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Italy doesn’t do things by halves. From opera houses where sopranos belt to the heavens to piazzas that double as catwalks, the country revels in spectacle. So it should be no surprise that even its hotel industry has its own Oscars, the Best Luxury Hotel Awards 2025.

Now in only their second outing, these awards have become the gilded yardstick for Italian hospitality. Created by Teamwork Hospitality, with some help from Elle Decor and the European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA), the awards showcase the crown jewels of Italy’s glittering hotel landscape.

If you thought last year’s debut event was grand, brace yourself: this year sees a 25% surge in contenders, with 375 hotels tossing their names into the velvet hat. The jury has whittled this down to 30 finalists, proof, if any were needed, that competition in Italian hospitality is as fierce as the rivalry between Milan and Rome.

The winners will be unveiled on 29 October 2025 at Milan’s Hotel Principe di Savoia, itself a bastion of luxury and discretion. Expect tuxedos, diamonds, and more sparkling wine than a Lake Como summer soirée.

Ten Ways to Win Glory

The categories read like a bucket list for the well-heeled traveller:

  • Best Service

  • Best Bar

  • Best Design

  • Best Wellness & Spa

  • Best Restaurant

  • Best Wine Selection

  • Best General Manager

  • Best New Opening

  • Best Sustainability Program

  • Best Breakfast

And because Italians know that luxury isn’t just about thread counts and tasting menus, there’s even a special award for the Best Italian Luxury Destination, handed out in partnership with TTG Travel Experience. Think of it as the ultimate endorsement for towns and regions already blessed by postcard charm.

The Glittering Finalists

The list of finalists is a roll call of Italy’s finest addresses:

  • Best Service: Bellevue Syrene; Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa; Hotel Eden.

  • Best Bar: Hotel Il Pellicano; Grand Hotel Fasano; Mandarin Oriental, Milan.

  • Best Design: Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino; La Roqqa; Palazzo Talia.

  • Best Wellness & Spa: Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda; Castelfalfi; Palace Merano.

  • Best Restaurant: Savoy Hotel & SPA Paestum; MUSA Lago di Como; Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel.

  • Best Wine Selection: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco; Hotel La Perla; Villa d’Este.

  • Best General Manager: Danilo Guerrini, Borgo San Felice Resort Relais & Chateaux; Elisa Peroli, Villa la Massa; Giacomo Battafarano, Hotel de Russie.

  • Best New Opening: Vista Ostuni; Orient Express La Minerva; Aman Rosa Alpina.

  • Best Sustainability Program: Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel; Le Dune Piscinas; Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti.

  • Best Breakfast: Borgo Santandrea; Casa Angelina; Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte.

One suspects some hoteliers are already polishing their acceptance speeches.

The Award Itself: Art Meets Legacy

The statuette is no mere dust-gatherer. Designed by architect Giuliana Salmaso, the award resembles a stele, the stone monument once used to mark moments of historic consequence. The golden ratio guides proportions, and the materials, a travertine monolith atop a burnished brass base, speak to Italy’s balance of timeless solidity and contemporary style.

Winners also receive a Chantecler Capri jewel bell, an Aurora pen, and an exclusive Prisma design piece. In short, you’ll need an extra carry-on bag to take home the spoils.

Backstage: The Partners and Patrons

An event of this scale requires partners as polished as the parquet floors of a Venetian ballroom. Cue Lavazza (official coffee partner, naturally), Ginori 1735, Technogym, Pedersoli Milano, and a constellation of brands ranging from fine wines to Italian couture.

Support partners include ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine, Acqua di Parma, Acqua Panna S. Pellegrino, and more artisan names than you’ll find on a Tuscan wine list.

The awards also benefit from the patronage of Altagamma and Confindustria Alberghi, while a new media partnership with Condé Nast Traveller ensures global coverage. The Italians know how to build a chorus of credibility.

Who Judges the Judges?

The jury is a powerhouse ensemble of hoteliers, critics, editors, and industry grandees. Among them:

  • Ezio Indiani, GM of Hotel Principe di Savoia, EHMA Delegate, and Altagamma board member.

  • Andrea Grignaffini, ALMA’s Scientific Committee.

  • Mauro Santinato, President of Teamwork Hospitality.

  • Maddalena Fossati Dondero, Editor-in-Chief of La Cucina Italiana and Condé Nast Traveller Italia.

  • Sara Magro, Founder of TheItalyInsider.com.

The roster reads like a who’s who of Italian hospitality and lifestyle publishing.

In the words of Santinato himself:

“A tribute to the excellence, innovation, and passion that drive luxury hospitality in Italy. Honouring these hotels means recognising the daily commitment that turns a stay into an unforgettable experience.”

A sentiment that rings as true as the chime of a Chantecler bell.

Why It Matters

Although awards may be plentiful in the travel industry, few carry this weight of cultural cachet. These accolades do more than burnish reputations; they drive bookings, bolster destinations, and elevate Italy’s status as a luxury travel superpower.

For hoteliers, a win can justify a decade’s worth of investment in marble, Michelin stars, or mattresses so plush guests never want to rise. For travellers, the awards serve as a trusted compass a guarantee that behind the baroque façade or modernist glass wall lies substance, service, and style.

And for Italy itself? The event reminds the world that no one does dolce vita better.

Curtain Call in Milan

As the countdown ticks towards 29 October, Milan prepares for a night where hospitality meets high theatre. The stage is set, the champagne is chilled, and somewhere, a manager is rehearsing the words: Grazie mille.

Whether it’s the perfect cappuccino at breakfast, the softest linen on Lake Como, or a rooftop Negroni overlooking the Duomo, the Best Luxury Hotel Awards are a celebration of details. This kind elevates a stay from the ordinary to the operatic.

In a country famed for its opera, that feels entirely fitting.

By Bridget Gomez

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