Rome is more than a capital city: it is a laboratory of excellence, a stage where beauty and vision meet. On Monday, Nov. 24, at The St. Regis Rome, the city hosted the first edition of Travel + Leisure Italy’s Best Awards, an event designed to pay tribute to Italian mastery: that capable of transforming a stay into emotion, a service into culture, a hotel into a destination. Leading the ceremony, in the historic setting of Rome’s iconic five-star hotel, were Francesca Romana Barberini and Federico De Cesare Viola. Among velvets, chandeliers and the golden reflection of the walls of the Salone Ritz-the first public ballroom in the Capital, designed by Giulio Podesti in 1890 and inaugurated three years later by César Ritz-the 50 best Italian hotels of 2025 were unveiled and 14 special prizes dedicated to talent, vision and the ability to interpret the new languages of luxury were awarded.
The event was promoted by Travel + Leisure Italia, the national edition of the historic American magazine published by People Inc. which was born less than a year ago and is already a reference point in high-end travel reporting. The selection was the result of a joint effort between the Italian editorial staff, led by Federico De Cesare Viola, and the U.S. editorial staff, coordinated by Jacqui Gifford: an exchange of perspectives that generated a rigorous, authoritative and surprisingly multifaceted list, where boutique hotels, resorts, masserias, diffuse hotels and historic residences coexist as chapters of a single narrative.
“We are proud to have conceived such an important event in such a short time,” said Viola, emphasizing that “the Italian hôtellerie industry is living an extraordinary moment. We have the most beautiful hotels in the world: realities capable of speaking to travelers with different languages – aesthetics, history, taste, experience.”
Jacqui Gifford added, “Travel + Leisure Italy has quickly become an authoritative guide for the luxury traveler. To be here tonight is an honor and a celebration of Italian talent.”
The evening opened with institutional speeches. Gianluca Caramanna, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, recalled how tourism “continues to be a strategic engine of the national economy.” Next, Alessandro Onorato, Assessore ai Grandi Eventi, Turismo, Moda e Sport di Roma Capitale, stressed how Rome is experiencing “an extraordinary renaissance,” with more than ten new luxury openings in the last two years.
Then, sounded in blocks of 10 were revealed all the names of the selection of the 50 top hotels: 7Pines Resort Sardinia; AKI Family Resort PLOSE; Aman Rosa Alpina; Aman Venice; Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel; art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio, Powered by Radisson Hotels; Borgo Egnazia; Borgo San Felice Resort; Borgo Santandrea; Borgo Santo Pietro; Bvlgari Hotel Rome; Casa Angelina; Casa Maria Luigia; Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany; Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection; Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz; FORESTIS Dolomites; Four Seasons Hotel Firenze; Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina; Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice; Hotel Il Pellicano; Hotel Signum; Il San Pietro di Positano; Interno Marche; J.K. Place Capri; Jumeirah Capri Palace; JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa; L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux; La Roqqa; Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda; Mandarin Oriental, Milan; Palace Merano; Palazzo Fiuggi; Palazzo Ripetta; Passalacqua; Portrait Milan; Quellenhof See Lodge; Regina Isabella; Reschio; Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco; San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel; Six Senses Rome; Su Gologone; The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice; The St. Regis Rome; Vetera Matera; Villa d’Este; Villa della Pergola; Villa Igiea; Vista Ostuni.
The evaluation followed precise criteria: relevance in the destination, quality of design and architecture, level of service, gastronomic proposal, wellness value, authenticity of experiences, and social responsibility.
Each facility was chosen because it can transform a stay into a sensory memory.
Alongside the list, the 14 special awards defined nuances and identities of the new Italian luxury.
Best Family Friendly Hotel went to AKI Family Resort PLOSE, where play becomes discovery and nature. Best Cocktail Bar to Aman Venice, for a mixed drink that touches on the theatrical dimension. Borgo San Felice Resort was awarded Best Wine Resort, while Borgo Santo Pietro won the award for Best Sustainability Program. The Bvlgari Suite at Bvlgari Hotel Roma stood out as Italy’s Best Suite: 300 square meters celebrating Rome and Italian manufacturing excellence. The best breakfast is signed Casa Maria Luigia.
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany, won for best local experience. The award for best service went to Il San Pietro in Positano; that for best restaurant to Seta by Antonio Guida (Mandarin Oriental Milan); while Palazzo Fiuggi won for best wellness program. Passalacquawasawarded for interior design, The St. Regis Rome for cultural program, and Vista Ostuni as Best New Opening. Finally, the Editors’ Choice award went to FORESTIS Dolomites for its ability to translate the four natural elements into architecture, cuisine and wellness.
Many of the guests emphasized a shared point: Italy is defining a new hospitality manifesto, where luxury is emotion, care, slow time and authenticity.
The ceremony culminated in one of the most iconic rituals at the St. Regis: the sabrage. The saber-stroke, the applause, the bubbles, an ancient gesture that turned the award ceremony into a celebration accompanied by a dinner of laid tables, smiles and natural, spontaneous, elegant networking, as only Italy can orchestrate.
