FABER Awards 2026: Hospitality Edition Celebrating the Spaces That Welcome Us
Hospitality is one of the most powerful expressions of the built environment. Beyond providing accommodation or dining, hospitality spaces shape first impressions, create lasting memories and reflect the identity, culture and aspirations of the places they inhabit. Across Albania, a new generation of hotels, boutique stays, resorts, restaurants, cafés, wineries, and hospitality destinations is redefining the relationship between architecture, landscape, design and tourism. These projects not only respond to the growing demands of the hospitality sector but also contribute to the transformation of cities, coastal areas and rural communities through thoughtful design and innovative spatial experiences.
The Hospitality Edition of FABER Awards 2026 celebrates the hospitality projects that are shaping this transformation. The initiative invites the public to discover, explore and vote for the projects they believe best represent excellence in hospitality architecture and design. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, the awards encourage reflection on how hospitality spaces engage with their surroundings, respect local identity, enrich the visitor experience and contribute to the quality of the built environment.
The projects receiving the highest number of public votes will be announced during FABER 2026, continuing the Forum’s mission to promote dialogue, innovation and public engagement in architecture, urbanism and the built environment.
Green Coast Hotel – MGallery Collection
Architect/design team
Belgian concept-design studio not publicly named; interiors by Jonida Buda
Location
Palasë, Himarë
Status and year
Completed and operational, 2025
Context
A 131-room hotel using stone, natural materials and coastal colours to connect the building with the landscape.
Meliá Durrës Albania
Architect/design team
Álvaro Sans / ASAH; interiors by Room 1804 and ASAH
Location
Gjiri i Lalëzit, Durrës County
Status and year
Completed, 2023
Context
Large beachfront resort organised around pools, gardens and Mediterranean-inspired interiors.
Kep Merli Resort
Architect/design team
Boiken Developments; Marine Villas by Enea Kondakci and Agim; landscape by Skopos Design
Location
Kep Merli, Ksamil, Sarandë Municipality
Status and year
Operational and developed in phases, c.2019–present
Context
Low-density resort and residential destination distributed across a wooded peninsula near Butrint.
Maritim Hotel Plaza / TID Tower
Architect/design team
51N4E + Atelier 4
Location
Tirana
Status and year
Completed, 2016
Context
A mixed-use tower integrating the protected Kapllan Pasha Tomb into its public ground-level composition.
Hilton Garden Inn Tirana
Architect/design team
Atelier 4; lead-project involvement by Flogert Lila
Location
Tirana
Status and year
Completed and operational, 2018
Context
Albania’s first Hilton-branded hotel, combining business hospitality with conference facilities.
Rogner Hotel Tirana
Architect/design team
Original design team to verify; 2015 reconstruction by Plan Werk Süd + Sfera Studio
Location
Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, Tirana
Status and year
Opened 1995; renovated 2015
Context
A low-rise crescent-shaped hotel organised around one of central Tirana’s largest private gardens.
Adriatik Hotel
Architect/design team
Gani Strazimiri
Location
Durrës Beach
Status and year
Completed 1957; major renovation 2003
Context
One of Albania’s most important early post-war coastal hotels and a reference in the history of state tourism.
Maritim Resort Marina Bay
Architect/design team
Antonio Chilorico; fit-out and furnishing by Able
Location
Uji i Ftohtë, Vlorë
Status and year
Operational since 2019
Context
A large waterfront hotel, spa and casino complex positioned in a secluded bay south of Vlorë.
Bougainville Bay Resort & Spa
Architect/design team
Design and development by AGIKONS; individual architect not publicly credited
Location
Sarandë
Status and year
Completed and operational, c.2016–2017
Context
A dense, terraced resort characterised by mosaics, ceramic artwork, planted passages and interconnected public spaces.
Hotel Saranda Butrinti
Architect/design team
Original design by Anton Lufi and A. Shani
Location
Sarandë
Status and year
Original building 1968; subsequently renovated
Context
A significant example of Albania’s socialist-period coastal hospitality architecture, now operated in affiliation with Meliá.
La Brisa Boutique Hotel
Architect/design team
Focus Architecture: Enkelejd Karanxha, Gentian Parruca, Florida Hoxha and Redon Iljasllari; later furnishing by Able
Location
Dhërmi, Himarë
Status and year
Realised 2021–2023; additional fit-out 2024
Context
A contemporary beachfront hotel distinguished by layered planes, generous terraces and rooftop water elements.
Drymades Inn Resort
Architect/design team
Tombazis & Associates Architects
Location
Drymades, Dhërmi
Status and year
Operational; extension designed and constructed from 2018 onward
Context
An extension of an established coastal resort, combining hotel accommodation with landscaped outdoor spaces.
San Nicolas Resort & Residences
Architect/design team
Architect not yet publicly confirmed; developer Concord Investment
Location
Palasë–Drymades coast, Himarë
Status and year
Phased development; soft opening 2026
Context
A 150,000 m² resort comprising villas, apartments, hospitality facilities and extensive planted areas.
Tirana Marriott Hotel
Architect/design team
Archea Associati + Atelier 4within the National Arena complex
Location
Tirana
Status and year
Completed and opened, 2023
Context
A 155-room hotel integrated into the National Arena tower, overlooking the stadium and central Tirana.
