Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to make market debut in Italy

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of its first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants property in Italy. Joining IHG’s fast-growing luxury & lifestyle portfolio, now the second largest in the world, the Kimpton property in Sicily will open in the second half of 2025 and represents a management agreement with partner Società Turistica Alberghiera Taorminese.

The Kimpton signing in Sicily follows six luxury and lifestyle openings and signings by IHG in 2023, demonstrating IHG’s investment and focus on this key market. This included the first urban expression of Six Senses opened in Rome, together with InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and Hotel Indigo Florence. Two further Hotel Indigo properties are due to open in Turin and Trieste over the coming years, as well as IHG’s first Vignette Collection property, Hotel Alexandra, in Rome in 2025.

Nestled in the hill-top town of Taormina on the island’s east coast, the hotel will harness its heritage whilst embracing Kimpton’s ethos for superlative style, addictive irreverence and design led experiences that are ridiculously personal. The 59-boutique bedroom hotel is expected to feature destination dining that will appeal to hotel guests and locals alike. The breakfast room and bar terrace will also offer panoramic views, spanning from Calabria to the Bay of Isolabella.

Kimpton definition of wellness extends beyond the obvious to permeate the guest experience, from the community-building effects of Evening Social Hour to the healthy options available in the minibar. Continuing this ethos, the Kimpton in Sicily will feature an outdoor Mediterranean garden, 20-metre swimming pool, and a tennis court.

(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “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 further 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."

Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa Debuts in Western Caribbean

Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa, nestled on the picturesque West Bay Beach of Roatán Island with premiere access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, is proud to officially welcome guests as of October 10, 2023. An island retreat like no other, this Caribbean gem offers 119 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, suites, and condos; four inviting restaurants and bars, state-of-the-art spa, nearly 6,000 square feet of meeting and events spaces and immersive guest experiences full of indulgence, relaxation and exciting adventure.

“We are thrilled to introduce Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa to this incredible island paradise,” said General Manager Carlos Lopez, Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa. “Our team is dedicated to providing an unforgettable guest experience that celebrates the natural beauty, culture, and warmth of Roatán. We look forward to being a cherished part of the destination’s vibrant tapestry and creating memories for both locals and global visitors alike.”

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IHG Hotels & Resorts debuts Kimpton brand in Portugal with a signing in the Algarve

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, today premiers its Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand in Portugal, with the signing of Kimpton Algarve São Rafael Atlántico. This addition reinforces the strength of the Kimpton brand as part of IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle offering in Europe, where it currently operates 93 hotels in this segment and a further 57 under development.

Signed under a franchise agreement with Highgate Portugal, the hotel is expected to open in 2025 offering 149 guest rooms, more than 1,300 m2 of meeting space and multiple restaurants and bars. The hotel will also offer a rounded wellness experience, with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and a full-service spa. The interior design concept takes its inspiration from the area’s natural and cultural surroundings, including vibrant orange groves, azueljos (tin-glazed tileworks) and ceramics.

The southernmost area of the country, the Algarve is a major Portuguese tourist destination thanks to its sunny climate, world renowned beaches and natural beauty. The beachfront hotel is located steps from Sao Rafael beach, one of the top ten beaches in the Algarve framed by limestone cliffs, and a short distance from Albufeira - a lively and historic resort town on the coastline with whitewashed houses, 18th century churches, shops and bars.

Mrs Willemijn Geels, VP Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “What a milestone to be able to sign our first Kimpton property in Portugal. We have focussed on building our presence in the country, especially in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment with our recently opened first Vignette Collection hotels in Lisbon and Porto which complement our three existing InterContinental properties and a Six Senses in Douro Valley. This signing shows the confidence that owners have in our Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, market knowledge and enterprise, as well as the appetite that guests have for the Kimpton brand. It promises to be a stunning hotel and we look forward to welcoming our first guests in 2025.”

Alexandre Solleiro, CEO of Highgate Portugal said: “We are proud to bring the first Kimpton hotel to one of Portugal’s most popular tourist destinations together with IHG Hotels & Resorts. We’ve seen the success of the brand across Europe in countries like Spain, France, Netherlands and the UK, and we think this hotel will be a perfect addition to the portfolio. We are delighted to work together to realise the full potential of this property and show our continued investment in the local area.”

IHG operates 19 open hotels across six brands in Portugal, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. In Iberia, IHG has 66 open hotels and a pipeline of 26 properties.

Malaysia's first Kimpton Hotels in 2023

HG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a management agreement with LQ Retail Sdn Bhd to open Malaysia's first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2023 at The Exchange TRX – a new experience-led lifestyle destination. Kimpton now operates in more than 70 hotels and 85 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations around the world. From its playful and sophisticated design to award-winning restaurants and bars, Kimpton is known for creating immersive guest moments that are all about genuine human connections. The 471-room design-led Kimpton Kuala Lumpur, with its youthful and playful brand personality will reinvent a sophisticated and highly personalised lifestyle experience expected by today's modern travellers that is aligned with TRX's profile as the capital city's new CBD.

The property will feature three food and beverage outlets including a rooftop bar & restaurant and a deli-grocer café. Guests can enjoy the views from the outdoor rooftop swimming pool or break a sweat in the gym. There will be a range of unique meeting and event spaces to cater to a wide range of activities, from small intimate gatherings to larger energetic social events.

“We’re excited to be partnering with LQ Retail Sdn Bhd to bring our heartfelt approach to hospitality with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants to Kuala Lumpur as we continue to expand across the region into new markets. We believe the ‘dream’ element of experiential travel will become even more important once people can travel again and this hotel will deliver a great boutique experience to those guests.”

— Rajit Sukumaran, Managing Director of South East Asia & Korea for InterContinental Hotels Group