J.K. Place boss on opening a hotel in former Versace HQ
J.K. Place’s new boutique hotel in Milan will be the largest of its four properties to date, says chief executive, Ori Kafri.
J.K. Place’s founder said his upcoming Milan hotel is set to open in the city’s former Versace offices next year.
The Italian hospitality brand aims to welcome guests to the 5,000m² luxury property at the end of 2025, marking the fourth addition to its legendary European collection.
Situated on the affluent Via Borgospesso, J.K. Place Milan will offer 40 guest rooms (15 of which will be suites), as well as a number of public spaces, including a courtyard and a gym.
“It was an adventurous choice for me,” Kafri tells TTG Luxury, in reference to the expansion in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. “We’re always looking for opportunities on that particular street. Versace moved out and this building became available.”
J.K. Place Milan will also have an emphasis on its communal areas, which are expected to be significantly larger than those of its predecessors in Paris, Rome and Capri.
“The common areas will be quite impressive,” Kafri says. “They will seem like they’re more for 200-room hotels, not 40. This property also has a much wider street presence than our other properties. We’ll have 15 or 20 large, open doors at street level, which have been left behind by Versace, as they used to have showrooms for their furniture there.”
Kafri also says the ground floor of J.K. Place Milan will have a lobby and a bar, where guests can enjoy a coffee or a drink, regardless of whether they’re staying at the hotel.
The reception area will also be spread across two floors; the lower level will include the courtyard, while the upper level will house the reception. The property will also have a fitness centre with Technogym equipment, as well as a presidential suite on its top floor.
Kafri adds that, despite opening in a fast-moving, trendy area, J.K. Place has no desire to be a short term tenant. “We want to be timeless, and stay somewhere for a longer period of time,” he explains. “J.K. Place is cosy, discreet, understated. It’s what we call ‘quiet luxury’.”
J.K. Place will also introduce its J.K. Place Residence Club in Rome at the end of the year, as part of its longterm vision to expand the brand.
Situated on Via Prefetti, the 17th century palazzo is a five minutes’ walk from J.K. Place’s hotel in the city and will feature 15 apartments. Additional perks include a gym and private lounge as well as butler and concierge services for guests of both the Residence and the hotel.
“This is bringing to the market something new I’d never seen done before,” says Kafri. “It will be a building of 15 apartments, 200 sq metres each. Two bathrooms, two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and a fully equipped ground floor with hotel amenities, like the gym, restaurant, bar, library, and the reception.
“Guests can also enjoy more privacy, so it’s perfect for people looking to stay for a longer period of time. It’s particularly good for families travelling with kids, or business travellers, as it offers proper space to meet people for lunches, dinners.”
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