LVMH Hospitality Excellence has signed an agreement with Sardegna Resorts Srl to manage two historic hotels in Costa Smeralda along the northeast coast of Sardinia, Italy.

LVMH brand Belmond will manage the Hotel Romazzino (pictured) while The Hotel Pitrizza will be managed by sister brand Cheval Blanc. 

Both hotels are located in the heart of Costa Smeralda and were designed in the 1960s by the architects Luigi Vietti and Michele Busiri Vici. Both properties will be refurbished.

Hotel Romazzino will open for the 2024 season as Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda, while The Hotel Pitrizza will continue to operate under its current name until 2026 before being rebranded as Cheval Blanc Pitrizza, Costa Smeralda.

A statement from Sardegna Resorts Srl, a Smeralda Holding Company owned by Qatar Investment Authority, said the deal forms part of the group’s long-term strategy to “enhance and enrich Costa Smeralda as a best-in-class destination”. The plan was launched in 2017 and includes tourism initiatives and the introduction of major F&B operators such as Nikki Beach, Zuma, Novikov, Beefbar and Matsuhisa.

The partnership will also offer further value to the local community by bringing increased employment and development opportunities for staff. All employees will remain employed by Sardegna Resorts Srl, which will also retain ownership of the hotels’ property and businesses.  

LVMH said the hotels would benefit from the “know-how and expertise of the Belmond and Cheval Blanc brands”.

Belmond’s president and chief executive Roeland Vos said: “We are hugely excited to be bringing Romazzino into our portfolio, further strengthening Belmond’s leading luxury Italian offering. This is part of a strategic expansion that will see unique, one-of-a-kind properties joining our remarkable collection of experiences that is ricvh in history and heritage.

“Costa Smeralda exudes every aspect of villaggiatura – the Italian concept of a long, leisurely summer – which is the philosophy that our Italian hotels embrace. With its white sandy beach, vast landscape and an array of activities, Romanzzino will bring back the 1960s charm of Sardinia’s original beach hotel.”