First Italian Curio Hotel To Open In The Heart Of The Tuscan Hills

The resort includes the Buddha Spa by Clarins and is connected to an 18-hole golf course. Credit: Curio Collection by Hilton.

SIENA, Italy - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has reached a management agreement with Agricola Merse Srl to bring Curio - A Collection by Hilton to Tuscany. The 101-guestroom La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is set to welcome guests from March 2017.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton said, "La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is a stunning, one-of-a-kind hotel and, in joining the Curio Collection, this remarkable property will keep its unique identity whilst benefiting from Hilton's support as a leading global hospitality company. With over 11 million tourists visiting Tuscany every year, there continues to be strong demand in the region for an upscale, full service hotel, and we're absolutely delighted to welcome La Bagnaia into the Curio Collection."

Surrounded by the beautiful Sienese countryside, La Bagnaia is a tranquil oasis set against a landscape scattered with charming medieval hamlets and towns. Spread over 1,100 hectares, the upscale hotel has a village-like look and feel, divided across a number of buildings and featuring two main 'hamlets' - Borgo  La Bagnaia and Borgo la Filetta. The resort includes the Buddha Spa by Clarins and is connected to an 18-hole golf course. The range of facilities provided by the hotel for leisure and business travellers include two restaurants and two bars, three swimming pools, 12 treatment rooms, a tennis court, and conference rooms which combined cater for almost 1,000 delegates.

Situated just 12km from the city of Siena - a World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations - the hotel is conveniently located for guests wishing to access the city's many attractions including the Piazza del Campo, the Mangia Tower and the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral. Steeped in history, culture-rich Siena and its surrounding areas offer multiple attractions including exquisite Italian cuisine and world-famous vineyards.    

Marisa Riffeser Monti, president of INFI, said: "Our collaboration with Hilton will allow La Bagnaia to expand its customer base, attracting tourists from around the world. The resort's unique structure allows it to cater for a wide range of requirements without sacrificing the quality of any individual customer's service. La Bagnaia can meet the needs of those seeking a vacation dedicated to well-being thanks to the Buddha Spa and its precious thermal waters, but also the needs of sports lovers with the panoramic Royal Golf Bagnaia designed by the famous golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The hotel's strategic location allows visitors to explore some of the most important destinations of Italian cultural heritage, while modern facilities make it an ideal location for conferences at the highest level, as demonstrated by significant events previously hosted by the hotel. My family will continue to invest in this Region: other property improvements include the purchase of approximately 23,000 square meters worth of real estate including restored historic buildings such as a 15^th Century castle, and new-build developments."

La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena can be reached from a number of international airports, and also has excellent car, bus and rail links. The resort is 95km from Florence Peretola Airport and 130 km from Pisa International Airport, both of which provide regular domestic and international flights. Siena-Ampugnano Airport is only 7km away, while Siena's main railway station is 30km from La Bagnaia and also offers access to a number of national rail services. Many frequent bus services are also available, and the hotel is easily accessed by car and holds 360 car parking spaces.

Mark Nogal, global head, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, said: "La Bagnaia has such a wonderful, distinctive character - not to mention a stunning setting in some of the most beautiful Tuscan countryside. A charming property, the resort has a compelling identity and provides a peaceful sanctuary in a location rich with history, culture and extraordinary scenery. We are thrilled that it is set to become Italy's first hotel in the Curio Collection."

Curio - A Collection by Hilton is a global set of remarkable upscale and luxury hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality; each one embedded with local history and culture. La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena will join the collection of more than 80 properties open or in various stages of development across the world, in locations including Hamburg, Reykjavik, London, Paris and Ibiza.

La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is located at S.S. 223 Siena-Grosseto, Km 56, 53016 Sovicille, Province of Siena, Italy. More information about Curio - A Collection by Hilton may be found at curio.com.

Small Luxury Hotels Of The World Introducing Five New Hotels To Its Collection

NEW HOTELS JOIN SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD™

JANUARY 2016

Small Luxury Hotels of the World is introducing five new hotels to its collection of over 520 hotels in 80 countries around the world this January. With an aim to match independently minded guests with independently spirited hotels these hotels in Thailand, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Italy and Turkey showcase everything from coastal modernism and avant-garde sustainability to historical immersion and exemplary tailor-made service.

Keemala, Phuket, Thailand - www.slh.com/keemala

Keemala’s 38 rooms represent traditional Phuket culture based on the local tribes that originally inhabited the island. Guests can choose between the Clay Pool Cottages inspired by the Pa-ta-pea ‘Earth’ clan, glass-fronted Tent Pool Villas (the Khon-Jorn ‘Wanderer’ clan) luxurious Tree Pool Villas (the We-Ha ‘Sky’ clan) and opulent Bird’s Nest Pool Villas (the Rung Nok ‘Nest’ clan). All rooms feature outdoor bathtubs and monsoon showers to make the most of the rainforest setting and complement the streams and waterfalls running through the resort. Guests are further encouraged to assimilate with the environment through customized massage, meditation or learning the art of Thai cookery. In keeping with the resort’s holistic approach Healthy Living Cuisine versions of all menus are available with herbs, fruits and vegetables grown organically in the Enchanted Garden. Rooms start from £435 / US$645 per night.

