Rocco Forte Hotels is launching its second hotel in the Italian capital after agreeing a multi-year lease for Hotel De La Ville near the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Located on via Sistina 69/75 in Rome, the 19,000 m2 hotel De La Ville consists of two buildings built in different eras: the main building, ‘Casa Vecchia’, was built during the 1920s in neoclassic style, while ‘Casa Nuova’ was rebuilt by Reale Immobili during the 1960s.

Owner Reale Immobili was advised by brokers Cushman & Wakefield in the search for and selection of a new hotel operator for the 5 star property, which currently has 192 rooms.

‘It has been a long standing ambition of mine to have a second property in Rome so I am delighted to have worked with Cushman & Wakefield on the lease acquisition of Hotel de la Ville,’ said Sir Rocco Forte. ‘The success of our existing hotel, Hotel De Russie, has shown that Rome continues to be a highly attractive destination for both the business and leisure travellers and we are very confident of the long-term growth prospects of the city. This is part of an ongoing expansion project for Rocco Forte Hotels, utilising both lease and management contract arrangements. We are seeking further new hotels in Italy and wider Europe as well as further afield in the US, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently launching a hotel in Jeddah, opening in 2016 and another in Shanghai, opening in 2018.’

According to the agreement, the property is to be completely renovated, with the intention of creating a new, 105-room hotel in the highest luxury segment.

The hotel will be added to Rocco Forte Hotels’ existing portfolio, consisting of 10 hotels with a total of over 1,700 rooms throughout Europe (Edinburgh, London, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Saint Petersburg, Florence, Rome and Sicily), as well as the two new openings planned, in Shanghai (China) and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

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