Experiential travel continues to shape how visitors discover and connect with Italy. The Experiential Hospitality Awards 2025, presented by Turneo, celebrate hotels leading a shift toward immersive, sustainable, and story-driven stays. This recognition highlights a growing movement toward authenticity — proving that experiential hotels in Italy are setting the new benchmark for meaningful luxury.
Nearly one in four travelers now visit Italy primarily for its culture, while gastronomy and wine experiences influence almost a third of international visitors. Yet the country faces familiar challenges: a high concentration of tourism in major cities and coastal areas, with nearly 70% of visitors within just 1% of national territory. Meanwhile, destinations beyond the traditional “golden circuit” are experiencing remarkable growth, driven by travelers seeking connection, authenticity, and meaning.
In a country where tourism contributes almost 13% of national GDP, experiences are becoming the key to a more balanced, year-round model that creates shared value for local communities and preserves Italy’s cultural fabric. The Experiential Hospitality Awards spotlight those leading this shift, celebrating hotels that achieved the highest scores on Turneo’s Experience Index — a data-driven benchmark measuring how well hotels integrate, personalize, and promote experiences.
Celebrating Italy’s Visionary Hoteliers
To identify Italy’s leading experiential hotels, 778 five-star properties were evaluated nationwide. From that group, the top 30 earned recognition for transforming stays into immersive journeys that reflect Italian heritage through design, gastronomy, and community engagement.
Fran Kauzlaric, Chief Commercial Officer at Turneo, remarked:
“Italy’s hospitality has always been admired for its elegance, warmth, and sense of place. What sets these award-winning hotels apart is how they bring that legacy to life — connecting guests to the soul of the country through culture, food, and creativity.”
Italy’s Top 10 Experiential Hotels 2025
Each of the ten winners brings a unique expression of place and purpose — from the vineyards of Piemonte to the thermal springs of Tuscany:
- Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel – An Art Nouveau icon in Palermo, where Mediterranean glamour meets Sicilian heritage.
- Altafiumara Resort & Spa – Overlooking the Strait of Messina, uniting Calabrian art, cuisine, and wellness.
- Le Marne Relais – A boutique retreat in the Langhe hills where vineyards, art, and nature define the experience.
- Grand Hotel da Vinci – A seafront jewel blending Riviera lifestyle with culinary heritage and artistic elegance.
- Cyprianerhof Dolomit Resort – A Dolomites escape where hiking, wellness, and alpine traditions immerse guests in mountain life.
- Oasyhotel – A pioneering eco-retreat within a WWF reserve, blending conservation, adventure, and slow living.
- Grand Hotel Imperiale – A Versilia landmark offering Tuscan gastronomy, seaside culture, and refined leisure.
- Dolce Vita Hotel Preidlhof – A renowned wellness destination dedicated to longevity, sensory discovery, and holistic wellbeing.
- Vista Ostuni – A design-forward Apulian hideaway overlooking the “white city,” where gastronomy and art converge.
- Terme di Saturnia Natural SPA & Golf Resort – A Tuscan icon where thermal waters, golf, and nature inspire renewal.
Redefining Italian Hospitality
Alessandro d’Andrea, Commercial Director Italy at Turneo, explained:
“Italy’s potential for experiential travel is extraordinary — from the vineyards of Piedmont to the southern coasts rich in history. These hotels show how tourism can be both luxurious and sustainable.”
Experiential hospitality is more than a trend; it’s a reawakening of what travel in Italy has always represented: authenticity, beauty, and belonging. Beyond the five-star category, this approach offers a path toward balanced, year-round tourism that uplifts local economies and safeguards regional heritage. At Live in Italy Magazine, we believe the future of travel lies in this balance — where meaningful experiences preserve culture, protect landscapes, and invite travelers to become true participants in the story of Italy.
