Marriott has announced that it has signed an agreement with Grimit S.r.l. to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Italy. The property is scheduled to open in 2026.
The Ritz Carlton, Bellagio, the brand’s first property in Italy, will be situated just outside the charming village of Bellagio, which sits on a promontory of land between the two arms of Lake Como. The Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio will be strategically located within a fifteen-minute walk of the main tourist attractions in Bellagio such as Punta Spartivento, Villa Melzi and the gardens of Parco Villa Serbelloni.
The historic Belle Époque Hotel Grande Bretagne will be converted into a Ritz Carlton. The hotel will feature 59 guest rooms and 46 suites including two Ritz-Carlton suites, featuring beautiful views of the lake and luxurious furnishings. Comprehensive resort facilities are anticipated to include a destination spa complete with an indoor pool, casual and fine dining restaurants, and state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities. Extensive parkland and gardens will reflect the typical landscaping of the country’s Lombardy region and are expected to feature a meditation garden, historical walking trail, large outdoor swimming pool, and private boat dock to allow guests effortless access to other renowned destinations on the lake.
We are thrilled to announce this landmark signing with Grimit S.r.l. and to be part of such an important restoration of one of Italy’s most acclaimed destinations for luxury travellers. Lake Como is the jewel in the crown of the Italian Lake district and we can think of no better destination to debut The Ritz-Carlton brand in Italy. This incredible development showcases our commitment to thoughtfully growing our iconic brand in destinations where we know our guests want to travel most.
said Donna McNamara, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Ritz-Carlton.
Hotel Grande Bretagne was one of the destination’s very first and most distinguished luxury hotels when it opened in 1850. The property fell into disuse at the end of the last century and has since been acquired by the Galbusera family with a clear vision and passion to restore the prestigious reputation of the former grand hotel through an extensive restoration and expansion project.
As a family, we are deeply rooted in the stunning area of Lake Como and are incredibly proud to be bringing The Ritz-Carlton brand to Bellagio. Our entrepreneurial spirit has made our family European leaders in the metal coil-coating sector with our business Lampre and we will take great pride in bringing that same dedication and passion to this remarkable project.
said Emanuele Galbusera, President of Grimit S.r.l.
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Spread over a 16,500 square metre estate, Marriott says that the regeneration scheme will be the “most notable hospitality development project in the Lake Como area in recent years” and will involve a complete conservative restoration and reimagining of the property with the utmost respect for the historical significance of the building.
Lake Como is an internationally recognised resort destination famed for its dramatic backdrops and charming towns and magnificent villas, which have acted as the setting for several blockbuster films including Casino Royale and Oceans Twelve. The destination is easily accessible from Milan’s Malpensa International Airport in just ninety minutes by car.
This is the second signing by Marriott in the recent past in the Bellagio area. Recently, Marriott announced that it will open an EDITION property in the Lake Como area. The Ritz Carlton, Lake Como, like the Lake Como EDITION, will be one the very few luxury properties in Lake Como that will be bookable with points. Currently, a Hilton, a Sheraton and few of Hyatt’s Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties are bookable with points in Lake Como.
Lake Como is a high-end luxury destination and there are various luxury properties in the area. Some notable Lake Como luxury hotels include the Mandarin Oriental, Il Soreno and Villa d’Este. However, these all are not bookable with points. So the arrival of a Ritz Carlton property in Lake Como will be highly welcomed by luxury travellers wanting to visit Lake Como with the help of hotel points.
The Ritz Carlton, Lake Como seems a nice addition to the Marriott portfolio, given that Marriott has got hands on such a good project. It will remain to be seen how Marriott will do the restoration of the hotel. However, one thing is for sure. The arrival of Ritz Carlton brand in Lake Como will be highly welcomed by luxury hotel enthusiasts.
Featured image by Marriott
What do you think of Marriott opening a Ritz Carlton in Lake Como? Let me know in the comments section below.
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