Sicily has garnered a lot of attention in recent times, and for good reason from TV spots to the rise in visitors seeking a more dramatic and scenic destination than Italy, it's been getting a lot of attention. World of Hyatt fans have been eagerly anticipating a Park Hyatt for the island and it's now officially confirmed, just in time for 2028, when it will open as Park Hyatt Taormina.

So, it is really exciting news: Park Hyatt is Hyatt's top luxury brand and this would be the second property named Park Hyatt in Italy after the Park Hyatt Milan. It would also be Hyatt's first property with the brand name anywhere in the island of Sicily. Before indulging in the “book the awards” fantasy, however, it is important to understand the reality of the property now, and the timeline required from this day to its planned opening in 2028.

What's Hyatt announced?

The Park Hyatt Taormina is expected to open with 121 suites, all of which will have a private terrace with views out over the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, one of the most active and popular volcanoes in Europe. Other features in the property will also feature locally inspired dining concepts and a luxury spa, which are a hallmark of the Park Hyatt brand experience around the world.

The site is truly a paper record shoreline. That's the most spectacular Mediterranean coast scenery anywhere in Europe that can be found along Sicily's eastern shore and with Mount Etna in the background, the property has a sense of place that few luxury hotels can boast. When executed with the benefits of the site, it could be one of the more “dream” Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio.

This is the Conversion Reality Check

There's a portion of that excitement that gets dampened by this detail: It's not a ground-up new build. The future Park Hyatt Taormina is the converted Capo dei Greci resort which has now closed. Replacing an old hotel with a new Park Hyatt luxury hotel is a much more complicated undertaking than building one new, and it's uncertain whether the finished product will be as polished and uniform as what visitors have come to expect from the Park Hyatt brand.

The design, service and overall level of luxury of the resort will have to be improved significantly to meet the Park Hyatt standards to match that of the former property. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad sign, because if a hotel is done right, it can be an amazing hotel, and Hyatt has been able to transform existing buildings into amazing properties before. It does, however, imply that the excitement of the moment and the guest experience in 2028 will rely heavily on how well the execution is done that will not be known for years to come.

What this means for the award travel industry

If you are a World of Hyatt member and you are an accumulationist, the Park Hyatt Taormina has something to offer in terms of long-term value, if the conversion does what it promises. It's too early to reveal specific award rates, but the company has historically been able to mark up its rates by up to 50%.

In general, Park Hyatt properties are in the higher echelons of Hyatt's award chart. Here's a breakdown of what you can typically expect from the hotel if it's rated in the same class as other Park Hyatt properties:

• Award nights usually come in the range of 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night up to 50,000 points per night (category 7).
• The highest price tier in Hyatt's current chart is category 8, with award nights up to 75,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

An explanation of why Sicily is missing from Hyatt's map

This is quite an important development for Hyatt in the region, it's worth noting. At the present time there are no traditional brick and mortar branded hotels anywhere on the Island of Sicily. Since Hyatt bought that collection of boutique hotels, which is entirely different to the consistency and points earning of the Hyatt portfolio, World of Hyatt members interested in the island have only had access to Mr & Mrs Smith properties.

When the Park Hyatt Taormina will reopen, it will do just that. It puts Hyatt in a position to benefit from part of the increasing traveller demand for Sicily as a luxury Mediterranean destination; facing competition from the established presence of luxury hotel operators on the island, such as Four Seasons, Belmond and others.

What to Watch: Now to 2028

Three years is a significant period in the evolution of a hospitality brand and a lot can happen between the time a brand is announced and the date of opening. Renovation timelines slip. Design plans evolve. Prices for awards are subject to change that's not the first time that Hyatt has updated its award chart in recent memory, and there's even the potential for more changes before 2028.

At this time the best way to move forward is to observe the progress of the project as more information is revealed. As the conversion nears completion and the hotel moves closer to opening, more renderings, design and amenity information will be made available, providing more insight into the project's ability to meet the brand promise. People with high World of Hyatt point balances and who are not in a hurry to redeem points, or who have elongated travel horizons, can hold off until the cards turn right for them.Those with a lot of World of Hyatt points who are not pressing for a trip or are not in a hurry to redeem points can wait and see how things work out.

The essentials you should know

• The Park Hyatt Taormina will open in 2028 on the eastern coast of Sicily with views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
• Not a new construction, but a conversion of the former Capo dei Greci resort with extensive renovations to the property to meet the Park Hyatt standards.
• Will be the second Park Hyatt in Italy and the first Park Hyatt hotel in Sicily.
• Typical Park Hyatt categorization would suggest that the points awarded will range from 25,000 to 75,000 points per night.
• The opening is still some years down the road, giving time for design, amenity and pricing details to develop before 2028.

The Bottom Line

The news of A Park Hyatt opening in Sicily is indeed a noteworthy announcement for both World of Hyatt members and luxury travelers, as it promises to be a possibly breathtaking property on one of the most scenic coastlines in the Mediterranean. The downside is that it's not new construction the ultimate guest experience will depend on how successful Hyatt is at transforming the former Capo dei Greci resort into a worthy Park Hyatt. 

While the opening may be still a few years away and the prices of the awards have yet to be made public, it is definitely a house to keep a close eye on and not really one to plan around just yet, but if the renovation is successful this could be a one of the more sought after houses in southern Europe for points redemptions.