08/27/2026
One of my absolute favorite parts of being a travel advisor is supporting family-owned hotels.
I love meeting the owners, hearing their stories, and learning about the vision they have for the properties they love so deeply. When a family has poured their heart and soul into creating a hotel, you can feel the difference, and knowing my clients are supporting those families and communities makes the experience even more meaningful.
Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of visiting some incredible family-owned properties in Italy and beyond:
and Palazzo Manzi Terme & Spa in Ischia, where a long-time Ischian family is deeply invested in their island, its people, and its heritage.
Therasia Resort Sea and Spa in Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy, where supporting the local community and protecting the island’s fragile environment are central to the experience.
Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges in Sicily, born from a family’s passion for horticulture and transformed into an extraordinary botanical retreat.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua on Lake Como, where you can feel the owners’ personal passion in every detail. These aren’t simply hotels, they are family legacies.
And Brown Bear Bay Lodge aka “BBB” in Alaska, where an incredible family dedicated to conserving wild places has created a beautiful model where ethical tourism directly supports wildlife conservation. Exactly the kind of business I love to support.
For me, luxury travel isn’t simply about beautiful hotels. It’s about knowing the story behind a place, experiencing it firsthand, building relationships with the people who create these experiences, and knowing which properties will be the right fit for my clients.
That is the kind of travel I love to curate.
If you value exceptional properties and meaningful experiences, I’d love to introduce you to some of my favorite family-run hotels around the world.
The Harlowe Group