IHG expands luxury footprint: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants debut in Sicily
Leading hotel company IHG Hotels & Resorts has revealed its latest venture, signing its inaugural Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants property in Italy.
The announcement, part of IHG’s rapidly expanding luxury & lifestyle portfolio, positions it as the second-largest globally.
The Kimpton hotel in Sicily is set to welcome guests in the latter half of 2025 through a management agreement with partner Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese.
In a strategic move, IHG has intensified its focus on the Italian market, evident with six luxury and lifestyle openings and signings in 2023 alone.
This includes noteworthy properties like the first urban expression of Six Senses in Rome, InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and Hotel Indigo Florence.
The next few years should see the addition of Hotel Indigo properties in Turin and Trieste, along with IHG’s inaugural Vignette Collection property, Hotel Alexandra, in Rome next year.
Situated in the charming hill-top town of Taormina on Sicily’s east coast, the 59-boutique bedroom Kimpton hotel will blend heritage with Kimpton’s signature style, irreverence and design-led experiences.
Guests can anticipate a destination dining experience with panoramic views from the breakfast room and bar terrace spanning from Calabria to the Bay of Isolabella.
The Kimpton brand’s unique approach to wellness, extending beyond the expected, will be embodied in the Sicilian property. An outdoor Mediterranean garden, a 20-metre swimming pool, and a tennis court are among the features designed to enhance the guest experience.
Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed excitement about the partnership with Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese. She said,
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 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.
IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2018, continuing the brand’s expansion into Europe and beyond.
The Sicilian property joins a global portfolio that includes Kimpton Vividora Barcelona, Kimpton St Honoré Paris, and Kimpton Fitzroy London.
Raffaele Ranucci, Owner, Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese, shared his delight in partnering with IHG to introduce the first Kimpton-branded hotel to Italy. He said,
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.
Every Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant aims to foster genuine connections through unexpected, personalised touches, creating an authentic and unscripted guest experience. The Sicilian property is set to embody this ethos, introducing the brand’s culture of heartfelt hospitality and design-forward hotels to Italy.
The Kimpton in Sicily marks IHG Hotels & Resorts’ 30th hotel in Italy and contributes to a portfolio of eight Kimpton hotels across the UK and continental Europe. This is part of Kimpton’s global portfolio of 78 hotels across 12 countries, with a projected addition of 54 hotels by 2025, surpassing the 100-hotel milestone and extending its presence to 20 countries.
For further information about IHG hotels and to make bookings in any of the company’s hotels worldwide, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.
