IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Castello SGR to bring Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to Rome in 2029, transforming a historic Via Sicilia property and its former theatre into a new luxury lifestyle destination.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Castello SGR to introduce Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to Rome, with a 114-room luxury lifestyle hotel scheduled to open in 2029.
The property will be located at Via Sicilia 57, close to Via Veneto and Piazza Barberini, within one of Rome’s most established luxury hospitality districts. The project will convert an existing historic building into a hotel featuring a rooftop bar, restaurant, internal courtyard, wellness facilities and meetings and events space.
The development is being undertaken through Castello SGR’s Rome Hotel Development Fund, as part of a wider investment strategy focused on high-value hospitality assets in the Italian capital.
Former theatre to become a cultural venue
One of the most distinctive elements of the project is the restoration of the building’s former Teatro delle Arti.
Rather than removing the space during the conversion, the theatre will be redeveloped as a multifunctional venue for arts, cultural programming and events, serving both hotel guests and the wider Roman community.
That approach fits closely with Kimpton’s positioning.
The brand has built its identity around individually designed hotels that use restaurants, bars, programming and public spaces to create a stronger connection between guests and the surrounding neighbourhood.
In Rome, the theatre gives the hotel a particularly strong starting point.
Instead of simply applying a lifestyle identity to an existing building, the project can use an established cultural space as part of the hotel’s personality.
IHG strengthens its Via Veneto presence
The new Kimpton will become IHG’s third hotel in the Via Veneto area.
The group already operates InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and Six Senses Rome in the city, while Hotel Alexandra Rome, Vignette Collection is also expected to join its Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio.
For IHG, the signing strengthens an increasingly concentrated luxury presence in the Italian capital.
Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, described Rome as one of Europe’s most attractive luxury travel destinations, highlighting its international appeal, cultural heritage and strong hospitality market. She said the property’s location, design and theatre concept would allow Kimpton to bring a distinctive lifestyle proposition to the city.
Castello SGR expands its hospitality investment strategy
The agreement also builds on Castello SGR’s growing exposure to the Italian hotel sector.
The investment manager already has interests in hospitality assets including InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and the Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Giampiero Schiavo, CEO of Castello SGR, said the Kimpton agreement reflects the company’s strategy of investing in landmark properties capable of becoming experiential destinations for international travellers.
Rome remains particularly attractive because of the continuing repositioning of its luxury hotel market and the availability of historic properties capable of being adapted for contemporary hospitality.
Kimpton continues its European expansion
The Rome hotel will become the second Kimpton property in Italy, following Kimpton Villa Miramare in Taormina.
IHG first announced Kimpton’s entry into Italy through the 59-room Sicilian property, positioning the brand around destination dining, locally inspired design and social experiences.
Across Europe, Kimpton currently has 14 operating hotels and another six in development, while the brand globally has around 90 open hotels and 67 in the pipeline as of June 2026.
The Rome signing also comes during a broader expansion of IHG in Italy.
As of 30 June 2026, IHG had 33 operating hotels and 21 properties in the Italian pipeline, taking its combined open and development portfolio beyond 50 hotels.
For Kimpton, Rome provides a particularly natural market.
The brand’s model depends heavily on design, food and drink, cultural connections and social spaces. A historic building near Via Veneto with its own theatre gives IHG an opportunity to combine all four within a single project.
When the hotel opens in 2029, the test will be whether the redevelopment can maintain the character and history of the building while creating the contemporary, neighbourhood-connected hospitality experience for which Kimpton is known.
