IHG Hotels & Resorts has today announced the signing of its first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants property in Italy. The Kimpton Hotel in Taormina, Sicily will open in the second half of 2025.
The Kimpton signing in Sicily follows six luxury and lifestyle openings and signings by IHG in 2023, demonstrating IHG’s investment and focus on this key market. This included the first urban expression of Six Senses opened in Rome, together with InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and Hotel Indigo Florence. Two further Hotel Indigo properties are due to open in Turin and Trieste over the coming years, as well as IHG’s first Vignette Collection property, Hotel Alexandra, in Rome in 2025.
The new hotel in Taormina will harness its heritage whilst embracing Kimpton’s ethos for superlative style, addictive irreverence and design-led ridiculously personal experiences. The 59-boutique bedroom hotel in Taormina is expected to feature destination dining that will appeal to hotel guests and locals alike. The breakfast room and bar terrace will also offer panoramic views, spanning from Calabria to the Bay of Isolabella.
Kimpton definition of wellness extends beyond the obvious to permeate the guest experience, from the community-building effects of Evening Social Hour to the healthy options available in the minibar. Continuing this ethos, the Kimpton in Sicily will feature an outdoor Mediterranean garden, 20-metre swimming pool, and a tennis court.
(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Italy has long been known for its reputation of luxury travel, breath taking coastal locations, and vibrant communities – and our growth strategy in the country has been designed to complement this. Following a surge of activity in 2023, which saw us more than double our luxury and lifestyle offerings in this market, we’re now excited to be partnering with Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese to further expand our presence in Italy with this boutique lifestyle property on the picturesque island of Sicily.
This expansion underscores the demand, and trust, from our owners to embed IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio in one of Europe’s most coveted leisure destinations. We look forward to delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and helping them create unforgettable memories once we open our doors in the second half of 2025.”
Raffaele Ranucci, Owner, Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring the first Kimpton branded hotel to Italy, in Sicily. This new and exciting chapter means we will welcome visitors to this one-of-a-kind destination once we open our doors in 2025, and provide guests with the unparalleled service, amenities, and experiences the Kimpton brand is known for.”
Each Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant is designed to open the door to heartfelt human connections through unexpected, ridiculously personal touches that create a meaningful and unscripted guest experience. Merging a culture of heartfelt hospitality and unique, design-forward hotels for all, every Kimpton property is designed from scratch to create genuine experiences where locals and visitors seamlessly mingle. The Kimpton in Sicily is to be no exception and will introduce the brand ethos to Italy.
The Kimpton in Sicily will be IHG Hotels & Resorts’ 30th hotel in Italy and joins a portfolio of eight Kimpton hotels across the UK and continental Europe, part of Kimpton’s global portfolio of 78 hotels across 12 countries, representing 13,721-bedrooms. In the coming years a further 54 hotels will join the Kimpton brand, seeing it surpass it’s 100 hotels milestone and reach 20 countries by 2025.
