Daniele Kihlgren, pioneer of the 'albergo diffuso' model, dies at 55

Daniele Kihlgren, the entrepreneur credited with pioneering the ‘albergo diffuso’ (scattered hotel) model in Italy, has died in Rome at the age of 55. His death follows a long-standing health condition that began in his adolescence.

Kihlgren gained international recognition for transforming the abandoned village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in the Abruzzo region into the Sextantio hotel project. His approach focused on sustainable tourism, utilizing local materials and preserving historical architecture without adding new building volumes, thereby combating rural depopulation.

Beyond Abruzzo, Kihlgren applied his model to the Sassi di Matera and a hospitality project in Rwanda near Lake Kivu. In Rwanda, he managed a project to provide health insurance for impoverished Congolese citizens using proceeds from his tourism activities.

Local figures and officials have praised his vision, noting that his work successfully integrated cultural preservation with economic development, creating jobs and bringing global attention to Italy’s historic mountain villages.