Get your trip off to a great start with a stay at this property, which offers free Wi-Fi in all rooms


2026-05-30


For sale:  a 4 star hotel in Milan, Italy

Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Asking price:R 15 million euros

Located in the beating heart of Milan, in the renowned Brera district, easily reachable 10 minutes from the Duomo.

Get your trip off to a great start with a stay at this property, which offers free Wi-Fi in all rooms....

Owner's comments

Here is the summary regarding the hotel opportunity:

Approximate number of keys and GBA/sqm

  • Keys: The hotel currently consists of 62 rooms. The "Value-add business plan" proposed by Experimental Group involves maintaining this count while upgrading to a design-led luxury standard.
  • GBA/sqm: The gross area of the hotel is approximately 4,982 sqm (calculated from floor-by-floor gross area data provided in the floor plan). The rooms average 27 sqm in size.

Exact status of Experimental Group

  • Current Status: Experimental Group (EG) is not yet the operator.
  • Operator Status: They are currently a prospective buyer and future operator. As of January 2024, EG was seeking equity to submit an indicative offer to acquire the hotel.

Negotiation Status

The acquisition process was structured in phases, with "Phase 1" indicative offers due in February 2024. EG intends to operate the hotel under their brand following a 14-month renovation period.

Hotel category

  • The hotel is currently a 4-star boutique property.
  • Experimental Group’s plan is to upgrade it to a 5-star/luxury property.

Current operating performance

  • The property was noted to be "lagging behind other 5-star hotels in Milan" as of early 2024.
  • Stabilized Projections (2028): EG anticipates a stabilized RevPAR of €375 and an NOI margin of 37%.
  • RevPAR Growth: The renovation is expected to drive a 31% increase in RevPAR upon stabilization compared to 2023 levels.

Operator agreement structure

The proposed structure is a PropCo/OpCo model where Experimental Group (potentially with JV partners) owns the freehold and operates the asset.

The financial modeling includes Base Management Fees (3%) and Incentive Management Fees (approx. 3-4%), suggesting an internal or structured management agreement between the ownership entity and the EG brand.

Asset deal or share deal

The acquisition is explicitly stated to be executed through a share deal.

Mandate-side/direct seller connection and process structure

  • Mandate: The opportunity was presented to Experimental Group by CBRE, who is acting as the exclusive broker for the Seller.
  • Process Structure: A two-phase competitive bidding process: Phase 1: Indicative Offers due February 15, 2024. Phase 2: Confirmed or revised offers due March 4, 2024.

NOTE: To move forward we need an investor with £150M to spend who is seriously keen to know more. At which point, armed with an Expression of Interest Letter from their lawyer

We can go back in and make serious enquiries. We believe that Experimental (who run Cowley Manor) want out and therefore it would be available free of operator.

_____________________________________

The hotel stands out for being the first "zero emissions" hotel. Through the use and constant research of innovative technologies, all the energy used is produced without releasing CO2: a constant commitment that has allowed the structure to obtain the DCA sustainable certification.

The hotel offers 62 rooms including 4 Junior Suites and 2 Suites: here the Milanese style takes shape, through the different form of culture and creativity. A rich international breakfast buffet is served in the internal foyer, including the "home made" option, to the tune of a mini harp concert performed live.

From the top floor of the hotel you can admire the evocative panorama of the city, from the only city terrace with a 360° view of the skyline. Sky Terrace offers classic aperitifs and botanical cocktails, to continue the evening with a perfect dinner. The proposed menu is healthy, in full compliance with the hotel's green philosophy, and is expressed with a line designed by our chef to reduce waste by following seasonality. An equipped gym, electric bicycles available and advice from the concierge.

Rooms & Rates

This room features parquet floors and free Wi-Fi. It offers air conditioning and a TV with satellite channels.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Family Suite

Set on 2 levels, this air-conditioned suite features a private bathroom with bath tub, a seating area with a single sofa bed, and a raised sleeping area with an additional toilet. Free WiFi is available.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Junior Suite

Large suite with parquet floors and a separate lounge. Features an LCD TV with satellite channels. Offers free WiFi and air conditioning. Some have 2 bathrooms or a balcony.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility

Suite (3 adults)

Large suite with parquet floors and a separate lounge. Features an LCD TV with satellite channels. Offers free WiFi and air conditioning. This room features a balcony.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Classic Single Room

This room features parquet floors and free Wi-Fi. It offers air conditioning and a TV with satellite channels.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Classic Twin Room

This room features parquet floors and free Wi-Fi. It offers air conditioning and a TV with satellite channels.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Superior Double Room

Spacious room with parquet floors. Offers free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a TV with satellite channels. Features a large bathroom with spa bath. Some offer a balcony.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Duplex Suite

Set on 2 levels, this air-conditioned suite features a private bathroom with bath tub, a seating area with sofa bed, and a raised sleeping area with an additional bathroom. Free WiFi is available.

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Classic

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Superior

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Classic 2 Beds

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Superior 1 Queen Bed

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Suite

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Standard Suite

Amenities:

  • Room Service
  • 24 hour front desk
  • Fitness Center
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Restaurant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Concierge
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Property uses a professional cleaning service
  • Masks are available to guests
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • In room safe
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Internet Access - Free Public Access
  • Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Laundry
  • Non-Smoking Facility
  • Business Center
  • Lounge/Bar

Classic 1 Queen Bed

Amenities:

Room Service

24 hour front desk

Fitness Center

Property is cleaned with disinfectant

Restaurant

Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures

Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F

Concierge

Wheelchair Access

Property uses a professional cleaning service

Masks are available to guests

Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer

In room safe

Social distancing measures are in place

Internet Access - Free Public Access

Acrylic shield between guests and staff in main contact areas

Laundry

Non-Smoking Facility

Business Center

Lounge/Bar

Internet WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking No parking available.
Bathroom Toilet paper, Towels, Bidet, Private bathroom, Toilet, Free toiletries, Bathrobe, Hairdryer
Bedroom Linen, Wardrobe or closet
Outdoors Terrace
Room Amenities Socket near the bed, Clothes rack
Activities Bicycle rental, Live music/performance
Living Area Desk
Media & Technology Flat-screen TV, Cable channels, Satellite channels, Radio, Telephone, TV
Food & Drink Coffee house on site, Fruits Additional charge, Wine/champagne Additional charge, Kid meals Additional charge, Special diet menus (on request), Snack bar, Breakfast in the room, Bar, Minibar, Restaurant
Reception services Invoice provided, Concierge service, Luggage storage, 24-hour front desk
Cleaning services Daily housekeeping, Trouser press Additional charge, Ironing service Additional charge, Dry cleaning Additional charge, Laundry Additional charge
Business facilities Fax/photocopying Additional charge, Business centre, Meeting/banquet facilities Additional charge
Safety & security Fire extinguishers, CCTV outside property, CCTV in common areas, Smoke alarms, Security alarm, Key card access, Key access, Safety deposit box
General Shared lounge/TV area, Designated smoking area, Air conditioning, Non-smoking throughout, Allergy-free room, Wake-up service, Hardwood or parquet floors, Heating, Soundproof rooms, Lift, Family rooms, Facilities for disabled guests, Non-smoking rooms, Room service
Accessibility Wheelchair accessible, Upper floors accessible by elevator
Wellness Fitness/spa locker rooms, Fitness, Fitness centre
Languages spoken German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese

Milan

Milan (ItalianMilano) is the regional capital of Lombardy, in northern Italy, and the seat of the Metropolitan City of Milan. It is the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome, with a population of 1,362,863 in 2026. The city's wider metropolitan area is the largest in Italy, and the fourth-largest in the European Union, with an estimated population of 6.55 million. Milan is considered Italy's economic capital, and its metropolitan area accounts for about 20% of the country's GDP.

