Imagery courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is to open its first mountain resort, choosing the Italian Alpine town of Cortina d’Ampezzo as the location.

The group has signed a long term management agreement with investment manager Attestor Limited to rebrand and manage the historic Hotel Cristallo, which will undergo a substantial renovation after closing in the second quarter of 2023.

The property will reopen as Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina in the summer of 2025, ahead of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Mountain first

The site will be the group’s first alpine resort and further expands Mandarin Oriental’s presence in Italy. Sitting above the most recognised mountain village in the Dolomites, Hotel Cristallo was built in 1901 in Art Nouveau style by the Menardi family and was a popular ski destination in the 1930s for the European cultured elite.

In 2021, the property was acquired by funds managed by Attestor Limited, which also owns Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como. Hotel Cristallo will undergo a thorough renovation including a new extension, created by award-winning architects Herzog and deMeuron.

On reopening, the hotel will feature 83 guestrooms, many with balconies, including 30 spacious suites with beautiful views of the Dolomites. The resort will also feature a range of restaurants and bars, flexible spaces for entertainment and events, as well as an extensive spa and wellness facility, which includes a swimming pool that transverses from inside to outside the building.

Restore to glory

James Riley, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Mandarin Oriental brand to the beauty of the Dolomites which has long been a destination of choice for skiers and adventurers and will no doubt appeal to fans of Mandarin Oriental who love alpine pursuits. We look forward to delivering the group’s exemplary service to the resort and to working with our partners from Lago di Como to create another exclusive property in one of Italy’s foremost regions.”

David Alhadeff, partner, Attestor Limited, added: “We are excited to be restoring this famous property to its former glory in advance of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, while also creating a unique sense of modern luxury for international travellers. Following our successful partnership on Lake Como, we are pleased to add an iconic Italian asset to our collaboration with Mandarin Oriental and look forward to creating an Alpine landmark.”

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