Farewell to Daniele Kihlgren, the entrepreneur who revolutionized sustainable tourism
The Italian business world mourns the passing of Daniele Kihlgren, who died today at the age of 55. A Milanese of Swedish descent, Kihlgren was a figure known for his innovative commitment to the construction and tourism sectors, where he successfully combined the preservation of historical heritage with economic development.
Kihlgren became internationally renowned for conceiving the concept of the "albergo diffuso" (scattered hotel). His most ambitious project was the restoration of the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in Abruzzo. Instead of building new structures, the entrepreneur chose to restore the village's abandoned houses, transforming them into hotel rooms without altering the original architecture.
Thanks to this intuition, Kihlgren demonstrated that it is possible to save small Italian villages from depopulation by transforming them into high-level tourist destinations. His work inspired many other similar projects throughout Italy, promoting a model of slow tourism that is environmentally friendly and deeply rooted in local traditions.
His passing leaves a significant void in the Italian entrepreneurial landscape. Kihlgren will be remembered not only as a businessman, but as a visionary capable of looking to the future while valuing the roots of the territory and the beauty of forgotten places.