Founded around 590 BC by a Celtic tribe, Milan was conquered by the Romans in 222 BC, who Latinized the name of the city into Mediolanum. At the end of the fourth century, it briefly served as capital of the Western Roman Empire. In the Late Medieval period, the wealthy Duchy of Milan was one of the greatest forces behind the Renaissance. As a major center of the Italian Enlightenment during the Early modern period, Milan's cultural and political struggle against Austrian domination was crucial in the reunification of the Kingdom of Italy. From the 19th century onwards, Milan led the industrial and financial development of Italy.

Milan is a major international center of industry, finance, science, communications, fashion, art and tourism. Milan was classified as an "Alpha" city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Milan's business district hosts Borsa Italiana, Italy's main stock exchange (part of the Euronext consortium, the world's sixth-largest by market capitalization) and the headquarters of numerous national corporations, including eight Fortune 500 Europe companies. As of 2023, Milan and its special metropolitan authority have the largest GDP and the highest per-capita GDP of any Italian province.

Milan is a global fashion capital and a major international tourist destination, being one of the most visited cities in the world, ranked second in Italy after Rome, fifth in Europe and sixteenth in the world. The city is a major cultural center, with museums and art galleries that feature some of the most important collections in the world, including major works by Leonardo da Vinci. Milan hosts numerous educational institutions, including academies and universities that account for 11% of the national total of enrolled students. Milan hosts several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair, which are among the world's largest in terms of revenue, visitors and growth. Milan has many luxury hotels and is the fifth most starred in the world by Michelin Guide. It hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015. In the field of sports, Milan is home to two of Europe's most successful football teams, AC Milan and Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan), and one of Europe's main basketball teams, Olimpia Milano. The city also co-hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2026.

Etymology

Milan was founded with the Celtic name of Medhelanon, later Latinized by the ancient Romans into Mediolanum. In Celtic language medhe- meant "middle, center" and the name element -lanon is the Celtic equivalent of Latin -planum "plain", meant "(settlement) in the midst of the plain", or of "place between watercourses" (Celtic medhe = "in the middle, central"; land or lan = "land"), given the presence of the OlonaLambroSeveso rivers and the Nirone and Pudiga streams.

The Latin name Mediolanum comes from the Latin words medio (in the middle) and planus (plain). Some scholars believe that lanum comes from the Celtic root lan, meaning an enclosure or demarcated territory (source of the Welsh word llan, meaning "a sanctuary or church", ultimately cognate to English/German Land) in which Celtic communities used to build shrines.

Hence Mediolanum could signify the central town or sanctuary of a Celtic tribe. About sixty Gallo-Roman sites in France bore the name "Mediolanum", for example: Saintes (Mediolanum Santonum) and Évreux (Mediolanum Aulercorum). Another theory links the name to the scrofa semilanuta ("half-woolly sow") an ancient emblem of the city, fancifully accounted for in Andrea Alciato's Emblemata (1584), beneath a woodcut of the first raising of the city walls, where a boar is seen lifted from the excavation, and the etymology of Mediolanum given as "half-wool", explained in Latin and in French.

According to this theory, the foundation of Milan is credited to two Celtic peoples, the Bituriges and the Aedui, having as their emblems a ram and a boar. Therefore "The city's symbol is a wool-bearing boar, an animal of double form, here with sharp bristles, there with sleek wool." Alciato credits Ambrose for his account.

History

Celtic era

Around 590 BC a Celtic tribe belonging to the Insubres group and belonging to the Golasecca culture settled the city under the name Medhelanon. According to the legend reported by Livy (writing between 27 and 9 BC), the Gaulish king Ambicatus sent his nephew Bellovesus into northern Italy at the head of a party drawn from various Gaulish tribes; Bellovesus allegedly founded the settlement in the times of the Roman monarchy, during the reign of Tarquinius Priscus. Tarquin is traditionally recorded as reigning from 616 to 579 BC, according to ancient Roman historian Titus Livy.

Medhelanon, in particular, was developed around a sanctuary, which was the oldest area of the village. The sanctuary, which consisted of a wooded area in the shape of an ellipse with a central clearing, was aligned according to precise astronomical points. For this reason, it was used for religious gatherings, especially in particular celebratory moments. The sanctuary of Medhelanon was an ellipse with axes of 443 m (1,453 ft) and 323 m (1,060 ft) located near Piazza della Scala.

The urban planning profile was based on these early paths, and on the shape of the sanctuary, reached, in some cases, up to the 19th century and even beyond. For example, the route of the modern Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza del DuomoPiazza Cordusio and Via Broletto, which is curvilinear, could correspond to the south side of the ellipse of the ancient sanctuary of Medhelanon.

One axis of the Medhelanon sanctuary was aligned towards the heliacal rising of Antares, while the other towards the heliacal rising of Capella. The latter coincided with a Celtic spring festival celebrated on 24 March, while the heliacal rising of Antares corresponded with 11 November, which opened and closed the Celtic year and which coincided with the point where the Sun rose on the winter solstice.[49] About two centuries after the creation of the Celtic sanctuary, the first residential settlements began to be built around it. Medhelanon then transformed from a simple religious center to an urban and then military centre, thus becoming a real village.

The first homes were built just south of the Celtic sanctuary, near the modern Royal Palace of Milan. Subsequently, with the growth of the town centre, other important buildings for the Medhelanon community were built. First, a temple dedicated to the goddess Belisama was built, which was located near the modern Milan Cathedral. Then, near the modern Via Moneta, which is located near today's Piazza San Sepolcro, a fortified building with military functions was built which was surrounded by a defensive moat.

