5 dreamy family-owned hotels

Stanglwirt, Tyrol

Balthasar Hauser was only 19 years old when his mother died in 1966 and he took over the family business in Going in the 17th generation - an inn with a few rooms that was first mentioned in 1609. In addition to the view of the Wilder Kaiser, the inn was already famous for its folk music singer meetings, which have been held here since 1949 and to which celebrities such as Bing Crosby traveled.

And for its cow stable window in the guest room, through which you can watch the animals in the stable while eating - it was created by chance during renovation work under Balthasar's father Alois. Balthasar Hauser expanded the Stanglwirt into the first organic farm with an integrated five-star luxury hotel, which becomes an international hotspot with the highest density of VIPs every year, especially during the Hahnenkamm races in nearby Kitzbühel. stanglwirt.com

Il Pellicano, Tuscany

In the 1960s, a wealthy American woman and her British husband acquired a charming villa in a bay on the Monte Argentario peninsula at the southern end of Tuscany. "Il Pellicano" was soon famous for lavish parties, to which friends of the couple traveled from all over the world. In 1979, businessman Roberto Sciò (pictured with his then-wife Marie-Louise Mills) took over the property and converted it into a small hotel, taking care to preserve the unique atmosphere.

Which he succeeded in doing: The Agnellis and the Borgheses, Hollywood stars, and aristocrats spent their holidays here. Regular guest and photographer Slim Aarons even documented it in a book (photo left). Today, Roberto's daughter Marie-Louise is at the helm of the company, which also includes the "Il Mezzatorre" hotel on Ischia and the "La Posta Vecchia" in Ladispoli, north of Rome. hotelilpellicano.com

The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen der Familie Rocco Forte und dem Gastgewerbe begann im Jahr 1911, als Sir Rocco Fortes Großvater in Schottland sein Café The Savoy eröffnete. Seit 1996 steht der Name Rocco Forte für kleine, feine Luxus-Hotels mit Geschichte – und ein Familienunternehmen mit besonderer Handschrift. Sir Rocco wird nämlich von seiner Schwester Olga Polizzi sowie seinen Kindern Lydia, Irene und Charles unterstützt.

Als erstes Haus übernahm der Brite das ehrwürdige „The Balmoral“ in Edinburgh. Heute betreibt die Familie 13 Häuser in ganz Europa. Darunter befinden sich das elegante „Brown’s“ im Herzen Londons, in dem Alexander Graham Bell sein erstes Telefonat innerhalb Großbritanniens geführt hat, und die grandiose „Villa Igiea“ in Palermo. Weitere Hotels sind in Planung. roccofortehotels.com