NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2024) – After months of preparation, EKN Development has officially been awarded the public bid for the restoration, renovation, and management of the historic Grand Hotel by the Municipality of San Pellegrino Terme in Italy.
Inaugurated in 1904, the Grand Hotel is a beloved cultural symbol and architectural crown jewel of San Pellegrino Terme, located at the foothills of the Alps in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region. The town is a renowned thermal location and is recognized around the world for its famous mineral water, which was declared “miraculous” by Leonardo da Vinci. In its heyday, San Pellegrino Terme was a popular playground for the rich and famous, where the Grand Hotel hosted illustrious names of the international nobility and bourgeoisie, including Queen Margherita of Savoy.
Although the hotel shuttered its doors in 1979, an ongoing effort has since been orchestrated by the Municipality of San Pellegrino Terme to revive the Grand Hotel in the context of a larger regeneration plan to stimulate tourism and redefine its status as a luxury travel destination. The Municipality issued a public tender seven months ago to advance the high-profile project, opening an international competition that invited proposals for the restoration of the Liberty Style landmark. Following the submission deadline on July 31st, the offers were thoroughly evaluated based on an award formula with precise criteria, including financial feasibility, maintenance planning, public accessibility, and tourism development.
With a proposal focused on celebrating the property’s rich legacy while detailing an unparalleled vision for the future, EKN ultimately won the bid. “We are honored to be entrusted with a project of such historical significance in a town that is revered as an ambassador brand of the world,” said Ebbie K. Nakhjavani, Founder and CEO of EKN Development. “We look forward to partnering with the Municipality to bring our concept to life and put the iconic Grand Hotel of San Pellegrino Terme back on the map as a global destination.”
EKN’s proposed restoration intends to redeliver the Grand Hotel as an upscale hospitality offering that seamlessly blends into the fabric of San Pellegrino Terme, drives tourism demand to the market, and bolsters the local economy to create a vibrant hub of activity and growth.
EKN has meticulously reimagined the Grand Hotel to recapture its former glory and provide a transcending luxury experience for hotel guests, daily visitors, and local residents alike. Proposed plans envision a redesigned interior layout with uses including 118 guest rooms reminiscent of luxury Italian villas; a revolutionary wellness spa drawing from the natural mineral waters of San Pellegrino Terme; a fine dining restaurant featuring farm-to-table ingredients, local wines, and regionally inspired cuisine; a speakeasy lounge; luxury retail shops; and flexible attic-level space with a library bar and outdoor terrace that can accommodate meetings, conferences, and group events. EKN, carefully considering all usable spaces in a project as a standard practice, also recognized the opportunity to transform the currently underutilized area around the building into an outdoor escape. The resort area has been visualized with a full-service bar on a covered deck, an infinity pool and spa lined by loungers and cabanas, a zero-entry splash pool with a cascading waterfall, bocce ball courts, firepits, seating areas, and lush gardens. With the bid officially awarded, EKN will now collaborate with the Municipality to diligently comply with the requirements of the tender and bring the project to fruition.
About EKN Development
EKN Development is a visionary development and investment firm focused on hospitality and mixed-use real estate. The company pursues select- and full-service ground-up development and adaptive reuse projects, targeting unique locations, both nationwide and internationally, with diverse demand drivers and high barriers to entry. EKN specializes in developing timeless projects that capture the essence of the local community and personify the spirit of each location. Guided by creative vision and decades of experience, the firm delivers human-centric, state-of-the-art developments that transcend materiality and promote enrichment. EKN is dedicated to creating the outstanding spaces of tomorrow that draw visitors and locals together, encourage economic growth, and stand the test of time. EKN offers a distinct competitive advantage by integrating all disciplines in-house, including finance, construction, legal, architecture, engineering, and creative. The company maintains a proven track record of delivering successful developments, with a current portfolio of five developed hotels in operation, a dual-branded hotel under construction, and another five projects in the pipeline.
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