If you were hopping a plane to Italy today, where would you go? Would you wait patiently outside the still-under-construction Armani Hotel Milan? Or suffer the annoying cash-only hotel taxes in Rome?

Maybe instead you could make a beeline for Florence, and scope out the new St. Regis Florence, which opened last Thursday. Starwood, parent company of the international luxury brand, is currently pumping $100 million into its most prized properties in Europe, Africa and the Middle East—and this historic 1432 Florence landmark building—which was previously known as the Grand Hotel Florence—seems to have been high on the list. ]]> ASchechter 2011-10-11T16:36:57-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/1/13/94427/6772

As you start perusing our Master List of Worldwide Hotel Openings in 2011, don't forget about places that have been around awhile but recently come back with a face-lift. Case in point: the Grand Hotel Villa Cora in Florence.

The storybook-like property reopened on December 26, following a three-year restoration and additions that include a new spa, gym, swimming pool and two restaurants.

]]> MsRebecca 2011-01-13T13:37:21-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/25/23852/6523 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/sestoview.jpg" class="top"><p> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Westin+Excelsior%2C+Florence/ian/141203"><b>The Westin Excelsior, Florence</b></a> used to attract a who's-who of the film industry to its Roof Garden, the top-floor terrace, with such VIPs like Franco Zeffirelli, Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Orson Welles, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. But it's been a while since some of those folks have stopped by. (Yes, we know a few of them are no longer alive.) <p>But the hotel is now looking to reclaim its glamorous glory by reopening the rooftop terrace with the (awkward) new moniker <b>SE.STO on Arno</b> in late September. <p>After a $4 million renovation, the rooftop is reopening as a bar, restaurant and lounge. A curved, upholstered wall marks the entrance to the bar and Jennifer Kester 2009-08-26T09:09:41-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/10/74255/7143 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Monsignor_Della_Casa_Florence.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>You don't even really need a good reason to take a vacation in Tuscany but for those with a taste for the luxury and gourmet side of life, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Monsignor+Della+Casa+Country+Resort/ian/244324"><b>Monsignor Della Casa Country Resort</b></a> near Florence has got a <b>Gourmet Truffle Break</b> deal to tempt you. The Monsignor Della Casa looks like just the right kind of quaint countryside resort for a Tuscan break and it is part of a 16th century estate that belonged to an Italian "good manners expert" of the day, so this place has some pedigree.<p>The truffle package includes two nights' accommodation and a buffet breakfast, plus a truffle hunting expedition into the park of Villa La Casa, followed by a truffle amandak 2009-08-10T09:36:17-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/