Roman times

During the Roman Republic, the Romans, led by consul Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, fought the Insubres and captured the settlement in 222 BC. The chief of the Insubres then submitted to Rome, giving the Romans control of the settlement. The Romans eventually conquered the entirety of the region, calling the new province "Cisalpine Gaul" (LatinGallia Cisalpina)—"Gaul this side of the Alps"—and may have given the city its Latinized name of Mediolanum: in Gaulish *medio- meant "middle, centre" and the name element -lanon is the Celtic equivalent of Latin -planum "plain", thus *Mediolanon (Latinized as Mediolānum) meant "(settlement) in the midst of the plain".Mediolanum became the most important center of Cisalpine Gaul and, in the wake of economic development, in 49 BC, was elevated, within the Lex Roscia, to the status of municipium.

The ancient Celtic settlement was, from a topographic point of view, superimposed and replaced by the Roman one. The Roman city was then gradually superimposed and replaced by the medieval one. The urban center of Milan has therefore grown constantly and rapidly, until modern times, around the first Celtic nucleus. The original Celtic toponym Medhelanon then changed, as evidenced by a graffiti in Celtic language present on a section of the Roman walls of Milan which dates back to a period following the Roman conquest of the Celtic village, in Mesiolano. In 286, the Roman Emperor Diocletian moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Rome to Mediolanum. Diocletian himself chose to reside at Nicomedia in the Eastern Empire, leaving his colleague Maximian at Milan.

During the Augustan age Mediolanum was famous for its schools; it possessed a theatre and an amphitheatre (129.5 x 109.3 m), the third largest in Roman Italy after the Colosseum in Rome and the vast amphitheatre in Capua.[ A large stone wall encircled the city in Caesar's time, and later was expanded in the late third century AD, by Maximian. Maximian built several gigantic monuments including the large circus (470 × 85 metres) and the thermae or Baths of Hercules, a large complex of imperial palaces and other services and buildings of which few visible traces remain. Maximian increased the city area to 375 acres by surrounding it with a new, larger stone wall (about 4.5 km long) with many 24-sided towers. The monumental area had twin towers; the one included later in the construction of the convent of San Maurizio Maggiore remains 16.6 m high.

It was from Mediolanum that the Emperor Constantine issued what is now known as the Edict of Milan in AD 313, granting tolerance to all religions within the Empire, thus paving the way for Christianity to become the dominant religion of the Empire. Constantine was in Mediolanum to celebrate the wedding of his sister to the Eastern Emperor, Licinius. In 402, the Visigoths besieged the city and the Emperor Honorius moved the Imperial residence to Ravenna. In 452, Attila besieged the city, but the real break with the city's Imperial past came in 539, during the Gothic War, when Uraias (a nephew of Witiges, formerly King of the Italian Ostrogoths) carried out a siege of Milan, and after capitulation, according to Procopius, 300,000 male citizens were executed and the women sold to the allies of the Goths for assisting in the siege. The Lombards took Ticinum as their capital in 572 (renaming it Papia – the modern Pavia), and left early-medieval Milan to the governance of its archbishops.

Middle Ages

After the siege of the city by the Visigoths in 402, the imperial residence moved to Ravenna. Attila, King of the Hunssacked and devastated the city in 452 AD. In 539 the Ostrogoths conquered and destroyed Milan during the Gothic War against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. In the summer of 569 the Lombards (from whom the name of the Italian region Lombardy derives), conquered Milan, overpowering the small Byzantine garrison left for its defence. Some Roman structures remained in use in Milan under Lombard rule. Milan surrendered to Charlemagne and the Franks in 774.

The 11th century saw a reaction against the control of the Holy Roman Emperors. City-states emerged in northern Italy, an expression of the new political power of the cities and their will to fight against all feudal powers. Milan was no exception. It did not take long, however, for the Italian city-states to begin fighting each other to try to limit neighbouring powers. The Milanese destroyed Lodi and continuously warred with Pavia, Cremona and Como, who in turn asked Frederick I Barbarossa for help. In a sally they captured Empress Beatrice and forced her to ride a donkey backward through the city until getting out. Frederick I Barbarossa brought the destruction of much of Milan in 1162.

A period of peace followed and Milan prospered as a centre of trade due to its geographical position. During this time, the city was considered one of the largest European cities. As a result of the independence that the Lombard cities gained in the Peace of Constance in 1183, Milan returned to the commune form of local government first established in the 11th century.

In 1395, Gian Galeazzo Visconti became the first Duke of Milan upon receiving the title from Wenceslaus, King of the Romans. In 1447, Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, died without a male heir. Following the end of the Visconti line, the Ambrosian Republic was established; it took its name from St. Ambrose, the popular patron saint of the city. Both the Guelph and the Ghibelline factions worked together to bring about the Ambrosian Republic in Milan. In 1450, the Republic collapsed when Milan was conquered by Francesco I of the House of Sforza, which made Milan one of the leading cities of the Italian Renaissance. Under the House of Sforza, Milan experienced a period of great prosperity, which in particular saw the development of mulberry cultivation and silk processing.

Following this economic growth, works such as the Sforza Castle (already existing in the Visconti era under the name of Porta Giovia Castle, but re-adapted, enlarged and completed by the Sforza family) and the Ospedale Maggiore were completed. The Sforzas also managed to attract to Milan personalities such as Leonardo da Vinci, who redesigned and improved the function of the navigli and painted The Last Supper, and Bramante, who worked on the church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, on the basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, influencing the development of the Lombard Renaissance.

Early modern

Milan's last independent ruler, Lodovico il Moro, requested the aid of Charles VIII of France against the other Italian states, eventually unleashing the Italian Wars. The king's cousin, Louis of Orléans, took part in the expedition and realized most of Italy was virtually defenseless. This prompted him to come back a few years later in 1500, and claim the Duchy of Milan for himself, his grandmother having been a member of the ruling Visconti family. At that time, Milan was also defended by Swiss mercenaries. After the victory of Louis's successor François I over the Swiss at the Battle of Marignan, the duchy was promised to the French king François I. When the Emperor Charles V defeated Francis I at the Battle of Pavia in 1525, French rule in the Duchy of Milan came to an end. In 1535, the Sforza line went extinct.[66]

In 1556, Charles V abdicated in favour of his son Philip II and his brother Ferdinand I. Charles's Italian possessions, including Milan, passed to Philip II and the line of the Spanish Habsburgs, while Ferdinand's Austrian line of Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire. The Great Plague of Milan in 1629–31, that claimed the lives of an estimated 60,000 people out of a population of 130,000, caused unprecedented devastation in the city and was effectively described by Alessandro Manzoni in his masterpiece The Betrothed. This episode was seen by many as the symbol of Spanish bad rule and decadence and is considered one of the last outbreaks of the centuries-long pandemic of plague that began with the Black Death.

