Bulgari Hotels & Resorts opens a new address in Turkey

LVMH-owned luxury house Bulgari has announced the signing of an agreement to open its new resort in Bodrum, Turkey, by 2026, according to a June 10 press release. This popular destination joins eleven other addresses, including Milan, London, Paris, Dubai, Shanghai, Beijing and Bali.

On the Türkbükü-Gölköy coast, "the ultimate glamorous destinations in the Mediterranean" according to Jean-Christophe Babin, the brand's CEO, Bulgari Resort Bodrum will occupy the tip of a 60-hectare peninsula, with 10 hectares of terraced gardens. It will be complemented by an exclusive residential area of 100 Bulgari accommodations of various categories ranging from 3 to 6 rooms and equipped with a swimming pool, outdoor spaces, balconies, terraces and private gardens. "We are thrilled to present such an amazing project which will become not only the first Bvlgari Resort in Mediterranean Sea but also the new point of reference for the community of upscale and discerned travellers that already know and appreciate the other “gems of hospitality” of the Bvlgari Hotel & Resorts Collection”, he added.

The complex will comprise 84 rooms and suites, 43 of which - mainly garden pavilions - will be located on different levels of the cascading main building. 40 individual villas with private pools will be set in the garden overlooking the sea that borders the peninsula. At the heart of a vast landscaped park will be the highlight of the complex: the 800 m² Bulgari villa. It will have 5 bedrooms and access to a private beach with a 25-metre swimming pool.

Finally, the Bulgari Resort Bodrum offers a host of high-end facilities dedicated to relaxation, entertainment and dining: an immense Bulgari Spa with a pool opening onto an outdoor terrace and panoramic sea views; a fitness room with a juice bar; and a private sandy beach equipped with a nautical center and terraces with cabanas. In a secluded area, it will be possible to organize events and receptions or browse the village of luxury stores. The complex was designed by Italian architects ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel.

Bulgari, which has made diversification a major asset of its business strategy, is also proposing two other hotel projects for 2026, one in Miami Beach and the other in the Maldives. Silvio Ursini, now General Manager of the brand's hotel business, has been working hard to commit the brand to this diversification strategy, in order to offer its customers "a luxury experience" that fine jewelry alone could not provide. This strategy seems to be employed by many brands, such as Clarins, which recently invested in the Evok Collection hotel group, Louis Vuitton, which will inaugurate its first hotel in Paris in 2027, and Dolce & Gabbana, which announced a hotel project in Miami last April.

As Turkey regains some economic momentum, thanks in part to its efforts to curb inflation and rising interest rates, Bodrum remains the preferred destination for luxury real estate investment. Compared with other major foreign cities, Bodrum offers a more affordable and attractive property market. Average property prices are said to be 15% lower than in other popular Mediterranean destinations. What's more, tourist spending is on the rise in Turkey, with a 73% increase in spending in 2023. Bodrum welcomed 2 million foreign visitors in the same year.