The third edition of the Best Luxury Hotel Awards crowned the excellence of Italian luxury hospitality on Wednesday 22 October at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. The ceremony, organized by Teamwork Hospitality, brought together protagonists of the hotel industry, professionals, managers and companies in the sector to reward the most distinctive entities in terms of quality of service, design, gastronomy, wellness, sustainability and managerial ability.
“The Best Luxury Hotel Awards were created to enhance a segment of Italian hospitality which is synonymous with excellence, culture and innovation,” commented Mauro Santinato, president of Teamwork Hospitality. “Today luxury is not just a high standard, but an authentic experience based on human relationships and the bond with the territory. After three years, this award has become a strategic platform to promote Italy as a global point of reference in high-end hospitality, stimulating the entire sector towards continuous qualitative growth”, he continued.
The winners of the ten categories
In the Best New Opening category, the award went to Airelles Palladio Venice, for the restoration of a historic residence with enhancement of the private gardens and overlooking the water. Best Design was awarded to Castel Badia, for an intervention that integrates historical architecture and contemporary furnishings.
The Best Restaurant award went to Atto, Palazzo Portinari Salviati, for the haute cuisine offering in the historic rooms; the Best Breakfast at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, for a zero kilometer offer with service on the terraces overlooking the lake.
For the Best General Manager category, the award went to Giuseppe De Martino, multi property general manager of The St. Regis Rome and The Westin Excelsior Rome. Best Service was awarded to Bellevue Syrene, for a model based on the stability of the team and the balance between presence and discretion.
Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda won the Best Wellness & Spa, while Il Borro – Relais & Châteaux won the Best Sustainability Program for a model that combines land protection and energy efficiency. Hotel La Perla won the Best Wine Selection for its wine collection and attention to service.
Double winner for Best Bar: Portrait Milano, for the mixology in dialogue with strong-impact architecture, and Principe di Savoia, icon of the Milanese hotel tradition.
Lifetime achievement awards and special recognitions
The evening awarded two career awards: to Vincenzo Finizzola, for his ability to infuse dynamism into traditional hospitality models, and to Lorenzo Giannuzzi, for his management clarity and business development in the high segment of the market.
Among the special awards, the recognition to Magda Antonioli celebrated her contribution to the tourism industry through research and managerial training, from the leadership of the master’s courses on tourism at Bocconi to the top management of ENIT and ministries. The Special Award to the Fiorentino Family instead honored a history of hospitality which, since 1834, has united five generations in caring for the guest.
Destination and chain of the year
The title of Best Luxury Destination 2026 was awarded to Cortina d’Ampezzo, with the presence of mayor Gianluca Lorenzi, for a year marked by the Winter Olympics and for its establishment as a reference for international mountain hospitality. The Best Luxury Chain went to Marriott International, for its ability to govern the high-end market through nine luxury brands.
The jury and international presences
The jury of the third edition included, among others, Stefania Lazzaroni (Altagamma Foundation), Maddalena Fossati Dondero (La Cucina Italiana and Condé Nast Traveler Italia), Ezio Indiani (Hotel Principe di Savoia), Andrea Grignaffini (Alma), Angela Frenda (Cook – Corriere della Sera) and Francesca Alliata Bronner (La Repubblica).
The evening was also attended by international representatives of the sector, including Shannon Knapp, president and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World, Laurent Gardinier, president of Relais & Châteaux, Horst Schulze, founding member of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and founder of Capella Hotel Group, and Ambassador Nick Adams, special presidential envoy for Tourism, Exceptionalism and Values of the US State Department.