The Winner of "Hotel of the Year" for 2016 ~ Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
{Note: I wrote this post yesterday before I heard about the earthquake in Italy in the early hours of this morning...my thoughts and prayers go out to the people in the small towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and the surrounding areas which were devastated by this event.} Where have the past two weeks gone...I have been busy trying to squeeze every drop out of summer!
At last, I am thrilled to present the winner of "Hotel of the Year" from Virtuoso Travel Week...drum roll please...
Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, Italy
If you are not familiar with Puglia, it is in the heel of Italy's boot - in the far south. It is a region that for many years remained untouched by tourism and is only recently becoming more popular with the American tourism market. Borgo Egnazia is family owned - the Melpignano family envisioned creating more than just a resort, to offer a new concept of hospitality (interestingly enough, I have also found this exact concept in another hotel that has, of late, become a darling of the travel world - The Faena Miami Beach.) The "borgo" is the re-creation of a traditional Puglian village, inspired by the magic of Puglia - the beautiful Apulian land where it is located and the traditional local "tufo" limestone buildings juxtaposed with a unique style that includes contemporary architecture and design. Architect and set designer Pino Brescia was heavily influenced by the rural villages and farms of Puglia - he wanted to blend "tradition and innovation, modernity and authenticity, mightiness and simplicity".
Borgo Egnazia has a total of 192 rooms - sixty three rooms in La Corte, the main building; ninety two rooms in the Borgo, which feel like living in part of the village; and twenty eight villas - all with their own pools - which, along with an excellent kids' club, make this a perfect family destination. [gss ids="5695,5687,5680,5679,5678,5676,5692"]
Add two beach clubs, a golf course, a world class spa and a list of activities so long you couldn't do them all in an entire summer there (the cooking classes alone look remarkable!), and it is completely understandable why this beautiful resort took home the top prize from Travel Week.
See for yourself and let me know what you think...
While I was a little surprised that the Ritz Paris didn't win this year after its much anticipated re-opening, after looking more closely at the stunning Borgo Egnazia, it seems that the honor was well deserved!
Intrigued? Check out this short video on the property...
xoxo