In 1700, the Spanish line of Habsburgs was extinguished with the death of Charles II. After his death, the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. In 1706, the French were defeated in Ramillies and Turin and were forced to yield northern Italy to the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1713 and 1714, the Treaties of Utrecht and Rastatt formally confirmed Austrian sovereignty over most of Habsburg Spain's Italian possessions including Lombardy and its capital, Milan.

Napoleon invaded Italy in 1796, and Milan was declared capital of the Cisalpine Republic. Later, he declared Milan capital of the Kingdom of Italy and was crowned King of Italy in the cathedral. After Napoleon's occupation ended, the Congress of Vienna returned Lombardy and Milan to Austrian control in 1815.

Late modern and contemporary

On 18 March 1848, Milan effectively rebelled against Austrian rule, during the so-called "Five Days" (ItalianLe Cinque Giornate), that forced Field Marshal Radetzky to temporarily withdraw from the city. The bordering Kingdom of Piedmont–Sardinia sent troops to protect the insurgents and organised a plebiscite that ratified by a huge majority the unification of Lombardy with Piedmont–Sardinia. But just a few months later the Austrians were able to send fresh forces that routed the Piedmontese army at the Battle of Custoza on 24 July and to reassert Austrian control over northern Italy. About ten years later, however, Italian nationalist politicians, officers and intellectuals such as CavourGaribaldi and Mazzini were able to gather a huge consensus and to pressure the monarchy to forge an alliance with the new French Empire of Napoleon III to defeat Austria and establish a large Italian state in the region. At the Battle of Solferino in 1859, French and Italian troops heavily defeated the Austrians that retreated under the Quadrilateral line. Following this battle, Milan and the rest of Lombardy were incorporated into Piedmont-Sardinia, which then proceeded to annex all the other Italian statelets and proclaim the birth of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March 1861.

The political unification of Italy enhanced Milan's economic dominance over northern Italy. A dense rail network, whose construction had started under Austrian patronage, was completed in a brief time, making Milan the rail hub of northern Italy and, with the opening of the Gotthard (1882) and Simplon (1906) railway tunnels, the major South European rail hub for goods and passenger transport. Indeed, Milan and Venice were among the main stops of the Orient Express that started operating from 1919. Abundant hydroelectric resources allowed the development of a strong steel and textile sector and, as Milanese banks dominated Italy's financial sphere, the city became the country's leading financial centre. In May 1898, Milan was shaken by the Bava Beccaris massacre, a riot related to soaring cost of living.

Milan's northern location in Italy closer to Europe, secured also a leading role for the city on the political scene. It was in Milan that Benito Mussolini built his political and journalistic careers, and his fascist Blackshirts rallied for the first time in the city's Piazza San Sepolcro; here the future Fascist dictator launched his March on Rome on 28 October 1922. During the Second World War Milan's large industrial and transport facilities suffered extensive damage from Allied bombings that often also hit residential districts.[72] When Italy surrendered in 1943, German forces occupied and plundered most of northern Italy, fueling the birth of a massive resistance guerrilla movement.[73] On 29 April 1945, the American 1st Armored Division was advancing on Milan but, before it arrived, the Italian resistance seized control of the city and executed Mussolini along with his mistress and several regime officers, that were later hanged and exposed in Piazzale Loreto, where one year before some resistance members had been executed.

During the post-war economic boom, the reconstruction effort and the Italian economic miracle attracted a large wave of internal migration (especially from rural areas of southern Italy) to Milan. The population grew from 1.3 million in 1951 to 1.7 million in 1967. During this period, Milan was rapidly rebuilt, with the construction of several innovative and modernist skyscrapers, such as the Torre Velasca and the Pirelli Tower, that soon became the symbols of this new era of prosperity. The economic prosperity was, however, overshadowed in the late 1960s and early 1970s during the so-called Years of lead, when Milan witnessed an unprecedented wave of street violence, labour strikes and political terrorism. The apex of this period of turmoil occurred on 12 December 1969, when a bomb exploded at the National Agrarian Bank in Piazza Fontana, killing 17 people and injuring 88.

In the 1980s, with the international success of Milanese houses (like ArmaniPradaVersaceMoschino and Dolce & Gabbana), Milan became one of the world's fashion capitals. The city saw also a marked rise in international tourism, notably from America and Japan, while the stock exchange increased its market capitalisation more than five-fold.[76] This period led the mass media to nickname the metropolis "Milano da bere", literally "Milan to be drunk".

In the 1990s, Milan was badly affected by Tangentopoli, a political scandal in which many politicians and businessmen were tried for corruption. The city was also affected by a severe financial crisis and a steady decline in textiles, automobile and steel production. Berlusconi's Milano 2 and Milano 3 projects were the most important housing projects of the 1980s and 1990s in Milan and brought to the city new economical and social energy.

In the early 21st, century Milan underwent a series of sweeping redevelopments over huge former industrial areas. Two new business districts, Porta Nuova and CityLife, were built in the space of a decade, radically changing the skyline of the city. Its exhibition centre moved to a much larger site in Rho. The long decline in traditional manufacturing has been overshadowed by a great expansion of publishing, finance, banking, fashion design, information technology, logistics and tourism. The city's decades-long population decline seems to have partially reverted in recent years, as the comune gained about 100,000 new residents since the last census. The successful re-branding of the city as a global capital of innovation has been instrumental in its successful bids for hosting large international events such as 2015 Expo and 2026 Winter Olympics.

Geography

Milan is located in the north-western section of the Po Valley, approximately halfway between the river Po to the south and the foothills of the Alps with the great lakes (ComoMaggiore, and Lugano) to the north, the Ticino river to the west and the Adda to the east. The city's land is flat and the elevation is relatively low; its highest point is 122 m (400 ft) above sea level.

The administrative comune, or city proper, covers an area of about 181 square kilometres (70 sq mi), with a population, in 2025, of 1,366,155 and a population density of 7,520 inhabitants per square kilometre (19,500/sq mi). Milan's continuous urban area extends beyond the city limits. The administrative Metropolitan City of Milan, a special-status provincial authority, covers 1,575 km2 (608 sq mi) and in 2024 had a population estimated at 3,245,459, with a resulting density of 2,067/km2 (5,350/sq mi), while its wider metropolitan had an estimated population in excess of 6.1 million as of 2025.

The concentric layout of the city centre reflects the Navigli, an ancient system of navigable and interconnected canals, now mostly covered. The suburbs of the city have expanded mainly to the north, swallowing up many comuni along the roads towards Varese, Como, Lecco, and Bergamo. In the 21st century, the Navigli region of Milan is a highly active area with a large number of residential units, bars, and restaurants; it is also a well-known centre for artists.

Climate

Milan features a mid-latitude, four-season humid subtropical climate (Cfa), according to the Köppen climate classification. Milan's climate is similar to much of Northern Italy's inland plains, with hot, humid summers and cold, foggy winters. The Alps and Apennine Mountains form a natural barrier that protects the city from the major circulations coming from northern Europe and the sea.

