The concept of a hotel diffuso is one that was born in Italy. Its brilliance: It breathes new life into old buildings, helps the local economy, and allows tourists to have a more authentic and comfortable experience than they might otherwise have in a hotel or Airbnb.  After a 1976 earthquake in the town of Friuli, abandoned houses were renovated as tourist accommodations with post-earthquake relief funds.

This region still has the largest number of these properties, called hotel diffusi (plural). In towns with historic centers, the novel model has transformed formerly deserted or unused buildings to make them habitable and economically viable. It also helps overcome community resistance to the creation of more traditional hotel accommodations in popular tourist areas.