In May 2025, I covered how there were plans for a Park Hyatt to open in Sicily. It hadn’t actually formally been announced, but instead, Hyatt’s page with the new hotel pipeline was updated to reflect that. There’s now more news, as Hyatt has formally announced this project, so we now know when the hotel will open… hopefully!
In this post:
Capo dei Greci will become Park Hyatt Taormina
The Park Hyatt Taormina is expected to open in 2028, in Sicily, and it will become the Park Hyatt brand’s second property in Italy, after the Park Hyatt Milan. The planned 121-suite hotel is expected to include private terraces, views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, locally inspired dining and a spa.
Reading between the lines, it appears that this represents the rebranding of an existing property. Specifically, Capo dei Greci is expected to be converted into the Park Hyatt. Last year, the hotel’s owners put the following message onto their website:
The existing hotel will be converted into a luxury lifestyle resort operated under an internationally recognized brand, completed by numerous refined F&B outlets, wide gardens and pools and a 1,000 sqm Spa in partnership with Omnam Investment Group. The hotel will benefit from a rare direct and private sea access.
The existing property (which has now closed) looks like it has a gorgeous setting, so there’s a lot of potential here.
That being said, the existing property is decidedly not a luxury resort. So significant work will need to be performed to bring this up to Park Hyatt standards. It’s not surprising that this is a multi-year project, and I just hope the timeline doesn’t slip far beyond the 2028 that’s currently anticipated. Sicily isn’t exactly known for fast construction…
To be fair, one should also mention that it’s even a bit of a stretch to suggest this property is in Taormina, at least based on what most people would think of. This hotel is a good 20+ minute drive from the area of Taormina that most people will want to visit.
This is an exciting property, I look forward to learning more
Sicily is a gorgeous destination. Historically, it wasn’t really in the spotlight for Americans, though The White Lotus Season 2 was a turning point, and made it one of the hottest new destinations. Well, that along with the general travel trends we’ve seen, whereby at least one annual trip to Europe has become the norm for so many Americans.
We’ve seen quite a bit of luxury hotel growth in Sicily, including with international brands. For example, the Four Seasons Taormina opened in 2021, as the conversion of an existing property. Of course this growth is a double edged sword.
I’m sure some people won’t be a fan of the type of tourism this brings to the island, and will think it takes away from the charm. On the other hand, it’s no doubt good for the economy.
Bottom line
A Park Hyatt is coming to Taormina, Sicily, in the form of a conversion of the old Capo dei Greci property. The hotel is expected to open in 2028 and will feature 121 suites, though those are all the details we have as of now. As more information is made available, I’ll be sure to share it.
What do you make of plans for the Park Hyatt Sicily?
Ugh, sicily.
I'm curious, why is the recent linguistic standard established on this blog of describing properties as having a certain number of 'keys' as apposed to rooms, now abandoned when the property is all suites?
Using the industry lingo makes the article cool, I suppose :)
The concept of "keys" was introduced as a common denominator for properties offering a mix of rooms and suites. If a hotel is an all-suite one, why wouldn't Ben clearly state that? What a strange thing to nitpick on.
I’ve been touring Sicily with points for the past 3 weeks. Been here plenty of times before. It’s challenging using points as not a ton of good corporate brand hotels.
Had a good stay at Piccolo Etna by Hilton and decent stay (but bad breakfast) at Hilton Terradamari in Modica a Mare (has a beach club). Mr/Mrs Smith in Mandranova was decent as well but poor Hyatt redemption. Just OK Accor redemption at Mercure...
I’ve been touring Sicily with points for the past 3 weeks. Been here plenty of times before. It’s challenging using points as not a ton of good corporate brand hotels.
Had a good stay at Piccolo Etna by Hilton and decent stay (but bad breakfast) at Hilton Terradamari in Modica a Mare (has a beach club). Mr/Mrs Smith in Mandranova was decent as well but poor Hyatt redemption. Just OK Accor redemption at Mercure Palermo.
BTW Taormina was touristy back over 20 years ago! We just did a day visit this trip and drove in and parked easily. Way too crowded and pricey for my taste but if money or points were no object? Ok then!
The White Lotus did Taormina (and Sicily) no favors. Lived in Sicily from 1991-1993 courtesy of my father's Naval career and despite it being a favorite haunt of Princess Diana it was never terribly busy, even if it was still very touristy. Hyatt should've focused on Sorrento on the mainland instead of trying to capitalize on the buzz from TWL.
Sicilians have never been particularly friendly towards stereotypical Americans - you definitely have to show...