During winter daily average temperatures can fall below freezing (0 °C [32 °F]) and accumulations of snow can occur: the historic average of Milan's area is 25 centimetres (10 in) in the period between 1961 and 1990, with a record of 90 centimetres (35 in) in January 1985. In the suburbs the average can reach 36 centimetres (14 in).The city receives on average seven days of snow per year.

The city was often shrouded in thick cloud or fog during winter, although the removal of rice paddies from the southern neighbourhoods and the urban heat island effect have greatly reduced this occurrence since the turn of the 21st century. Occasionally, the Foehn winds cause the temperatures to rise unexpectedly: on 22 January 2012 the daily high reached 16 °C (61 °F) while on 22 February 2012 it reached 21 °C (70 °F). Air pollution levels rise significantly in wintertime when cold air clings to the soil, causing Milan to be one of Europe's most polluted cities.

Summers in Milan are hot and humidity levels are high with peak temperatures reaching above 35 °C (95 °F). Due to the high humidity, urban heat effect and lack of wind, nighttimes often remain muggy during the summer months. Usually the summer enjoys clearer skies with an average of more than 13 hours of daylight: when precipitation occurs though, it is more likely to be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail.

Springs and autumns are generally pleasant, with temperatures ranging between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F); these seasons are characterized by higher rainfall, especially in April and May. Relative humidity typically ranges between 45% (comfortable) and 95% (very humid) throughout the year, rarely dropping below 27% (dry) and reaching as high as 100%.

Wind is generally absent: over the course of the year typical wind speeds vary from 0 to 14 km/h (0 to 9 mph) (calm to gentle breeze), rarely exceeding 29 km/h (18 mph) (fresh breeze), except during summer thunderstorms when winds can blow strong. In the spring, gale-force windstorms may happen, generated either by Tramontane blowing from the Alps or by Bora-like winds from the north. Due to its geographic location surrounded by mountains on 3 sides, Milan is among the least windy cities in Europe.





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Cliff Jacobs (Nat Dpl Hotel Man (UJ). MPRE. GA Level 5 TEFL)

Managing Principal / CEO

Exquisite Hotel Consultants (Pty) Ltd

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 413 1071 / +27 (0) 61 716 6951

Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.com

Webhttps://www.exquisitehotelconsultants.com

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Service Providers
Name: Apex Hospitality Services
Phone: +27 (0) 82 825 2211
Email: martin@thefairways.co.za

Hospitality Services

Apex Hospitality Services (AHS) is a professional hotel management and development company focused on delivering strong operational and financial performance. With experience across 17 hotels, including global brands,we consistently achieve high occupancy, competitive RevPAR, and market-leading results.

Our Values

  • Integrity: Transparent, ethical decision-making.
  • Respect: Warm, considerate engagement with guests, partners, and staff.
  • Teamwork: Collaborative problem-solving for stronger outcomes.
  • Accountability: Ownership of results, continuous learning, and recognition of success.

Purpose & Mission 

At AHS, we aim to create sustainable value for all stakeholders by optimizing hotel performance. Our mission is to elevate each property’s revenue, guest experience, and profitability through smart, creative, and authentic management practices. AHS excels in the smart-luxury and high-value lifestyle segment, delivering premium returns for owners.

Leadership

  • Paul Kelley: 30+ years in operations, F\&B, refurbishments, and team building, including leadership roles with Royal Caribbean, Sun City, Holiday Inn, and Southern Sun.
  • Martin Goodman: 15+ years specializing in branding, revenue management, and reopening or repositioning underperforming hotels.

Core Services

  • Revenue Strategy: Pricing, market analysis, and RevPAR optimization.
  • Pre-Transition Support: Seamless operational handovers.
  • IT & Reporting: Accurate financials, technology integration, and performance transparency.
  • Guest Experience: High service standards to drive satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Capital & Finance Management: Budgeting, compliance, accounting, forecasting, and full financial reporting.
  • Development & Project Management: Acquisition advice, due diligence, repositioning, renovations, PIP oversight, procurement, and construction.
  • Pre-Opening & Procurement: Brand selection, design reviews, budgeting, staffing, and launch planning for new properties.
  • Marketing & Sales: Revenue optimization, digital marketing, social media, and website audits.
  • Risk Management: Regulatory compliance and protection of assets.
  • Operations & HR: Talent recruitment, training, and cultural development to ensure operational excellence.

Value for Owners

We transform underperforming assets through revenue improvements, operational efficiencies, and strategic guidance. Our tailored solutions—from full management to advisory services—enhance profitability, control costs, and increase long-term asset value across hotels, guesthouses, and lodges.

Get Started

Contact us for a discovery session to explore how AHS can unlock your property's full potential.

Martin: (+27) 828252211 : martin@thefairways.co.za
Paul: (+27) 828822777 : kelley@richland.co.za


View Partner's Website
Name: BondExcel
Phone: +27 (0) 83 417 1522
Email: hanlie@bondexcelwc.co.za

Mortgage Origination

We interface with all of the major banks in South Africa to ensure that you get the right home loan solution at the best possible rate. 

  • Hassle free financing for home loans
  • Competitive rates
  • Industry expertise offered by our bank-trained home loan consultants
  • No hidden costs
  • Personal assistance from the start to finish
  • Freedom of choice - through BondExcel you have access to all major banks through a single point of contact
  • Payment structures and advice to suit your personal financial needs
  • Our services are offered free of charge 

Looking forward to assist you with your home loan application!


View Partner's Website
Name: Businessentials For Hospitality
Phone: +27 (0) 21 418 0940
Email: faried@businessentials.co.za

Hospitality Consulting, Accounting, Bookkeeping and Payroll Services

  • We have more than fifty years of experience working in over 100 Hotels, Guest Houses, B&B's, Restaurants and Pubs and are therefore experts in our field and can offer you advice, ideas and guidance.
  • We understand your business from both an operational and financial perspective.
  • We offer a comprehensive Bookkeeping and Management Accounting service, as well as Operational Systems Analysis including operational auditing and improvement of efficiencies in the restaurant sector (but not limited to).
  • We are flexible according to your needs.
  • Fees are structured according to the level of service you require.

View Partner's Website
Name: Capital Efficiency Group
Phone: +27 (0) 31 001 6307
Email: chris@capef.co.za

Corporate Finance, Tax & Accounting and Treasury Services.

  • Global International payment services, providing you the best Forex rates, opening and management of Individual and Corporate banking accounts in South Africa.
  • SARS, SARB and Exchange Control advice & applications. We ensure investor compliance with the current regulations in South Africa.
  • Corporate Finance & Advisory Services, including, Transaction Structuring, BBBEE Structuring, Due Diligence, Agreement Structuring, Capital & Debt Raising.
  • Accounting & Tax Services, Preparation of Annual Financial Statements, Management Accounts, Payroll Management, VAT & Tax Submissions.
  • Management Services, Preparation and Structuring of Strategic Plans, Reporting Packs, Risk Assessment and Project Management.

