Th Resorts is focusing on luxury with the historic barracks in Peschiera del Garda

The Th Resorts Group is stepping up its luxury operations. Yesterday, a contract was signed for the management of the former XXX Maggio Barracks in Peschiera del Garda: the former military prison is set to become a 5-star superior hotel, whilst Graziano Debellini, the Group’s founder and chairman, is currently considering other projects. “I want to add another three luxury hotels to our portfolio over the next 18 months,” says Debellini. “We are looking at cities of art and lakes in central and northern Italia, and we are developing a new brand to position ourselves in the premium segment.” If this roadmap is followed, by spring 2028 the Group will be managing five luxury hotels with around 380 rooms.

The XXX Maggio Barracks form part of the monumental complex of the Venetian Defence Works, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, and are owned by Bruno Soave, an entrepreneur who is investing over 100 million euros in the renovation works. “We have finalised this partnership with Th Group to transform a former military site into an icon of luxury hospitality, which will also be open to the public,” emphasises Soave, who has enlisted the help of Quimmo Prestige Agency as an adviser on the property deal.

The contract has a total duration of 18 years, whilst the refurbishment work is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027. The hotel section will have 110 rooms, each over 40 square metres in size, including a dozen 80-square-metre suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, each featuring a sauna and a private hot tub on the terrace. Other facilities on offer include a restaurant, four swimming pools, a spa and a private jetty. “We feel ready to take a leap forward in terms of luxury,” adds Debellini, “and a key asset will be the expertise of the staff, who will ensure guests enjoy the comfort and experience of staying in a historic residence.” Sales have already begun for around forty aparthotels created within the Rocca complex, which forms part of the estate. Here, on the ground floor – which will become the property of the local council – a museum dedicated to UNESCO heritage will be established.

Other luxury hotels to be managed by the Group include the historic Palazzo Selvadego in St Mark’s Square in Venice, which is also currently being refurbished to become a boutique hotel with 30 suites, whilst negotiations are under way for a 100-room hotel and two further hotels, each with around 50 rooms.

Th Resorts’ business plan – in which Cdp Equity and Debellini’s Solfin holding company each hold a 46 per cent stake, with the remaining share held by the South Tyrolean Development Institute – also includes a move into open-air hospitality. “It is another sector in which we have plans to develop areas with mobile homes within the grounds of our seaside and mountain resorts, but we could also undertake greenfield projects,” the chairman reveals. “We would also like to expand with further resorts along the Adriatic coast and intend to continue investing in Sicily and Sardinia, both in hotels and holiday villages to be managed.”