Bulgari Hotel Roma has been crowned the best hotel in the world by Virtuoso Travel, a leading global network of agencies specialising in luxury travel, in its 2024 rankings. The recognition was welcomed by Italy's tourism minister Daniela Santanchè who wrote on X: "Italy never ceases to excel. Now even the best hotel in the world is Italian. It is in Rome and it couldn't be otherwise".

The five-star hotel, which faces the ancient Mausoleum of Augustus in the heart of the historic centre, was inaugurated by luxury jeweller Bulgari just over a year ago. Rome was the European city that grew the most in terms of tourism in 2023 - Onorato said - up more than 45 per cent compared to the year before, with the numbers for 2024 set to be "even better".