 


View Partner's Website
Name: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc
Phone: +27 (0) 21 481 6317
Email: andrew.heiberg@dlacdh.com

Attorneys, Notaries and Conveyancers

  • Andrew Heiberg is a director and regional head of our Real Estate practice.
  • Andrew has assisted numerous domestic corporations in the field of commercial property acquisition and disposal transactions in South Africa.
  • He has also assisted domestic corporations in acquiring finance for commercial property ventures in South Africa.
  • The Real Estate practice acts for all the major commercial banks in respect of the registration of mortgage bonds and Andrew can assist in securing finance from these entities.
  • He also acts for certain local property developers in respect of the establishment of new residential and commercial property developments.
  • In addition to dealing with all aspects of conveyancing, Andrew specialises in sectional title-related work.


View Partner's Website
Name: D E I R D R E R E N N I E R S Interior Design
Phone: +27 (0) 72 952 1898
Email: deirdre@deirdrerenniers.com

Interior Design

  • Deirdre Renniers Interior Design is an intergrated design studio providing architectural and interior design services in the leisure, hospitality, and commercial sectors, with projects in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. 
  • Our approach is multidisciplinary and covers all the design aspects of a given project from interior architecture and interior design to furniture, product, and lighting design. 
  • We have creative experience in a variety of interior design disciplines, countries, and cultures. 
  • Our scope of experience has enabled a philosophy of design integrity and cultural sensitivity. 
  • We are committed to providing our clients with a solution that is driven by passion and expertise.

View Partner's Website
Name: De Leeuw Valuers Cape Town
Phone: +27 (0) 21 423 8036
Email: pieter.venter@deleeuw.co.za

Property Valuation Services

  • De Leeuw Valuers specialises in the valuation of immovable property throughout Southern Africa and MENA. The team comprises experienced valuers, who strive to ensure that valuations are of a superior standard.
  • The team are Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and registered as Professional Valuers with the South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession (SACPVP).
  • De Leeuw Valuers are Hospitality & Leisure Real Estate and Valuation Experts.
  • We have extensive experience in the valuation of a wide range of real estate asset classes including specialised property such as hotels, hospitals, data centres, cold storage, etc.
  • Exposure to green building practices and involvement in the valuation of green buildings. 

View Partner's Website
Name: E C Mobility
Phone: +351 (0) 91 558 0025
Email: carlos.e@ecmobility.hk

International property, law and immigration

  • Specializes in assisting and facilitating clients in obtaining European Union - Iberian countries - residence permits and citizenship, specialising in the very popular and highly successful Portugal Golden Visa Residence Program .
  • Team of professional consultants with a wide range of experience on international property, law and immigration.
  • Focuses on helping clients and their families with all aspects associated with migration and obtaining of visa.
  • Wide range of services, including pre and post application services, e.g. arrangement of exploratory trip to the country, representing clients in the Golden Visa application process and property management. 

View Partner's Website
Name: Edward Tokolo Kasete
Phone: +27 (0) 84 413 1071
Email: edward@exquisitehotelconsultants.com

Real Estate Specialist - Our Associate in Namibia

  • We offer an international platform of specialist hospitality property and/or business brokering services by listing and marketing for sale or lease or by investment partner arrangement or management agreement arrangement of a variety of hospitality products (i.e. hotels, resorts, boutique hotels, guest houses, guest lodges, B&Bs, game resorts, wine farms, yachts, cruise liners, etc) through our association with EC Mobility (in Portugal and Spain), BON Hotels (Africa), Giovanni Conti (Italy, North and East Africa, Sri Lanka), Nuno Boquinhas (Portugal, Azores, Madeira, Mozambique), Property 24, Seeff Property Services, Harcourts, Realnet, RE/MAX, Dogon Property Group, Rawson Estates, among many other prominent commercial estate agencies throughout Southern Africa - and now we are entering other African Countries on the East and West Coasts of Africa and moving further abroad! To date, Exquisite Hotel Consultants has a presence in over 80 countries - and counting...

  • Working with the above-mentioned agencies and others provides the largest possible reach nationally and internationally for all prospective buyers and sellers wishing to enter or exit the Hospitality Industry.

  • Sister websites have been opened in the following countries: United Kingdom: see www.exquisitehotelconsultants.co.uk, and in Germany: see www.exquisitehotelconsultants.de, and in the United States of America: see www.exquisitehotelconsultants.us.

  • Please note that several of our hospitality properties and/or businesses for sale or lease or through business partnership arrangements or management contracts are officially "Off-Market" - mainly for privacy reasons. Therefore, they are not listed as part of our hospitality properties/businesses for sale or lease stock. Please contact me for further details.  

  • Should you be considering to sell or buy or lease or obtain a partnership arrangement or management agreement arrangement for your hotel, boutique hotel, resort, guest house, B&B, game lodge, game resort, guest farm, yacht or cruise liner etc, I would be most pleased to provide you with further details of our way of working to effectively market and sell your property(ies) and/or business(es).


View Partner's Website
Name: Electrolux Professional
Phone: +27 (0) 82 786 2281
Email: estelle.van-den-berg@electroluxprofessional.com

Food Service, Beverage and Laundry Solutions

Electrolux Professional is a leading global provider of foodservice, beverage and laundry solutions, serving a wide range of customers globally, from restaurants and hotels to healthcare, educational and other service facilities. 

  • We offer OnE brand covering Food, Beverage and Laundry with only OnE point of contact with full-service offerings from single-unit equipment to full turnkey project solutions.
  • Our key products include combi ovens, cooking ranges, refrigeration and dishwashing equipment, coffee machines (semi-automatic, fully automatic and brewers)  coffee grinders, hot or cold beverage dispensers,  as well as frozen drinks and soft ice cream machines. When it comes to Laundry solutions: commercial washers, tumble dryers, drying cabinets, ironers and related specialty accessories and systems. 
  • We focus on solutions where there is a need for high-performing, reliable equipment, with significant aftermarket requirements over the equipment lifecycle and where customers are focused on productivity and total cost of ownership. 
  • Electrolux Professional constantly improves the energy and water consumption of its products, developing innovative and efficient solutions to meet the growing demand for resource-efficient appliances.
  • Our innovative products and worldwide service network make our customers’ work-life easier, more profitable – and truly sustainable every day.

