An albergo diffuso is three things at a time. It is a unique hospitality concept, different from the popular ones, like hotels or Resorts; it was born to develop tourism in hamlets and old town centres without changing their characteristics. Secondly, it is a hotel that is not built, created with a network of preexisting houses close to each other in an old hamlet centre. The scattered hotel is also a model of touristic development for the territory

1. 1
Giancarlo Dall’Ara
Albergo Diffuso
a worldwide model of Italian hospitality
Ordinary Hotel Albergo Diffuso

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INDEX
1.Introduction 3
2.What is Albergo Diffuso 6
3.Albergo Diffuso goes international 9
4.Albergo Diffuso in Japan 11
5.The theory of Albergo Diffuso 14
6.Learn more 17
Albergo Diffuso
a worldwide model of Italian hospitality
Giancarlo Dall’Ara

3. 3
Introduction
I started engaging in “hotels that are not built” in the
early 80s, and it took me several years to define the al-
bergo diffuso model as it is known today.
While I was researching on the topic, I understood I
could not launch the Albergo Diffuso concept with no
theory supporting the unique model of hospitality, nor
could I do without protecting the model by adding pre-
cise contents.
Therefore my research followed a double path:
the first path aimed at identifying the basic prerequisi-
tes to make the AD concept become reality and have an
economic feasibility, together with a value for its terri-
tory.
the second path aimed at creating a new model around
“Albergo Diffuso”, not simply modifying hospitality mo-
dels that already existed. But
more that that, I wanted to create a model with cultural
roots in Italy and in the history of Italian hospitality. A
model which would be unique as well as “made in Italy”.
On this second aspect I investigated what was happening
at an international level: that is how I found – together
with Portuguese Pousadas, American Cluster Inns... - the
Japanese Ryokan model, which fascinated me. What
was so fascinating was the fact that the “hotel” mode
was completely different from the American “standard”
one (back then called Kemmons Wilson based on the
name of the creator of Holiday Inn), leading at that time
in Europe and Italy.
Compared to the American model, based on standardi-
zation, each and every Ryokan was different from one
another, though preserving their Japanese culture and
hospitality. Therefore it was a model including an origi-
nal physical/structural point of view as well as a unique
philosophy and authentic services to guests.

4. 4
That is exactly how I created an original concept for the
albergo diffuso, establishing its roots in the Italian ho-
spitality culture and especially in the culture of small
hamlets, so that it would be different from other types
of hospitality that were popular then both in Italy and
worldwide.
I then added the idea that an AD born in a hamlet or in
an old town centre –as we will see-should also contribu-
te to the development of the territory where it belongs:
in other words, an Albergo Diffuso should not only be
a “hotel that is not built” or a “sustainable” hotel, but
also a driving force creating a network among local re-
sources.
Strange as it may seem, the AD concept is often simpli-
fied even today, losing its original traits and being seen
as a simple network of houses, thus resembling other
forms of hospitality worldwide.
This idea would deprive it of the fascinating power that
the AD possesses, together with all the unique hospita-

5. 5
lity models.
That is the reason why a dozen years ago I created As-
sociazione nazionale degli Alberghi Diffusi (Alberghi
Diffusi National Association), nowadays become Asso-
ciazione Internazionale degli Alberghi Diffusi (Alberghi
Diffusi International Association): to protect the scatte-
red hotel model while enhancing it and its brand.
Giancarlo Dall’Ara

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2. What is an Albergo Diffuso
An albergo diffuso is three things at a time.
It is a unique hospitality concept, different from the po-
pular ones, like hotels or Resorts; it was born to develop
tourism in hamlets and old town centres without chan-
ging their characteristics. It does not require any buil-
ding, just organizing what is already there.
Secondly, it is a hotel that is not built, created with a
network of preexisting houses close to each other in an
old hamlet centre. One of the houses then becomes the
reception, the lobby receiving guests for registration
and giving out room keys; it also houses the services,
the restaurant, halls and common spaces, assistance and
information desk.
The other houses become hotel rooms.
As in traditional hotels, guests of the scattered hotel can
use all hotel services:
daily room cleaning, assistance, room service for bre-
akfast upon request, restaurant...
One of the characteristics of the scattered hotel is that
the different hotel houses are located among residen-
tial houses, so that the guest can experience being a
temporary resident other than just a tourist.

