New Locations & Further European Expansions
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has confirmed plans for a new hotel in Rome, Italy. The luxury property is scheduled to open in 2026 in the heart of Rome. The hotel will be housed in ten 19th-century villas, surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, steps away from the city’s major attractions and archaeological sites. Offering serene views of the gardens or the city’s landmarks, the villas will accommodate 108 guestrooms and suites with interiors curated by French award-winning design duo Gilles & Boissier who have previously worked on Baccarat Hotel in New York, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid and The Lana Dubai.
Read More: Mandarin Oriental Opens in Milan
The hotel’s amenities will include six restaurants and bars including Al fresco dining and The Mandarin Bar which will be located on an expansive rooftop terrace, providing stunning views of the city. Regarding the aspect of wellness and relaxation, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental will include large indoor and outdoor pools nestled amidst the beautifully landscaped gardens. There will also be six treatment rooms, one VIP treatment suite, thermal rooms, and a dedicated sundeck. The hotel will be located between many of Rome’s cultural heritage sites and premium retail locations including Via Veneto, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, and the Piazza Navona.
Read More: Martin Schnider on the Magic of the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Roman Competition
This is a strategic move for the multinational hospitality and management group and strengthens its positioning in Italy (and Europe) as a go-to travel destination for bespoke experiences and luxury accommodations. The Rome-based hotel extension increases the Group’s Italian portfolio to five; complementing its existing properties in Milan and Lake Como, as well as the recent announcements of Cortina and Porto Cervo. The Mandarin Oriental, Rome will stand against Rome’s existing top luxury hotels which include the Bulgari Hotel Rome, the Hotel Eden Rome, Hotel de Russie (Rocco Forte) and the Hotel de la Ville. Luxury hotels that are currently under construction and scheduled for opening in Rome that could provide further competition for the group include the Corinthia Rome (2024), Rosewood Hotels (2025), Four Seasons Hotel Rome (2027), Grand Hotel de la Minerve (Orient-Express) and Hotel Romeo.
The news comes as Mandarin Oriental opens a second hotel in London and debuts its first property in Oman. In June 2024 alone, the Mandarin Oriental celebrated the opening of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London on Hanover Square while in Oman’s Shatti Al-Qurum, The Mandarin Oriental, Muscat welcomed guests to its latest property in the heart of the city. The Mandarin Oriental, Muscat has 103 guest rooms and 47 suites and as reported by BusinessTraveller, the interior furnishings utilised locally sourced, natural materials including Desert Rose marble and Ashwood, alongside other elements inspired by Omani landscapes and culture, including a “Kuma”-inspired bed backboard fashioned to resemble the traditional Omani hat and brass lanterns inspired by the “Khanjar”, Omani daggers. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London on the other hand sees 50 guestrooms and suites, 77 private residences, Chef Akira Back’s debut London restaurant, two bars, and a spa.
Sustainability Innovation
In a move towards positive sustainability initiatives, the Mandarin Oriental has set itself the goal of reducing food waste at its hotels by 50 percent by 2030. According to reports from Travel News Asia, the Mandarin Oriental has put forward plans to install “Winnow’s food waste technology” across all its hotels by the end of 2025. In a first for the company, the report states that four of the group’s hotels have been testing the technology — Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai. The result has seen an average reduction in food waste of 36 percent (or 66 tonnes) and an annualised net savings of USD 207,000 and a reduction of 289 tonnes in CO2e emissions.
Designed to require minimal interaction, the Winnow system consists of a camera, a smart scale and a tablet. The camera, featuring computer vision trained to identify over 600 food items, automatically identifies waste as it is thrown away. The weight and cost of the food discarded is then instantly calculated and displayed. The Winnow technology implemented in Mandarin Oriental’s kitchens enables staff to seamlessly track exactly what wastage occurs throughout their production stream in the hopes of enabling kitchens to save between two to eight percent on food costs.
With a boost in its “green” credentials and multiple plans for expansion that highlight a diverse geopolitical portfolio, the Mandarin Oriental Group is well on its way to cementing its position as a global contender in the luxury hotel industry.
For more on the latest in luxury hotel reads, click here.
