The multi-million restoration of the Italian Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, will be complete in Q2 of 2015 with its launch to coincide with the Expo Milano 2015.

Owned by Katara Hospitality and operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the historic hotel first opened in 1932 as Palace Gallia in the Porta Nuova area of Milan. It is being revamped by Milan-based Studio Marco Piva, which has blended contemporary aesthetics with the hotel’s original Belle Epoque architectural style. There are now two main buildings to the hotel – the fully-restored historic Palace and a modern wing with a steel and glass façade.

The 235-key property will comprise five food and beverage venues and a 1,000sq m (10,764sq ft) Shiseido Spa – set across the sixth and seventh floors of the property. The spa will house one double treatment room and four single rooms, an indoor pool, a virtual golf simulator, a hairdresser and barber shop, plus relaxation areas – such as a Himalayan salt steam room, ice room and saunas. In addition to the spa, there will be a fitness area with equipment by Technogym.

51 of the property’s rooms are suites, the most opulent of which will be the 1,000sq m (10,764sq ft) Katara Suite. Located on the seventh floor, this will offer two terraces, four bedrooms and a private spa.

The building will also offer 12 meeting rooms spanning 1,000sq m (10,764sq ft), 700sq m (7,535sq ft) of foyer space – including a grand ballroom that can host up to 400 people.

The property houses unique furnishings by Italian craftsmen and a collection of more than 500 art pieces, curated by Studio Marco Piva. The Italian products involved come from the following companies: furniture from Poltrona Frau; lamps from Flos; Cassina, which did the fit-out of guestrooms and corridors; Luxury Living Group – which selected pieces from Fendi Casa; light installations from Zonca Illuminazione, Fabbian, De Majo and La Murrina. B&B Italia fitted-out the public spaces.