Italy is always a good idea for travel. But what is it about the timeless peninsula, affectionately known as “lo stivale” in a tongue-in-cheek fashion for its boot-shape, that keeps us coming back?
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Perhaps it’s the unrivalled gastronomy (at least according to this travel journalist), or the cities and towns where centuries of history have been preserved into modern life? Or maybe it’s the people, such as the welcoming nonnas whose hospitality rivals that of the country itself?
Now, much to the dismay of my wallet, luxury brands are expanding their Italian footprint, bringing hundreds of new hotel rooms, as well as a permanent spa from one of fashion’s biggest designer labels.
Hyatt announces three new hotels
In June, Hyatt Hotels unveiled that it is expanding its Italian portfolio with three planned projects.
Across the three properties, there will be 428 new rooms and suites – adding to Hyatt’s current Italian portfolio of six hotels.
“Italy is an important growth market for Hyatt because it combines strong travel demand with a large base of independent hotels,” said Nuno Galvao Pinto, Vice President Development, EAME at Hyatt.
Slated to open its doors by the end of September this year, Hyatt Regency Rome Central will be located a stone’s throw away from the capital’s main Termini train station.
Marking a debut of the Hyatt Regency brand in Italy, the property will “serve the city’s strong business, meetings and events demand, with a central location offering direct access to transport and convention activity”.
The hotel is earmarked to feature 238 rooms and suites, as well as a rooftop pool and an Asian-inspired restaurant, Niroma.
Later in the year, Hyatt will introduce the Thompson lifestyle brand to Rome.
Self-styled as the “ultimate gateway to the pulsating heart of the Eternal City”, guests will be able to choose 69 rooms and three dining concepts, all housed in a repurposed heritage building near the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Thompson Rome will also be close to Piazza Venezia, a large historic monument which locals refer to jokingly as “wedding cake” or “typewriter” because of its unique architectural shape.
Scheduled to open in 2028, Park Hyatt Taormina will be located in Sicily, becoming Italy’s second Park Hyatt hotel.
Aligned with the hilltop town being synonymous with high-end travel, the hotel will have a focus on luxury, residential-style design across the planned 121 suites. Each key is slated to include a private terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.
Four new projects in the pipeline for IHG
Adding to its expansive portfolio of properties in Italy, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has announced four new hotels in its pipeline.
“Italy is one of Europe’s most dynamic hospitality markets, and we see significant opportunity to continue scaling across both key cities and high-quality leisure destinations,” said Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
January 2027 will see the launch of the dual branded Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites hotel concept in Milan’s NoLo district. During the day, the creative neighbourhood, also known as North Of Loreto, is abuzz with a wide variety of cuisines to choose from and vibrant street art.
The project will feature 67 Crowne Plaza rooms and 96 Staybridge Suites apartments, with the property being within close proximity to transport links, tourist attractions and 20 minutes away from Milan Linate Airport.
Also next year, IHG will introduce the Garner brand to northern Italy with Garner Hotel Turin Porta Nuova. Set to open its doors to the public in mid-2027, the 57-key stay will be set within a historic building just opposite Torino Porta Nuova railway station.
While scheduled to open in 2028, IHG’s Hotel Indigo Apulia Alberobello will be a 129-key stay with a spa, gym and convention centre in the Apulia region of southern Italy, known for its sunny climate, postcard-esque landscapes alongside preserved artefacts.
The hotel will be located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello, famed for its exceptional architecture, particularly its limestone structures.
Relaxation and beauty at Dior Spa Grand Hotel Timeo
If staying in one of Italy’s most luxurious hotels wasn’t indulgent enough, this designer label is now giving travellers another reason to stay in the country longer.
Bringing haute-couture-inspired wellness to Sicily, Dior has collaborated with Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel, in Taormina to offer a “sanctuary of timeless serenity” and Dior’s first permanent spa in the country.
Monsieur Christian Dior is said to have been inspired by the Mediterranean country as his eternal muse, offering him inspiration away from Paris.
Nestled amid lush landscapes, the Italian retreat will host the French fashion house’s spa where guests can book daily treatments including the Kobi-Dior facial treatment: an hour of high-performance sculpting that promises a plumper and lifted face, neck and upper back through dry brushing, sculptural massage, firming and hydrating mask and cryo acupressure.
Treatments at the spa start from €290.
Because no Dior experience would be complete without a beauty touch, guests can also book a bespoke beauty session with a makeup artist from the House of Dior, who will walk clients through how to achieve a natural look, fresh complexion or graphic eye makeup that reflects their personality.
