Awards
Autumn was exceptionally rewarding for Rocco Forte Hotels. In particular, we are proud to have collected a number of illustrious awards and accolades across our collection. Here, we’ve collated the most noteworthy for you to share with your clients.
CondéNast Traveller Readers’ ChoiceAwards
Every one of our hotels was recognised in the 2019 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, with a record 600,000 individuals submitting their nominations. The results are in, and we’re delighted to announce that we’ve achieved in a variety of prestigious categories.
Hotel Astoria has placed 5th in the Top 10 Hotels in Europe – the only Russian hotel to feature in this category – and 2nd in the Top 25 Hotels in Northern Europe.
Also recognised in the Top 25 Hotels in Northern Europe are Munich’s The Charles Hotel at ninth place, and Hotel Amigo in Brussels coming in 24th.
Hot on the heels of its World Travel Awards for Scotland’s Leading Hotel and Scotland’s Leading Hotel Suite for the third year running, The Balmoral has been voted the UK’s number one hotel in the Top 35 Hotels in the UK category.
Regionally, seventh in the Top 40 Hotels in London is Brown’s Hotel; Hotel de Russie came third in the Top 10 Hotels in Rome, while Hotel Savoy placed sixth in the Top 10 Hotels in Florence.
Our Sicilian Verdura Resort has also been rewarded, achieving 21st place in the Top 30 Resorts in Europe amongst the hundreds nominated.
A Michelin Star
The Balmoral’s Number One first received a Michelin star in 2003 and has retained the badge of honour ever since. Following the appointment of Mark Donald as new Head Chef of this exceptional restaurant earlier this year and the appointment of Executive Chef Gary Robinson, we’re elated to announce that Number One has retained its Michelin star for the upcoming year – a brilliant start for an all-new team.
Appointments
This November sees Jan Arnold join the Rocco Forte Hotels family as our Vice President of Sales. Following 16 years as Director of Sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Four Season Hotels & Resorts, where he supported the activities of 115 luxury hotels across the globe, Jan will be based at Villa Kennedy with an office in London. We look forward to announcing his attendance at future events.
Vivacious, glamorous, powerful. Few figures encapsulate the effortless grandeur of the Belle Époque quite like Donna Franca, our Sicilian muse. Famed for her petite frame, thick dark hair and an exquisite fashion sense that has endured for over a century, Franca was the epitome of an era that placed beauty and high fashion at its forefront.
The festive season brings its own kind of sparkle - a flurry of celebrations, feasts, and time with those who matter most. To make gifting simple, we’ve curated a selection of bespoke experiences to delight everyone on your list. From candlelit dinners and Italian wine tastings to tranquil spa escapes and moments devoted to yourself, each experience thoughtfully crafted to offer moments of joy.
In a time when beauty shaped every facet of life — from the curve of a staircase to the vivid bloom of a painted iris — Italy’s Stile Liberty captured the optimism of a new century. Across Europe in the late 19th century, the Belle Époque blurred the line between art and the everyday, celebrating craftsmanship, elegance, and expressive freedom. Now, a new cultural itinerary, From Mucha to Florio, traces that movement between Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, two different cities, two glorious expressions of the same artistic impulse.
