Hospitality: 16 Italian hotels among the world’s top 100

The same trend can be seen in Milan, where Portrait Milano has entered the global rankings, whilst Hotel Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole reaffirms the influence of the great Italian icons of La Dolce Vita. Rounding off the Top 50 are Bulgari Roma and San Domenico Palace in Taormina. These are very different establishments, but they share the ability to offer something that goes beyond simply a place to stay: a story, a location, a culture, a way of experiencing Italia.

And this is precisely where the ‘50 Best’ ranking becomes interesting even for those keeping an eye on the property market.

This is because behind the success of Italian hotels lies a much broader economic transformation. According to Colliers, investment in the Italian hotel sector reached around 2.2 billion euros in 2025, representing a 16 per cent increase on the previous year. The sector accounted for 18 per cent of total investment in Italian commercial property. Rome accounted for around a fifth of hotel investment volumes, Milan for almost 16 per cent, whilst Como and Venice both accounted for close to 12 per cent. Even more significant is the performance of Capri, which attracted over €200 million through three transactions.

And it’s not just a matter of buying established hotels. The most interesting part of the market is the properties that can be converted.

Nine Italian establishments feature in the 51–100 bracket. San Pietro in Positano appears at number 58, followed by Splendido in Portofino and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Montalcino. Next comes one of Rome’s most eagerly awaited new openings, Orient Express La Minerva, whilst Forestis stands out from the Dolomites. Also featured in this part of the ranking are names such as Villa Treville in Positano – formerly the home of Franco Zeffirelli and now owned by a Canadian family – Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, Castello di Reschio in Umbria and Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Italy’s presence in the Top 100 thus becomes a sort of atlas of the new international luxury: the seaside, the mountains, the countryside, cities of art and iconic destinations all coexist within the same market.

And whilst Hong Kong and Bangkok occupy the top three spots on the global stage, from Como to Modena, from Milan to Taormina, and from the Amalfi Coast to the Dolomites, another chapter in the history of hospitality is being written.

A story that, this time, isn’t just about awards and rankings.

It concerns property, capital, brands, employment, regeneration and value.

Because whilst the World’s 50 Best Hotels highlight the places where the world wants to stay, the investment market is already highlighting the places where the world wants to put its capital.

And in this second picture, Italia is now one of Europe’s most interesting players.