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The AD model
Let’s briefly summarize the prerequisites identifying
the model of albergo diffuso:
– One management - The Accomodation is managed
through a business model.
– Hotel services - The Accomodation can offer all ho-
tel services.
– Rooms/Housing units scattered in already existing
separate buildings in an old town centre.
– Common services - Places designated to be guest
common spaces (reception, common halls, bar, restau-
rant).
– Reasonable distance between buildings - 200 metres
at the max between housing units and the hospitality
service building (where the main services are held).
– A lively community – the hamlet or old town centre
cannot be uninhabited.
– Authentic environment - Integration with the local
community and culture.
– Being recognizable – a defined and uniform identity
of the structure is guaranteed; services are consistent.
– Management style is integrated in the territory and
its culture. The Albergo Diffuso is an original hospi-
tality model represented by a hospitality offer inte-
grated in the territory, its culture and its community.
These aspects become essential components of the ho-
spitality services. Its management, with roots in the lo-
cal culture, is not the same as the one of hotel chains.
The scattered hotel is also a model of touristic deve-
lopment for the territory. A network model, combining
different local activities as well as houses, offering servi-
ces, partly creating them and partly organizing and re-
arranging the existing ones.
The demand AD addresses - to live a local experience -
fosters the organization of local offers, thus leading to

8. 8
the relaunch and rediscovery of food, old recipes, tradi-
tions, daily objects, handicrafts, local events and initia-
tives…together with historic, cultural and enviromental
resources.
An AD has several positive returns for a hamlet.
AD uses uninhabited houses, hence encouraging hamlet
recovery by bringing tourists who liven streets and pla-
ces up; it also encourages residents to see their everyday
life from a new perspective, becoming more aware of
its value.
Besides, experience shows that some of the guests of
Alberghi Diffusi falling in love with the hamlet and its
lifestyle tend to buy holiday houses there or just to stay
for longer periods of time.
The press often confirms that AD also has positive impli-
cations in terms of image and exposure for all the ham-
lets hosting it.
Albergo diffuso “Just like home, just like a hotel”
Just like home Just like a hotel
Authenticity Professional services
Rooms different from
one another Common spaces
Cozy furniture Comfort
Attention to detail Easy to book
Connection to territory Wide range of ervices
Relationship with residents Relationship with
other guests
Welcoming and informal Quality standard
environment
Courtesy Services
Spontaneity Efficiency
Personality Customization

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3.Albergo Diffuso goes international
The internationalization of scattered hotel began in
2009, five years after our first national convention (Cam-
pobasso, 2004) when I was requested to go to Mase, a
little mountain hamlet in French Switzerland, represen-
ting Alberghi Diffusi National Association (ADI), establi-
shed in the meantime in
Termoli.
2010 was an amazing year
for us: we has our first in-
ternational acknowledge-
ment at World Travel Mar-
ket in London, and the
first article on the New
York Times, determining
international popularity
for the scattered hotel.
In 2011 it was the turn of
Croatia, with a seminar in
the little hamlet of San
Vincenti, in Istria, and se-
veral other meetings soon
contributing to the Croatian AD legislation.
In 2012 the first Spanish test was launched: it was a Scat-
tered Hospitality project not far from Salamanca, fol-
lowing which we decided to formally establish the Al-
berghi Diffusi International Association.
Since then we have received requests from so many
countries: Ireland, Albany, France, Slovakia, Serbia and
San Marino; in most cases they were scattered hospitali-
ty networks or simple projects.
In 2018 an Albergo Diffuso project was launched in Ger-
many, opening in 2020.
Japan was different, as they only started talking about
Albergo diffuso in 2013, while the first scattered hotel

10. 10
with all the standard established in the model was laun-
ched in 2018, and the Associazione Giapponese degli
Alberghi Diffusi (ADJ) Alberghi Diffusi Japanese Asso-
ciation is now founded.
Meanwhile many hospitality modes with similar cha-
racteristics to our model were born from Tasmania to
the USA.
In order to confront each other on this scenario, we
organized the first international meeting of Alberghi
Diffusi in Termoli, on May 7th, 2019, in which the Pre-
sident, Vicepresident and CEO of the Japanese Associa-
tion (ADJ) took part.
As for future projects, we are offering our made in Italy
model in many different countries: from Georgia to Chi-
na.

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4. Albergo Diffuso in Japan
In 2013 Natsu Shimamura, after visiting Muntaecara
di Apricale AD (in Liguria), published a book on Italian
hamlets, with a long interview to me on the scattered
hotel model.
Since 2014, following the interest towards the book,
now at its third edition, we have organized visits to dif-
ferent scattered hotels in Italy for architects, university
professors and Japanese district associations. The inte-
rest toward a hotel which is also a sustainable model for
territory development grew fast, generating great press
and a good flow of tourism.
Among the most echoed articles Shikoda Toru’s article is
worth mentioning. Published on the Hokkaido Shinbun,
it followed Shikoda Toru’s participation to our National
gathering at Borgo dei Corsi AD in 2015.

