Milan/Hong Kong, 17nd of May 2024

MEROPE TO OPEN WITH MANDARIN ORIENTAL AN URBAN OASIS FOR LUXURY HOSPITALITY IN THE HEART OF ROME

Merope Asset Management, an Italian real estate investment and development company, announces the opening of a luxury hospitality property in partnership with Mandarin Oriental, unique landmark, in the heart of Rome. The property will be located in the area hosting ten Sallustian villas, situated between Sallustiana, Boncompagni, Piemonte and Quinto Sella streets, only few steps away from via Vittorio Veneto and Piazza di Spagna.

The 19th century buildings, acquired by Merope in 2021 from Colony Capital, are located within a secular park and cover a surface of over 18,000 square meters, which will be transformed into a true urban oasis, reserved to luxury hospitality. The resort, which will be completed by 2026, will be the fifth Mandarin Oriental property in Italy, following those in Milan and Lake Como, and the already announced upcoming openings in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Porto Cervo.

As part of the agreement reached with Mandarin Oriental, Merope will oversee the redevelopment and restoration intervention of the ten villas, with a total investment of approximately 100 million euros, as well as the multi-year management of the new hotel property. After a long interaction with the municipal administration, the Assemblea Capitolina recently approved the proposal for a complex building permit, a crucial step for the project’s realization. Thus, Merope will be able to manage the individual villas as single hotel property, creating a unique offer in the hospitality sector in Rome.

With rooms and suites averaging over 40 square meters, including more than 40 with private gardens or terraces, and spaces dedicated to leisure activities, the Sallustian Villas are positioned to become a highly attractive destination. They will offer the opportunity to live the typical luxury resort experience close to the most important historical sites of the Italian capital and iconic places such as Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, Foro Romano and Piazza Navona.
Within the property, guests will have the opportunity to experience six restaurants and bars in different settings including Al fresco dining surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens or inside the villas. The Mandarin Bar, located on an expansive rooftop terrace, will provide captivating city views and no doubt become a coveted destination in Rome. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental will provide a wide range of wellness experiences, as well as state-of-the-art fitness facilities and large indoor and outdoor pools nestled amidst the beautifully landscaped gardens.

The masterplan for the project and the redevelopment and restoration of the Villas, which will be carried out preserving their typical 19th-century architectural style, have been entrusted to BMS, while the interior design will be curated by award-winning designers Gilles & Boissier, the French design duo who have won accolades for their sophisticated and contemporary interiors, including Mandarin Oriental Marrakech and Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. The F&B will be entirely assigned to Dimorestudio, while Parc Nouveau is the international architecture and landscape studio in charge of the greenery.

Pietro Croce, founder and CEO of Merope Asset Management, stated: “We are particularly proud to announce the partnership with Mandarin Oriental, which allows us to realize this one in a lifetime project, not only for the Capital City, but also on a global scale: a true urban oasis, where guests can experience top-tier hospitality in a resort-like setting, in the vibrant heart of one of the world’s culturally richest cities. The project, which was started on schedule thanks to an ongoing constructive dialogue with the municipal administration, will restore the Sallustian Villas to their original splendor, preserving their historical value, but with the ambition of transforming them into one of the most iconic hospitality establishments in our country and internationally”.

“Rome is home to many historical and architectural treasures and a destination of choice for luxury travellers. We will take the same meticulous approach in Rome as we have with our other historic properties, ensuring that we honour and respect local artisanal craftsmanship and Roman cultural heritage, while incorporating the finest luxury, contemporary comfort, sustainability standards and the legendary service for which Mandarin Oriental is renowned. We are delighted to be extending the Mandarin Oriental brand in Italy and look forward to working with our partners to create a truly unique landmark in the heart of the city” said Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.