View Partner's Website
Name: Exquisite Card
Phone: 0844131071
Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.co.za

For Attn: The Owner

LAUNCH OF EXQUISITE CARD DISCOUNT LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR ACCOMMODATION & CAR HIRE

As an hotelier of some 40 years standing – 22 years of which as the original owner/operator of Villa Belmonte Manor House Hotel in Cape Town, I am so very pleased and proud to introduce our new venture, namely Exquisite Card™, to you, to meet the needs of Internet-driven travellers who have the power and inclination to plan their holidays or business trips themselves and accordingly reserve flights, accommodation and car hire, etc. directly with service providers.

Exquisite Card offers discounts to this new kind of traveller through a discount card and/or voucher, which entitles the holder to +-20% discount on accommodation - as well as a variety of excellent additional special offers from time to time (including additional discounts on food and beverages) - on more than 5000 four and five star-standard hotels, boutique hotels, guesthouses, lodges and self-catering rooms in twelve African countries, and increasing in numbers and generally, a spread of properties throughout Africa and the rest of the World on a daily basis. The card or voucher is purchased through a secure e-commerce portal at www.exquisitehotelconsultants.com

 At a cost of R 390 for a one-year card, R 690 for a two-year card, or R29 for a daily voucher (yes, you can be a member of Exquisite Card™ for just one night if you wish!). This is an insignificant charge compared to the savings made on just one night’s accommodation and other tourism services like car hire and spa treatments etc. Note that we are also currently negotiating with domestic and foreign airlines, restaurants, hired car groups, etc for similar discounts.

How does it work? The cardholder searches the Exquisite Card website for partnering establishments and services, then books directly, stating the card or voucher number. The hotel then charges the client an average of 20% less than the published rate. Nearly two hundred top properties have already become Exquisite Card partners.  If you’re wondering, “Where’s the catch?” there quite simply isn’t one.  Hotels/Guesthouses want more business, travellers want to pay less and Exquisite Card™ discounts bring the two parties together and make everybody happy! All establishments and partners of Exquisite Card are expected to meet rigorous standards, because our members expect a high level of product and service.

So, please do browse the website and become a member of Exquisite Card™ when next you travel. Should you have any queries whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact myself  at (27) (21) 84 413 1071 or via email at cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.co.za.

All the best

Cliff Jacobs

Managing Director - Exquisite Card (Pty) Ltd 

 


View Partner's Website
Name: Exquisite Hotel Consultants' Hospitality Training Department
Phone: +27 (0) 84 413 1071
Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.com

Learn to speak Hotel English (one-to-one online course)

Our TEFL trained tutors teach the following functions

  • Greeting Guests
  • Dealing with Requests
  • Asking for Permission
  • Problems and Complaints
  • Making Comparisons
  • Compliments
  • Offering Help and Advice
  • Opinions
  • Giving Instructions
  • Hotel Facilities
  • Days and Time
  • Describing Jobs
  • Describing Functions
  • Directions
  • Shopping
  • Telephone Use
  • Bill Settlement
  • Wh_ Questions
  • Can and Do Questions
  • Verb Tenses and Usage
  • Parts of Speech

The course consists of 21 lessons (4 to 5 one-hour lessons per month).


View Partner's Website
Name: FVE Interiors
Phone: +27 (0) 66 274 3680
Email: lori@fveinteriors.com

Interior Design  

  • We are an Interior architecture, design, project management and fit-out agency, with over 15 years’ experience in the commercial, retail and hospitality industries. We pride ourselves on being a detailed, solutions driven and consistent brand.
  • FVE’s goal is to visually and conceptually translate our clients’ brands into spaces, textures and materials.
  • Our services include space analysis and planning, floor plan development, concept design, using cutting edge technology, saving our clients both time and money. And not least, the implementation of the complete design through the Project Management process. We have strategically built long term relationships with other industry experts; suppliers, manufacturers and installers, to facilitate a streamlined process for our clients.
  • Our speciality extends to the following and beyond: Space planning, Design concepts,  Technical drawing packs for council submissions, 3D renders, Turn-key project management, Marketing solutions. 

View Partner's Website
Name: Healing Earth
Phone: +27 (0) 21 555 1896
Email: ebrandt@healingearth.co.za

Hotel Amenities - inspired by Africa

  • Premium African spa brand,  spa operator and hotel amenity supplier.  We supply five star hotels, resorts, lodges and spas throughout South Africa and Africa including Royal Portfolio, Mantis Collection, Leading Hotels of the World, Royal Malewane, The Singita Group, to name a few!
  • We only produce top quality room amenities and spa products with 100% natural ingredients that are free from Parabens, artificial fragrance, DEA and synthetic chemicals.
  • We are a proudly South African brand; we do not import any of our ingredients, we obtain them from the richness of our African soil with its healing, restoring and nurturing properties.
  • All our amenity packaging is biodegradable and 100% eco-friendly
  • We support our local communities and adhere only to sustainable and ethical practices
  • We also offer full spa management, operations and consulting service that includes recruitment, management, training and support

View Partner's Website
Name: Hospro
Phone: +27 (0) 21 583 1851
Email: roberto.treffers@hospro.co.za

Hospitality Consultancy and Procurement

  • Established in 2007, HOSPRO|Hospitality Professionals serves the African Sub-Saharan region.
  • With a background in international hospitality consultancy and procurement services for some 30 years,
  • our combination of market knowledge and expertise ensures the best possible service for our business relations.
  • We support our clienteles with specific recommendations and references to stay focused on the total process.
  • Our emphasis is aimed at protecting the design intent, our client's budget and the various deadlines.

View Partner's Website
Name: Hotel Revenue Management
Phone: +27 21 551 7440
Email: jaco@hotel-revenue-manager.com

Revenue (yield) Management

  • Competitor set monitoring.
  • Booking pace analysis.
  • Peak demand optimising.
  • Low demand stimulating.
  • Online Channel analysis
  • Wash-down factor’ monitoring.
  • Pick up and drop off analysis.
  • Definite and Tentative Status monitoring and control.
  • Online Channel Conversion.
  • Reservations cancellation monitoring.

Online room inventory Distribution & Rates optimisation

  • Positioned optimally on all the Global        Distribution  Systems (GDS).
  • Positioned optimally on all the Online Travel Agents (OTA) websites.
  • Positioned optimally on all Meta-Search Engines (MSE).
  • Competitor set monitoring & rate benchmarking.
  • Own Website distribution.
  • Rate parity management across all channels.
  • Website and Content audit.
  • Correct OTA mapping and content management.
  • Reservation conversion analysis and suggestion.

Implementation of Best Available Rate (BAR), in conjunction with point 1 & 2

  • BAR operational understanding and agreed  levels.
  • Implementation across the board.
  • Communication of this to the trade suggestions.

