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Cortina d’Ampezzo
The Rapid Rise of a Luxury Alpine Resort
A Shift to Mono-Brand Retail
Cortina d’Ampezzo, long known as Italy’s most prestigious alpine resort, is undergoing a rapid transformation in luxury retail.
Over the past five years, global maisons have established flagship stores on Corso Italia, reshaping the street ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Cortina remains a bi-seasonal destination, with activity concentrated around the winter and summer peaks. This more compressed trading profile makes the recent wave of flagship investment particularly significant.
Market Snapshot
Prime High-Street
Corso Italia
Total Stores
87 (0 vacancy)
Luxury Retail Stores
17
Recent Openings
Loro Piana
Omega
Prada
Key Catalyst
Winter Olympics 2026
What’s Changing
A Strategic Move: Prada Buys Its Building
Prada’s decision to acquire and fully redevelop the building on Corso Italia 55 reflects a long-term commitment to Cortina as a strategic alpine flagship location.
The three-floor sales area configuration, adopts Prada’s distinct alpine design and merchandising. The interior features warm materials, wood finishes and chalet-inspired detailing, creating a setting tailored to the mountain environment. This is complemented by a tailored product line focused
on outwear and alpine lifestyles.
Loro Piana Strengthens Its Alpine Presence
Loro Piana’s opening in Cortina marks a natural extension of the brand’s identity, reinforcing its presence in a destination closely aligned with its heritage and product universe. Replacing Bredo, the store reflects a clear step-up in positioning on Corso Italia 60.
The boutique expresses Loro Piana’s understated alpine aesthetic, with interiors defined by natural materials, soft textures and a warm, residential feel. The space is designed to emphasise comfort and discretion, in line with the brand’s approach to luxury.
| Opening | Brand | Street | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Franz Kraler | Corso Italia 111-119 | Luxury multi-brand pioneer |
| 2018 | Audemars Piguet | Corso Italia 98 | First major watch brand |
| 2020 | Louis Vuitton | Corso Italia 78 | Entry of global luxury, stand-alone store |
| 2021 | Dior | Corso Italia 107 | Entry of global luxury, stand-alone store |
| 2022 | Golden Goose | Corso Italia 155 | Part of their “High-Altitude” Expansion |
| 2025 | Falconeri | Corso Italia 93 | Meet the Athletes Event Inauguration |
| 2025 | Prada | Corso Italia 55 | Acquisition & renovation of stand-alone building |
| 2025 | Loro Piana | Corso Italia 60 | Alpine Embassy, “Chalet” Concept |
| 2025 | Omega | Corso Italia 88 | Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games |
The Role of Franz Kraler
Franz Kraler has played a defining role in the development of luxury retail in Cortina. For more than two decades, the Kraler family has built a multi-brand platform that introduced and anchored many of the world’s leading luxury houses on Corso Italia.
The Kraler family also played a key role in facilitating the entry of major maisons such as Louis Vuitton (2020) and Dior (2021), supporting their transition from multi-brand presence to stand-alone boutiques on Corso Italia. These openings marked a structural shift in the market, signalling the arrival of global luxury flagships.
Today, the progressive shift toward mono-brand stores can be seen as a natural evolution of this ecosystem. Having laid the groundwork, Kraler continues to act as both a gateway and a stabilising force within the market, maintaining its role at the centre of Cortina’s luxury retail landscape.
A Market Coming of Age
Cortina’s luxury retail market has entered a new phase of development. The recent wave of openings and investments reflects a clear shift from a multi-brand, locally driven ecosystem towards a more structured, brand-led environment.
Flagship formats, building acquisitions and destination-specific retail concepts show that leading luxury houses are no longer testing the market, but actively positioning themselves for long-term presence.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics provided a global stage that reinforced this positioning, accelerating visibility and confirming Cortina’s appeal as an international luxury destination.
Cortina is no longer an emerging market, it is establishing itself as a top alpine luxury destination within Europe.
Showcases
Transforming Prime Retail to its Full Potential
Our transformation projects are designed to increase efficiency, elevate visibility, and ensure long-term profitability for both property owners and retailers.
+50% Potential Profit Increase
Flagship format with central entrance
Removal of mezzanines
Reallocation of building entrance
+50% Potential Profit Increase
Façade reorganisation
Upper floors converted to luxury residential
Optimised retail layout on the lower floors
+60% Potential Profit Increase
Improved façade transparency
Flagship format with central entrance
Reallocation of building entrance
+75% Potential Profit Increase
Improved façade transparency
Flagship format with central entrance
Reallocation of building entrance
Ian Kelley is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the European real estate market. He has directed numerous investment strategies, bringing extensive experience in acquisitions and in the implementation of value creation business plans across prime European properties.
As the founding principal of BMO Real Estate Partners’ Paris office, Ian built and led a pan-European platform that grew into one of the largest high-street retail portfolios in Europe, with more than €2 billion in assets under management. Prior to that, he spent over a decade at CBRE Investment Management, where he co-founded several pan-European funds with a combined market value exceeding €2.5 billion.
Earlier in his career, Ian held development management roles at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Bouygues Immobilier. He began his career at Ralph Lauren, supporting the brand’s retail expansion across major European department stores.
Of French-American origin, Ian studied engineering at the University of Massachusetts before completing postgraduate studies in architecture and real estate at Columbia University and Harvard Business School.