IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), announces second Vignette Collection property in Italy, with the signing of a sea-view hotel in Marina di Ragusa, Sicily. In partnership with Blu Lava Resorts (Owner) and Panoram Hotels (Management Company), Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection, will provide guests with a one-of-a-kind stay in a destination to remember when it opens later this year.
The 43-room Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection becomes the second Vignette Collection property announced in Italy, however will be the first to open, with Hotel Alexandra, Vignette Collection set to open in 2026. It will also be the latest addition to IHG’s fast growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Italy, joining eight open hotels and a further eight in development.
Vignette Collection is the newest addition to IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio which is one of the world’s largest. In just three years since its launch, the brand has surpassed the halfway point in its initial aim to reach 100 open and pipeline hotels in the first 10 years. Across Europe, there are currently 17 open and pipeline properties, with recent signings including the first Vignette Collection’s in France, Turkiye and Spain and brand launches in the UK with The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection and Hungary with Verno House Budapest, Vignette Collection.
Located on the picturesque island of Sicily, guests staying at Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection will be able to explore the island’s unique charm – from its sandy beaches to volcanic landscapes and local delicacies. The hotel will be a short walk from several UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Val di Noto region, including the baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica, and Noto, as well as a modern marina with over 800 berths, and a vibrant tourism and hospitality offering.
Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection will feature a private beach club with direct access to the sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean. The hotel will also offer guests a choice of two separate swimming pools, a stylish bar and an all-day-dining restaurant, making it the ideal destination for those staying on the Island.
(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Sicily, with its vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and exquisite cuisine, offers the ideal setting for our second Vignette Collection property in Italy. Our growth strategy in the market centres on expanding our presence within the luxury and lifestyle segment, while ensuring exceptional stays and memorable experiences for our guests. The signing of Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection perfectly aligns with this vision.
This is our first collaboration with Blu Lava Resorts, marking the beginning of a long and exciting partnership dedicated to creating a one-of-a-kind destination in one of the world’s most iconic locations. Together, we look forward to offering guests an authentic travel experience as they are immersed in the hotel’s distinctive character, stunning surroundings, and local charm when Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection opens its doors in the second half of 2025.”
In August 2021, IHG launched Vignette Collection, offering a different price point to the upscale conversion brand voco and complementing its existing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio. Vignette Collection appeals to owners of world-class independent luxury and lifestyle hotels seeking to quickly benefit from IHG’s powerful technology and revenue systems, operational expertise, and loyalty offer, without the need for high upfront costs or compromise on a property’s unique character, style, or name.
Vignette Collection is IHG’s first collection brand and represents a curation of distinct hotels, demonstrating diversity and discovery. Vignette Collection combines each property’s individual identity with the brand’s promise of ‘A Means For Good’ and Memorable Rituals. The brand offers a compelling way for owners of one-of-a-kind hotels to benefit from IHG’s powerful enterprise offering and global scale.
(Mrs.) Nadia Perna, Owner, Blu Lava Resorts, said: “IHG Hotels & Resorts’ growing reputation for crafting unparalleled luxury destinations, both in Italy and globally, is the key reason we chose them as partners for this hotel. With their trusted reputation, underpinned by their leading commercial offering and powerful enterprise, we are proud to introduce the Vignette Collection to Sicily—an exceptional brand in an extraordinary location.
We are confident that the Vignette Collection brand will elevate the existing hotel offer in Sicily, and provide an unforgettable experience that captures the heart and soul of Italy.”
Guillermo Pérez Palacios, CEO of Panoram Hotel Management, stated:“Managing this hotel represents a further step in Panoram’s expansion in Italy, a market with great potential for the development of our business model, multi-brand hotel management. Our goal is to build a platform of around twenty establishments in the coming years. Italy offers great opportunities thanks to the increasing interest from major hotel groups to grow in the country.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts currently has 30 open hotels in Italy, across seven brands (InterContinental, Six Senses, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express), with an additional 12 properties in the pipeline.