SLH Insider Tip: Tune in to the environment with a private meditation lesson in the cave hidden behind the fountain.

Mar Adentro Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico - www.slh.com/maradentro

Sitting between the desert and the Sea of Cortez, Mar Adentro Cabos opened on 15^th December 2015 and is an ultra-modern take on luxury designed by Miguel Angel Aragonés. The 143 suites, which sleep up to eight people, appear to be suspended over water to look like islands and form a ‘micro cosmos’ allowing guests to find everything they might need without having to leave the architectural complex. Enjoy recent releases in the state-of-the-art lounge cinema, relax in the first Ligne St. Barth Spa in Latin America, stretch out on the private beach club or cool off in one of the two oceanfront pools. The hotel is also home to five restaurants and an exclusive Plaza with luxury boutiques. All facilities and amenities, including shopping at the boutiques, can be accessed via the resort’s interactive and digital in-suite service panel. Rooms start from £415 / US$620 per night.

SLH Insider Tip: Allow Chef Casiano Reyes to dazzle you with his ‘Kitchen Spontaneous’ approach to food in Casianos restaurant, where there is no menu and there are no rules.

Casa Colombo Collection, Mirissa, Sri Lanka - www.slh.com/mirissa

With just six rooms Casa Colombo Collection is all about the personal touch and blurring the lines between necessity and indulgence. As such, each guest is introduced to their own ‘Casa Domo’, or personal assistant, on arrival who is responsible for taking care of made-to-measure service for the duration of their stay. Suites blend the rich wood detailing of authentic Sri Lankan interiors with contemporary, hi-tech features and many offer views of the Indian Ocean or private plunge pools. In the evening guests can settle into one of the cabanas dotted around the resort which are lit by torchlight after sunset before selecting their own seafood from the market for dinner which they can enjoy at beachfront tables. Nearby cultural hotspots include the UNESCO listed Galle Fort while Yara wildlife safaris provide the opportunity to spot leopard, elephants, wild boar, buffalo and crocodiles. Rooms start from £225 / US$330 per night.

SLH Insider Tip: Charter Miss Elle, the resort’s 33ft yacht, for an island trip, private sail or whale watching excursion.

La Peschiera, Monopoli, Italy

www.slh.com/peschiera

A former fish hatchery turned luxury hotel, La Peschiera is an elegant seaside retreat on Puglia’s shores. Everything at this hotel celebrates the oceanic backdrop - the twelve rooms all have views of the Adriatic and inside the minimalist interiors are dotted with antiques and original artwork, the beds are draped with white linen, and thatched rooves and stone floors ensure they remain beautifully cool. The hotel offers seven pools, a private stretch of sandy beach and a spa that focuses on regenerating thalassic therapies. When it’s time to dine, the restaurant serves fresh seafood on a lantern-lit terrace beside the water. For a change of scene guests can head inland to the nearby Torre Egnatia and Grotte di Castellana, a spectacular set of caves just a few miles away. La Peschiera is a seasonal hotel and is now taking reservations for stays from 22^nd April 2016. Rooms start from £300 / US$450 per night including breakfast.

SLH Insider Tip: Book into a Master Suite to take advantage of a private terrace with direct access into the sea.

Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge, Cappadocia, Turkey

www.slh.com/ariana

Named after an ancient sun goddess, Ariana Lodge is a contemporary eco-boutique immersed in an ancient landscape that witnessed the rise of the first civilizations in world history. Offering breath-taking views of the Uchisar Valley, the lodge’s gardens tumble down the hillside of its canyon setting and the eleven rooms are named after deities from Babylon culture. Guests can opt for a mystical luxury cave suite, a spa suite with mosaic-clad bathroom or enjoy views of the valley or the sky from the Duplex Suites. Interiors hint at the building’s past with custom-made furnishings providing a 21^st century feel which guests can appreciate whilst curled up by the fire sampling complimentary local wine. Outside sun terraces provide inspiring locations for a relaxing yoga session or an alfresco massage and fresh, seasonal menus are the order of the day in The Plum Restaurant. Rooms start from £205 / US$300 per night including breakfast.

SLH Insider Tip: Stay for three nights to take advantage of a complimentary full day tour of local sites including Kaymakli, an underground city.

For more information about SLH’s collection of hotels around the world or to make a reservation visit www.slh.com.