View Partner's Website
Name: Indigo Real Estate Agency
Phone: +25884 3616644
Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.co.za

Real Estate Agency - Our Associate in Mozambique

  • If you’re keen to buy a house or apartment along the African coast, look no further than the property for sale in Mozambique. With residents treated to breath-taking sea views and surrounded by lush green nature, it’s no wonder the country is increasingly popular among tourists and investors.
  • Whether you are looking  for to buy a house, sell or rent  property in Mozambique, purchase a piece of land for your own dream estate, either as a holiday or residential home or as an investment, property management services are also available should our customers require. Then we would welcome you to choose Indico real estate agency as your local realtor. 
  • No fee payable by the buyer – We were the first real estate agency in Inhambane Province to introduce 0% fee to our clients purchasing property.
  • We offer the widest range of properties at lowest prices in the market. This is ensured by contract with sellers.
  • Indico Real Estate Agency provides unique business opportunity within the Mozambican market to investors abroad.  Indico Real Estate Agency's main line of business is the sale of Hotels, Resorts, Plots of Land, Villas, Houses, Apartments, Private islands, Commercial properties, Residential properties, Projects (land sale as well as building permits) and Complexes in Mozambique.
  • Mozambique is also a Friendly welcoming investment environment all add up to a unique investment and lifestyle opportunity. Irresistible destination and a serious contender for anyone wanting to make an investment in an overseas property.


View Partner's Website
Name: Lisa Dunn - Tourism Grading Assessor
Phone: +27 (0) 82 928 8002
Email: Lisadunnsa@gmail.com

Tourism Grading Assessment

  • I am an independent registered Tourism Grading Assessor with the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). I have been doing star grading since 2005.
  • The star grading of properties involves assessing accommodation establishments and conference venues against a set of criteria in order to determine a star grading level based on international standards, from 1 star to 5 stars.
  • The various categories include game lodge, nature lodge,  hotel, small hotel, boutique hotel, apartment hotel, guest house, country house, bed & breakfast, self-catering: exclusive-use and shared vacation, caravan & camping, backpackers & hostelling and a range of conferencing and venue categories.
  • I do assessments mainly in the Province of Mpumalanga, South Africa, as I am based in Nelspruit.
  • I can also do pre-grading assessments for accommodation establishments and conference venues.

View Partner's Website
Name: Ooba (Pty) Ltd
Phone: +27 (0) 21 481 7300
Email: bronwyn.philip@ooba.co.za

Mortgage Origination

ooba offers you:

  • The best chance of bond approval through our industry-leading approval rates
  • A free prequalification service, to clarify what size bond you can afford and highlight any potential credit obstacles
  • The benefit of simultaneous submissions to multiple lenders.
  • In-depth knowledge of different bank’s processes, which is used to your advantage.
  • Hassle-free bond application – we do the paperwork for you, for free!
  • Tailor-made, comprehensive home insurance solutions to protect your home, income and belongings

View Partner's Website
Name: SK Sambu Tours & Transfers
Phone: +27 (0) 718013270
Email: sksambu@gmail.com

Johannesburg based Tours & Transfers Operator

  • Function trips
  • Tours,
  • Shuttle services
  • Transfers
  • Transport disability with accessible lift vehicle 

We look forward to being of service to you.

Kind regards

King Sambu

 


View Partner's Website
Name: Soul Private Collection
Phone: +27 (0)78 499 8280
Email: partner@soulprivatecollection.com

Hotel Management and Marketing

  • We are an established hotel management and marketing company and have acquired a selection of managed properties. Collectively we have over 20 years of hoteliers’ management experience, tourism marketing, and the management of boutique properties.
  • We are incredibly passionate about our properties, our guests, and our staff. We are here to make your life easier and get you the best return on your investment. Allow us to work our soulful magic and take your property to new heights. We rely heavily on data intel and share this with our partners monthly.
  • Our Management Services are Finance I Sales & Marketing I Central reservations I Operations I Information technology and Human Resources. We are constantly striving to see how we can make a difference and get you the best return.
  • We are partnered with a Tour Operator, located in Germany, an expert in tailor-made luxury holidays. They have been successfully creating travel itineraries using our properties at SOUL Private Collection, South Africa. The awesome synergy between these two companies works well as we are guaranteed international travellers from our partner.  We are passionate and will provide you with excellent service.
  • For more information, please go to www.soulprivatecollection.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

View Partner's Website
Name: The Dumb Butler Hospitality Suppliers
Phone: +27 (0) 21 203 0307
Email: orders@tdbutler.co.za

Hotel Linen Suppliers

LUX Award Winners 2021 for The Best Hospitality Suppliers. We are a proudly South African brand established in 2006.

We Supply:

  • Hotel Quality Linen
  • Snag-free Towels
  • Hotel Blankets
  • Duvet Inners and Pillows
  • Hotel Safes
  • All Guest Amenities
  • Personalised Gifting
  • Branded Clothing and Sportswear
  • Beds & Mattresses
  • Head Boards
  • Lounge and Pool Furniture
  • Guestroom Mini Kettles
  • Hotelware- ALL Cutlery & Crockery
  • All Catering Equipment
  • Glassware
  • Tents and Outdoor Equipment
  • All Hotel Equipment
  • We specialise in Guesthouses, Game and Guest Lodges

View Partner's Website
Name: The High Street Auction Company
Phone: +27 (0) 11 684 2707
Email: james@highstreetauctions.com

Property Auctioneers 

  • We have established ourselves as the premier marketplace for selling and buying property with several national auction records to our name.
  • We specialise in the hospitality, retail, commercial, industrial, land and residential property markets across the country.
  • Whether you are buying or selling property you can benefit from our effective, fast, risk free way to transact in a protected & transparent environment.
  • Give the international award winning specialists a call today to maximise the returns on your next property transaction.

Appreciating Property Value

 


View Partner's Website
Name: Touch Point Retail
Phone: +27 (0) 84 920 1177
Email: diane@touchpointretail.co.za

Smart Interior Design

  • Touch Point Retail is a certified partner and installer of Cover Styl’ - smart interior design.
  • Cover Styl’  is a cost-effective self-adhesive architectural film that can cover almost any surface. The range offers 471 patterns and textures in 9 categories.
  • This material can transform any living space in no time and is a cheaper quality alternative for establishments that want to do any renovations or changes.
  • Transform your lobbies, bedrooms, corridors, bathrooms, feature walls, furniture etc. with this cost-effective solution.
  • This product is new to South Africa but is used extensively in the UK and other parts of the world. Touch Point has exclusive access to this product and are excited to help you transform your establishment today!
  • The message here is to rather refurbish than replace, this product offers instant gratification as it is non-invasive and fast to install. 

View Partner's Website

Cliff Jacobs (Nat Dpl Hotel Man (UJ). MPRE. GA Level 5 TEFL)

Managing Principal / CEO

Exquisite Hotel Consultants (Pty) Ltd

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 413 1071 / +27 (0) 61 716 6951

Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.com

Webhttps://www.exquisitehotelconsultants.com

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