Reopening hotels, shopping and dining: the new face of Cortina
Some facilities have changed their star ranking after improvements: towards a lasting legacy for the Conca hospitality sector
by Barbara Ganz
Also thanks to the driving effect of the Games, Cortina has attracted the interest of Italian and international operators and investment groups, whose entry has led to a significant evolution of the local hotel fabric, decisively influencing the ownership structure of the Conca's accommodation offer, particularly in the high luxury and medium-high segments.
New openings and star ranking
In February, the long-awaited reopening, after more than 20 years, of the Grand Hotel Ampezzo, acquired by DHOM Collection, an emerging Alpine luxury hospitality group which, as part of its strategy of expansion in the high-end mountain branch, also includes the Grand Hotel Savoia, the Residence Savoia Palace and the Lajadira Boutique Hotel & Spa. More extended, between the second half of 2026, 2027 and 2028, are the timeframes for other hotels currently undergoing renovation, such as the Hotel Italia, belonging to the LVG Real Estate Seconda Srl group, the Hotel Cristallo, from 2021 owned by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, The First Hotel Cortina (formerly the Splendid Hotel Venezia) now belonging to The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts, and then again the San Marco, the Bellevue and the Concordia. Some hotels, after the improvements, have changed their star ranking: this is the case of the Camina, which went from 4* to 4*S, the Villa Oretta and the Villa Alpina, from 3* to 3*S, and Casa Guargné, which started out as a 3* and is now classified as 4*.
"This is further proof of how the sporting event that we are about to experience has been a fundamental lever for the territory with a view to building a lasting legacy for the hospitality sector in the Conca," says Sandra Ruatti, president of the Cortina Hoteliers' Association. "Taking into account only the operating facilities, the Queen of the Dolomites today boasts more than 50 hotels, with a total availability of more than 4,000 beds, which is destined to increase in the near future.
Olympics effect
It is also thanks to the driving effect of the Games that Cortina has attracted the interest of important Italian and international operators and investment groups, "whose entry has led to a significant evolution of the local hotel fabric, decisively influencing the ownership structure of the Conca's accommodation offer, particularly in the high luxury and medium-high segments," he adds.
Some historic structures have already completed their renovation. The Hotel Ancora (5*), for example, now owned by Renzo Rosso, returned to operation with the last summer season, entrusted to the Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana group; the Hotel Tofana (formerly Sport Hotel Tofana - 5*), itself reopened in 2025 and located in Pocol, has entered the orbit of the Schanung family, while the Eight Hotel (formerly Hotel Europa/Vip Club - 5*), which opened at the end of 2024, has gone through a transition phase lasting several years: from the historical management of the Cardazzi family, to that of Mauro Benetton, until the current set-up under the aegis of Solido Hotels, a reality led by the D'Avanzo family.
