This is not expansion. It’s a vision: three acquisitions, one direction. Lake Como has found its guiding hand.
Some moves strengthen a position. Others define a vision. Over the past few months, the Villa d'Este Group, led by the Fontana family, has completed three strategic acquisitions that are reshaping the future of Lake Como: the Golf Club of Montorfano (late 2024), the iconic Hotel Regina Olga (April 2025), and the dual acquisition of Hotel Terminus and Vista Lago di Como (April 2025).
This isn't about growth for growth's sake. It's about coherence, identity, and a deep sense of responsibility. When one of the world's most respected hospitality brands invests with this level of consistency and depth, it's drawing the future map of the territory—and Como is clearly at the center.
Three Acquisitions, One Vision
The trajectory is clear: from the reacquisition of the Golf Club of Montorfano, bringing a historic asset back into the Villa d'Este fold, to the return of Hotel Regina Olga in Cernobbio, and now, a direct entrance into the heart of Como with Terminus and Vista Lago.
In just a few months, the group has reconnected three symbolic locations—hills, lakefront, and city center—into a coherent ecosystem. It's not just a portfolio—it's a narrative of excellence, experience, and community.
A Thoughtful Transition: From the Passera Family to the Fontana Family
The acquisition of Terminus and Vista Lago marks a meaningful and respectful transition. On one side, the Passera family, through LarioHotels, shaped an elegant and personal approach to hospitality in Como. On the other, the Fontana family, custodians of Villa d'Este's legacy, continue that story with renewed vision.
This is not disruption. It's evolution with continuity—a handover from those who care to those who will care deeply. And not just preserve what exists, but actively improve and grow it.
A New Positioning for the City of Como
Como is no longer just the gateway to the lake. Through these moves, it is emerging as a standalone destination—refined, mature, and increasingly international. The direct involvement of Villa d'Este in the city's hospitality scene raises the standard, strengthens its cultural identity, and builds confidence across the board—from residents to investors.
Villa d'Este didn't just arrive in Como today. It had already begun building bridges with the city. But now it takes an intentional step by acquiring landmark assets and integrating them into a broader vision of hospitality, design, and local heritage.
Strategy, Not a Series of Headlines
From golf to lakefront, from icons to urban heritage, this isn't a collection of headlines—it's a well-composed score. It's fair to expect more: new connections across events, art, architecture, real estate… even sport. A living, authentic ecosystem that speaks to the world without losing its local soul.
The strength isn't only in the names acquired—it's in the clarity of intention, the long-term logic, and the way everything holds together: values, place, and responsibility.
Between late 2024 and spring 2025, the Villa d'Este Group has redrew the coordinates of Lake Como. It has reconnected its historic anchors, brought symbolic assets under a unified vision, and redefined hospitality as a territorial responsibility—not just a business.
This is more than a corporate move. It's a declaration of intent. A visible sign of trust in the future of Lake Como. For those of us who live, work, and believe in this place, it's also a call to action: to care, to lead, and to build something that lasts.