Zoe Hora
Architect/design team
Mosko Atelier, with a wider multidisciplinary team
Location
Historic village of Dhërmi
Status and year
Completed and operational, c.2023
Context
An adaptive-reuse project transforming historic stone houses into a 37-room hospitality destination while retaining the village fabric.
Miamar Hotel
Architect/design team
Andaras Studio Architecture & Design
Location
Livadhi Beach, Himarë
Status and year
Designed and constructed 2017–2020
Context
A 4,500 m² beachfront hotel combining modern interiors, wellness facilities and uninterrupted Ionian views.
Yacht Hotel
Architect/design team
Andaras Studio
Location
Lungomare, Vlorë
Status and year
Completed, 2022
Context
A compact hotel conceived with the visual language of a vessel, using curved white balconies against a darker glazed façade.
Tirana International Hotel
Architect/design team
Valentina Pistoli and design team
Location
Skanderbeg Square, Tirana
Status and year
Completed 1979; major renovation 2001
Context
A landmark of Albanian socialist modernism and, for many years, the tallest building in the country.
Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizëm
Architect/design team
Plis Atelier
Location
Fishtë, Lezhë Municipality
Status and year
Completed, c.2018–2019
Context
Adaptive reuse of a rural stone structure through a contemporary glass volume, supporting local food production and agrotourism.
Melesin Distillery
Architect/design team
Architect not publicly credited
Location
Leskovik, Kolonjë Municipality
Status and year
Opened, 2023
Context
Adaptive reuse of an industrial building as a distillery, restaurant and nine-room boutique hotel, linked to the agricultural identity of Leskovik.
Valbor Hotel
Architect/design team
Studio B&L; lead architect Ermal Bleta
Location
Valbona Valley, Tropojë
Status and year
Completed, 2023
Context
A contemporary interpretation of Alpine architecture using steep roofs, dark cladding and framed mountain views.
Hotel Thethi
Architect/design team
2Sh Studio Arkitekture
Location
Theth, Shkodër Municipality
Status and year
Completed and operational, c.2024–2025
Context
A mountain hotel combining contemporary hospitality spaces with forms and materials associated with the architecture of Theth.
Durrës Yachts & Marina
Architect/design team
Masterplan credit currently given to Archea Associati, but a direct architectural source should be requested from the developer
Location
Former Port of Durrës
Status and year
Under construction, 2023–ongoing
Context
A long-term waterfront transformation including a marina, hotels, approximately 13,000 residences, retail and public promenades.
Vlora Marina
Architect/design team
XDGA – Xaveer De Geyter Architects
Location
Former port area, Vlorë
Status and year
Under construction, c.2022–ongoing
Context
A marina-led urban development combining public waterfront spaces, residential buildings, hospitality and commercial uses.
Vlora Landmark Resort – Meliá Collection
Architect/design team
Oppenheim Architecture
Location
Lungomare, Vlorë
Status and year
Under development/construction, 2025–ongoing
Context
An integrated resort and branded-residence destination connecting the waterfront with landscaped hillside buildings.
InterContinental Tirana
Architect/design team
BOLLES+WILSON / Peter Wilson + Atelier 4
Location
Skanderbeg Square, Tirana
Status and year
Under construction since 2021; opening date to reconfirm
Context
A 33-storey, approximately 300-room hotel tower conceived as an extension of the Tirana International complex.
The Veil
Architect/design team
Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
Location
Forested coastline around Dhërmi
Status and year
Designed 2024; under construction in 2026
Context
A landscape-led resort of 366 apartments and 77 villas positioned along existing contours to limit excavation and preserve mature trees.
Red Sol Resort
Architect/design team
Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
Location
Dhërmi, Himarë
Status and year
Designed/developed c.2024–2026; final construction status to confirm
Context
A terraced red resort inspired by Mediterranean kasbahs and Ricardo Bofill’s earlier housing experiments, including La Muralla Roja.
Rezi Dream Hotel
Architect/design team
Davide Macullo Architects
Location
Vlorë County
Status and year
Designed 2024; proposed/under development
Context
A brick-clad hotel embedded into the terrain, drawing conceptual references from Albanian citadels and coastal topography.
Folie Village / Folie Marine Extension
Architect/design team
Oppenheim Architecture
Location
Jalë, Himarë Municipality
Status and year
Under development, c.2021–ongoing
Context
An extension of the existing Folie destination through interconnected clusters of villas and apartments inspired by coastal village morphology.
Zig-Zag Resort
Architect/design team
JA Joubert Architecture + UNS Architects
Location
Himarë coastline
Status and year
Proposed/design published, 2025
Context
A five-star resort whose linear zig-zag structure follows the rocky terrain while providing each level with sea views and terraces.
Dukagjini Resort
Architect/design team
Studio Precht + W10 Architects
Location
Ranë e Hedhun, Shëngjin, Lezhë Municipality
Status and year
Construction began 2025; under construction
Context
A 110,000 m² coastal development comprising residences, a holiday village, hotel, spa, casino and pier, arranged as cascading village-like clusters.