Katara Hospitality today announced the grand opening of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Hotel, Milan, owned and restored to its former glory by the global hotel developer, owner and operator based in Qatar.

In line with Katara Hospitality’s mission to ensure the heritage of iconic hotels around the world, the hotel recently underwent extensive renovation, adding a new wing, to restore the Milanese landmark to its original splendour. Formerly known as “Palace Gallia”, the magnificent hotel is strongly rooted in the history of Milan while also overlooking the future of the city from its prime location in the heart of the emerging Porta Nuova district.

The grand opening took place around the annual design fair Salone de Mobile and the recent launch of EXPO Milano 2015. Excelsior Hotel Gallia is the latest gem to be unveiled by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. as part of a multi-million Euro investment with its owner partners to restore Europe’s most iconic hotels under The Luxury Collection brand.

“Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a magnificent property that has undergone a meticulous renovation and strategic expansion that marries contemporary design with the hotel’s Belle Époque architectural style, ensuring that this remains as one of Milan’s historic landmarks,” said Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman, Katara Hospitality.

“This Luxury Collection hotel is one of Katara Hospitality’s flagship international investments and we are proud of what has been achieved together with our partners such as Starwood. Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a true reflection of our vision to ensure the heritage of such iconic properties continues around the world” added Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Katara Hospitality.

Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts said; “This is an exciting time to unveil Excelsior Hotel Gallia as part of The Luxury Collection brand in Milan. As art, design, fashion and culture collide in this dynamic city, we are proud to have worked with local artisans and architects to reimagine this iconic hotel for today’s luxury travellers and the local community.”

“It brings us great pleasure to strengthen our partnership with Katara Hospitality with this exceptional hotel as we continue to grow The Luxury Collection in Italy, where the brand originated,” continued Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts – Europe, Africa and Middle East.

He continued, “This has been one of the most prestigious hotels in Milan since it opened in 1932. Today, the new Excelsior Hotel Gallia embodies the city’s rich history, sophisticated style and vibrant energy.”

Design and Architecture

Led by the award-winning Milan-based Studio Marco Piva, the extensive architecture and interior design of the project marries contemporary aesthetics with the hotel’s original Belle Epoque architectural style.

Excelsior Hotel Gallia comprises two main buildings – the fully restored historic palace and a modern new wing with a façade that resembles a delicate steel and glass curtain. The striking combination is inspired by the hotel’s luminous past and the emerging skyline of the Porta Nuova area, the up-and-coming city centre of Milan.

Following the renovation, Excelsior Hotel Gallia features 235 luxurious guest rooms fitted out by Cassina. This includes 53 suites of which the most opulent is the 1,000sqm Katara Suite – one of the largest Presidential Suites in Italy. Situated on the seventh floor, the Katara Suite offers the epitome of luxury with two terraces, four bedrooms and a private spa.

Dining

The hotel’ssignature restaurant Terrazza Gallia is managed with the advice of the Michelin-starred Cerea Family. Guests seated in the large, covered and heated outdoor terrace will enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the city including the new skyline of Porta Nuova district.

The Spa

Guests can enjoy indulgent treatments at Shiseido Spa Milan, the first Shiseido Spa in Italy. Spanning over 1000sqm across the sixth and seventh floors, this is the largest hotel spa in Milan with a wide range of beauty and wellness rituals as well as a swimming pool and fitness area with the latest equipment.

Connecting the historical centre of the hotel with the main hall of the new building is the indoor “Promenade”, a charming 100-metre walkway with large boutique windows from the famous Montenapoleone Street, the heart of the Milanese fashion district.

The ground floor of the new wing is dedicated to meetings and conferences, featuring 12 meeting rooms spanning across 1000sqm and 700sqm of foyer space including a grand ballroom with no columns and large windows that can host up to 400 people.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Italy

Starwood currently has 24 hotels in Italy representing five of its lifestyle brands – St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin and Four Points by Sheraton. The Luxury Collection recently unveiled Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan, adding to the brand’s illustrious portfolio in Italy which includes the legendary Gritti Palace and Hotel Danieli in Venice, as well as three remarkable resorts in Costa Smeralda in Sardinia – Cala di Volpe, Romazzino and Pitrizza.

Excelsior Hotel Gallia’s new architecture and design concept has already been recognised for its outstanding combination of historical and contemporary elements with a “Tourism for Italy” award in the “New Hospitality Structures” category at Expo Italia Real Estate exhibition in Milan in 2013. The hotel offers complimentary wireless high-speed internet access to all guests throughout the establishment and courtesy car service with Maserati.

For more information about Excelsior Hotel Gallia, visit www.luxurycollection.com/excelsiorgallia.

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection® is a collection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 90 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel’s distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.

About Studio Marco Piva

Exciting, fluid, functional. This is the language that distinguishes MARCO PIVA’s architectural creations, product and interior design. The effort in material research and technology, the value of differentiation, the design innovation, lead the establishment of Studio Marco Piva, whose work ranges from large projects to architectural interior design, to industrial design. A traveller and a designer, an innovator educated in rational approaches, Marco Piva studies and creates design solutions which are pervaded by stylistic freedom and stylish elegance. For more information, visit www.studiomarcopiva.com