident chef Vincenzo Russo, his kitchen brigade and the dining room staff, skilfully coordinated by Raffaele Rispoli.

"The Furore Grand Hotel’s dining room and kitchen brigades are on average 30 or less and this fills us with pride. We are looking at this project in the medium and long term, we want to offer a model of high-level hospitality and a welcome that rises beyond the usual levels of the Amalfi Coast.”