Mandarin Oriental to Open its First Mountain Resort in Italy

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is planning to open its first mountain resort in Italy.

To rebrand and manage the historic Hotel Cristallo in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the company has signed a long-term management agreement with London-based investment manager Attestor Limited.

After closing in 2023, the property will undergo “substantial” renovations before reopening as a Mandarin Oriental resort in the summer of 2025, just in time for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Hotel Cristallo is located in the Dolomites, just a short walk from the well-known mountain village of Cortina d’Ampezzo, which has restaurants, luxury brand boutiques, and local arts and crafts.

By car, it takes one and a half hours to get to Venice Marco Polo Airport.

The Menardi family built Hotel Cristallo in 1901 in Art Nouveau style, and it was a popular ski destination among the European elite in the 1930s.

Following the Olympic Games in 1956, the hotel is said to have entered its “golden era,” hosting royals and celebrities such as Peter Sellers, Frank Sinatra, Saul Bellow, and Vladimir Nabokov. It has also appeared in several films.

Attestor Limited, which also owns the Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como, purchased the hotel in 2021.

Herzog and deMeuron will lead the renovation of Hotel Cristallo, which will include an extension of the property.

Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina will reopen with 83 guestrooms, including 30 spacious suites with views of the Dolomites.

“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,” said Mandarin Oriental’s group chief executive, James Riley.

“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.”

A partner at Attestor Limited, David Alhadeff 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.”