The White Lotus did Taormina (and Sicily) no favors. Lived in Sicily from 1991-1993 courtesy of my father's Naval career and despite it being a favorite haunt of Princess Diana it was never terribly busy, even if it was still very touristy. Hyatt should've focused on Sorrento on the mainland instead of trying to capitalize on the buzz from TWL.
Sicilians have never been particularly friendly towards stereotypical Americans - you definitely have to show yourself to be a gracious visitor - otherwise they will be openly disdainful of you.
What a pity. More nouveau riche and entitled 1%'s descending on this magical island, which has so much more to offer than Taormina alone. Taormina is not what it used to be and there's so much more to see beyond it.
Global 1%... roughly $1 million in assets, $100K income/year. Probably about 60 million people worldwide. I donno, that's a lot of people to vilify. Maybe you meant 1/10th of 1%? I'd say, things start to get interesting in the deca-millionaires category (we can throw some shade their way; most of them got it through passive income and generational wealth anyway; not hard-labor.)
Only American One-Percenters are entitled. Don't you know that? :)
Entitled to what? /s
The way things are going for the Hyatt construction in Rome. I would not expect the hotel opening before 2030.
Good try from the Hyatt marketing team for saying this property is located in Taormina. I've been to Taormina several times and I can tell you this hotel is not even close to Taormina in terms of how people get around in Taormina. You either walk from your hotel to the city center (like if you stay at the Four Seasons or Belmond Grand Timeo) or you stay by the beach where the Belmond Villa...
Good try from the Hyatt marketing team for saying this property is located in Taormina. I've been to Taormina several times and I can tell you this hotel is not even close to Taormina in terms of how people get around in Taormina. You either walk from your hotel to the city center (like if you stay at the Four Seasons or Belmond Grand Timeo) or you stay by the beach where the Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea is located and take a 2 minute funicular up to the city center. This Park Hyatt property is located in Sant'Alessio Siculo, a 30 minute drive (with no traffic) to Taormina which is well known to be impossible to find a parking spot. So, if you stay at this property you will need to probably take a 30+ minute shuttle into town and then back to the hotel which is not the same as staying in Taormina.
By 'marketing' team, you mean 'lying' team, right?
Taormina is a shopping mall now. There are a dozen more gorgeous, peaceful, and authentic places to stay on Sicily that don't revolve around one densely crowded shopping street.
Many tourists stop in for an afternoon, on the trek to see Etna and the "Godfather" locations in Savoca. And an hour is sufficient.
*in Sicily. Sicily is talked about and thought of more of a region/destination than an island, so it's weird to use the preposition "on."
It's an island. "On" is grammatically correct in English. Nothing weird about proper usage of written language.
It's not a matter of how it's "thought of" as a region. It remains an island.
Paying that sort of money to stay so far from the town itself would not remotely appeal to me.
I have no idea why someone would go to Italy (and to Sicily, of all the places in Italy) only to stay in some soulless, corporate property.
I actually wouldn't love this location? Taormina is a pretty awesome town (although I was there pre White Lotus) and this is outside that town. It's not just down the hill but set fairly far away. You would get more of the ocean vibe I guess although it doesn't seem like there's a great beach there. I think you'd be pretty disappointed staying in this location unless your goal is to never leave property.
Agreed, and going to somewhere like Sicily to just stay in your hotel seems daft to me. I’m sure they’ll find customers, but it wouldn't be me even if I was spending that kind of money.
I've been to Taormina many times before and after White Lotus and I can attest that stupid show destroyed this beautiful city. It used to be a peaceful town full of nice local restaurants and shops, amazing pastry shops, full of Italians and everything for an affordable price. Fast forward to White Lotus and now the place is full of influencers that need to post everything on Instagram, the main street is overcrowded of expensive...
I've been to Taormina many times before and after White Lotus and I can attest that stupid show destroyed this beautiful city. It used to be a peaceful town full of nice local restaurants and shops, amazing pastry shops, full of Italians and everything for an affordable price. Fast forward to White Lotus and now the place is full of influencers that need to post everything on Instagram, the main street is overcrowded of expensive stores and you can barely walk there anymore. Hotels are crazy expensive, restaurants are overpriced and overrated and local businesses are suffering. I have known the owner of a fantastic pastry shop there for years and she shared with me that in the past people would go to her store to buy pastries and enjoy local food. They spend time at the store trying different sets, ordering a coffee and hangin there for a while. Now, tourists enter, take a picture, post on Instagram and leave the place without buying anything. So, the store is overcrowded but nobody buys anything.