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Among the people who most actively promoted AD in
Japan during those years, professor Yasushi Watanabe
(who came to Italy many times, starting in 2014) and ar-
chitect Megumi Nakahashi, who published many papers
on the topic after visiting several ADs, deserve special
mention.
Since 2016 I resumed going to Japan to promote the
scattered hotel model; especially thank to Akinori Ha-
segawa, I took part in many meetings and seminars in
Tokyo and other parts of the country.
At the same time, the interest of Japanese tour opera-
tors grew. It was evident when TuttaItalia, T.O. based
in Tokyo participated to the XXI AD National Gathering
and also with the opening of a portal entirely dedicated
to ADs.
In 2018 the first guide to alberghi diffusi in Japanese
was published. Written by Megumi Nakahashi, it offers
a selection of 20 ADs. Many meaningful articles also
came out both on “地域人” (Chiiki-Jin) magazine and on

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Travel Journal.
In the same year the first albergo diffuso in a Japanese
hamlet was acknowledged at Yakage, Okayama prefec-
ture.
Among the many conferences on AD, the ones at Tokyo
Taisho University upon invitation by professor Shinichi
Shimizu (June 15th) and the one in Okayama (June 13th)
deserve to be mentioned.

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5. Albergo Diffuso Theory
Some people writing or calling me to talk about alber-
go diffuso cannot actually grasp its real meaning. The
majority of them think of Albergo Diffuso as a mere
network of houses with one management. They cannot
entirely get what I am talking about.
If Albergo Diffuso is just a network of houses, what did
I invent?

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How could I define Albergo Diffuso an “original” ho-
spitality model, an Italian one, a new model of touristic
development of hamlets?
The fact is that networks of houses are nothing new, as
they have always been there as touristic offers. Not so
for Albergo Diffuso!
And if an AD was just a bunch of houses, how would it
be possible for ADs to have business 12 months a year in
90% of the cases, while networks of houses only work
two or three months a year?
And why are AD projects sprouting (though often partly
accomplished, as no appropriate regulations exist) from
Ireland to Japan, from Switzerland to Croatia?
It is important to understand that AD is part of a theo-
ry of touristic development for territories, at the same
time being part of a hospitality philosophy opposed to
the standard one (still dominating the field of hospita-
lity).
Concepts as “guest”, “sustainability”, “lively communi-
ty”, “hamlet lifestyle”, temporary resident, authenticity,
territory, hospitality… are not only fundamental, they
also have a special meaning both in my way of thinking
tourism, and in the albergo diffuso model.
So do my ideas of “two-hall hotel”, “hotel that is not bu-
ilt”, “hamlet alleys becoming hallways”, “involvement
of residents”, the concept of hotels as social institutions,
the request to foreign journalists not to translate the
name...They all highlight a distinct philosophy differing
from all the other forms of hospitality (B&B, hotel, holi-
day house, tourist resort, agritourism…).
AD philosophy is the philosophy of horizontal deve-
lopment regarding a product family: from scattered ho-
spitality to scattered lunch (experimented in different
AD) and hamlet life in general.
As I wrote in the albergo diffuso handbook, AD is an

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entirely Italian adventure, representing the hospitali-
ty culture of our country and the “horizontal” lifestyle
made of relationships and communities typical of Italian
hamlets; while traditional hotels offer a “vertical” life-
style, the life of “the rush culture”, characterizing big
cities worldwide.
Only a manager who believes in the same philosophy
is able to open a real Albergo Diffuso and successfully
manage it.
We need an AD philosophy to avoid that success ruins
the initial idea behind this concept.

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6.Learn more
Giancarlo Dall’Ara «Il Manuale dell’Albergo Diffuso»
h t t p s : / / w w w. f r a n c o a n g e l i . i t / R i c e r c a / S c h e d a _ l i b r o .
aspx?CodiceLibro=1365.1.10
Sitography
www.albergodiffuso.com
www.alberghidiffusi.it
http://albergo-diffuso.blogspot.com
Twitter: @AlbergoDiffuso
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Associazione-Nazionale-Alberghi-
Diffusi/268168846562052
Bibliography
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prese turistiche, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 1999.
Dall’Ara G., “Report sul fenomeno dell’Albergo Diffuso in Italia”, in
Rapporto sul Turismo Italiano, 2003.
Dall’Ara G., Il fenomeno degli Alberghi Diffusi in Italia, Palladino
Editore, Campobasso, 2005.
Dall’Ara G., “L’Albergo Diffuso, dall’idea alla realizzazione”, BIC
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Dall’Ara G., Le nuove frontiere del marketing nel turismo, Franco-
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18. 18
lity and sustainable development of small historical villages, Techne
10, 2015

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The image on the cover was a gift by Professor Yasushi Watanabe,
to whom I am very much thankful.
E-mail address: giancarlo.dallara@gmail.com
Giancarlo Dall’Ara