The Rome EDITION — Hotel in Rome

Which of Marriott's Two Luxury Lifestyle Brands Do You Prefer?

Rome is an ancient city filled with masterpieces. The brushstrokes of Caravaggio, the elegance of Raphael, the sculptural language of Bernini, and even the play of light and shadow in Fellini's films all converge here. They form the essence of Italian art. In this eternal city overflowing with inspiration, EDITION chose to write its first Italian chapter. The Rome EDITION officially opened in July 2023.

EDITION is definitely not just a "luxury Grand Hyatt," even though that is a popular joke among hotel enthusiasts. Admittedly, I have not stayed at many EDITION properties, only the ones in Shanghai, Sanya, Tokyo Toranomon, and now Rome. But each stay confirmed my belief. EDITION's minimalist aesthetic is not bland. It is a richness expressed through restraint. The Rome property, wrapped in greenery and light, feels like a modern palace. It effortlessly showcases contemporary Italian style.

As the 16th EDITION hotel worldwide, the Rome property reaffirms the brand's unique and determined path. In the increasingly competitive luxury hotel sector, EDITION consistently stands out. It becomes a striking style landmark in its city. Looking back, EDITION was created by Marriott as a direct competitor to Starwood's W brand. But its deeper significance was Marriott's forward-looking response to future luxury lifestyle trends. It moved away from flashy symbols toward a focus on substance, storytelling, and deep, meaningful experiences.

Both are luxury lifestyle brands targeting younger generations. Both are distinct brands now under Marriott. Yet EDITION and W have chosen completely different paths. One embraces quiet, minimalist sophistication. The other champions a vibrant, nightclub-inspired energy. There is no superior style, but if asked for a preference, my answer might already be found in the soft morning light falling on the travertine...

Disappointing Stay at a Supposed 5-Star Hotel

Our recent stay at the Rome Edition Hotel was unfortunately quite disappointing. Despite being marketed as a luxury 5-star property, the quality and maintenance left much to be desired. The walls in our room were scratched up and poorly maintained, which immediately gave us a less-than-premium impression.

Service was also a letdown. Every time we called for assistance—whether it was for a bucket of ice, an extra pillow, or any other request—we were placed on hold for 5 to 10 minutes before finally reaching the hotel staff. Once our requests were taken, it then took an additional hour to receive anything we asked for. The turn-down service was subpar, as they didn’t even clear away used dishes or glasses when they came through.

The noise was another significant issue. Tremendous noise from the hotel restaurant below kept us awake until the early morning hours due to an event. Instead of addressing the noise issue directly, the staff offered us earplugs. When we book a luxury hotel, we expect to be able to relax, not to have to worry about sound and rely on earplugs for rest.

Additionally, the air conditioning wasn’t functioning properly upon our arrival, leaving our room uncomfortably warm. An engineer was sent to inspect it, who assured us it was “working well,” but all they could offer was a fan. The manager kindly offered to switch our room, but the available options were a downgrade from the room we had booked and paid for.

We also experienced technical issues, with a faulty USB port by the bed that emitted a constant ringing sound. An engineer had to come in to replace it, which was an inconvenience.

Overall, we expected a much higher level of service and quality from a Marriott 5-star property. Unfortunately, this stay was a major disappointment for us, and we would not choose to...

BEWARE! Stayed two nights (Oct. 10-12). On the first morning we left early for a full day tour and made sure to select ‘Do not disturb’ on the electronic door panel. When we returned that evening the first thing we noticed was that the bed was made and someone had been in the room. I immediately checked my bag where I had left some money and €190 was missing (1 €50 + 7 €20's). I had just taken out €500 the day before and knew exactly how much I had left in my bag. I didn't leave the money in the safe because I didn’t expect anyone to enter the room nor go through our belongings. We immediately alerted management and that's when the “investigation” began. From communications that night and until we left for Florence the next day this “investigation” seemed to consist of trying to figure out how many people were in our room when we were out. We finally got an answer from the GM on Oct. 25 that 2 people were in the room. Of course, they both denied taking any money and according to him, under Italian law, there needs to be video evidence of the theft before the employee can be terminated or any action is taken. After the theft occurred it was a very uncomfortable night knowing that someone had been in our room going through our belongings. Management never offered for us to change to a different floor away from whoever stole from us or any other adjustments. If you choose to stay here, I would recommend using the safe for any valuables and zip ties on all your luggage otherwise you can assume that it will be searched. You may even want to set up a nanny cam if you want to have the necessary proof because management at the Edition will do nothing about any theft otherwise. The GM suggested that I use a safe in the future. I put far too much trust on my belongings being safer at the Editon than on the streets of Rome. Don’t make the...