R Collection Hotels will take back operational control of two hotels in the centre of Como and reopen both in 2027, giving UK business travellers two further four and five-star options in a lakeside city that has become an increasingly popular alternative to Milan for meetings, incentives and client entertaining.
The Italian group, owned by the Rocchi family, said the move marks its debut in the city of Como itself and forms the centrepiece of a growth plan running through 2026 and 2027. The two properties, the Palace Hotel and the Hotel Excelsior Barchetta, are already owned by R Collection but are currently operated by the Villa d’Este Group. Both will close for extensive renovation before reopening under R Collection management.
What changes for guests
The Palace Hotel will be upgraded from four stars to five as part of a comprehensive redevelopment programme, rebuilt around what the group describes as its signature blend of contemporary design, local heritage and refined Italian hospitality. The refurbishment plan for the four-star Hotel Excelsior Barchetta is still being finalised and will be confirmed in the coming months.
For UK corporate bookers, the practical significance is supply. Como sits roughly an hour from Milan by train and within reach of both Malpensa and Linate, and demand for the lakeside has tightened considerably since a run of luxury openings including the Lake Como EDITION and design-led properties such as Il Sereno. Most of that new inventory sits along the shoreline rather than in the city, so two refurbished hotels in central Como add walkable, station-adjacent rooms of the kind business travellers actually need.
The people running it
Riccardo Bortolotti has been appointed Area General Manager, Como, with responsibility for both properties. He was previously General Manager of the Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort in Rapallo, where he was central to repositioning the hotel and securing its membership of the Virtuoso luxury travel network in 2025, a credential that matters to UK travel management companies placing high-value corporate and incentive business.
At Rapallo, Ivan Parodi steps up to General Manager, having served as Hotel Manager since 2023. He will continue building the Grand Hotel Bristol’s reputation for experiential luxury, with a focus on art, music and culinary innovation.
“These developments mark an exciting new chapter for R Collection Hotels,” said Ludovica Rocchi, R Collection Owner and Brand Director. “Our entry into the Como market and the appointment of two highly accomplished managers demonstrate our commitment to sustainable growth, internal talent development, and the consistent delivery of exceptional Italian hospitality.”
Where this fits in the wider Italian market
The announcement reflects a long-term investment strategy centred on owned and operated hotels in Italy’s best-known destinations, spanning Lake Como, the Portofino Coast, Mont Blanc and Milan. That last market has seen its own wave of activity, with openings such as The Carlton Milan reshaping the top end of the city’s corporate accommodation.
Independent groups holding freehold assets and bringing management back in-house is a familiar pattern in Italian luxury hospitality, and it tends to produce more consistent service standards and pricing across a portfolio, which is useful when negotiating multi-property corporate rates. Buyers should note, though, that neither Como hotel will be bookable until 2027, so any 2026 programme will still need to work around existing inventory.
Full details of the group’s portfolio are available via R Collection Hotels. Travellers heading to Italy should check current FCDO travel advice before booking.
