South Tyrol · Dolomites · Alpine Hospitality
The bridge between international capital and South Tyrol's hotel market.
The Hiller Chen Company acquires, repositions, and operates family-run Alpine hotels in the Dolomites — pairing well-capitalised US and UK investors with one of Europe's most supply-constrained hospitality markets.
Doors that stay closed to outside investors — opened.
An acquisition vehicle built for this region
The Hiller Chen Company is a newly-formed acquisition vehicle for well-capitalised US and UK investors, dedicated to operational real estate in South Tyrol.
Fluency where capital alone fails
Succeeding here takes more than capital. It takes fluency in the market's micro-dynamics, established local relationships, and the ability to navigate a bilingual German-Italian business culture.
Hands-on, with ties to the region
Our investors bring hands-on experience across real estate, hospitality, asset and project management, technology and corporate sustainability — backed by family ties to the region and close relationships with local capital partners and advisers.
To share the special magic of this stunning region with the next generation of visitors from around the world.
An environment designed for understated natural elegance, serving stellar locally-sourced cuisine with year-round recreation on the doorstep.
Wellness and sustainability at the core of everything we do.
A market where you cannot simply build more.
Strict building regulation across South Tyrol keeps new hotel supply close to zero, while demand for the Dolomites keeps rising. High barriers to entry, low supply growth, real pricing power — the foundation of every acquisition we pursue.
Six things capital can't buy off the shelf.
Deep understanding of South Tyrol's micro-market dynamics, and a successful track record navigating the bilingual German-Italian business environment.
Backgrounds in real estate investment and management, hospitality, corporate operations, project finance, corporate sustainability, and tech.
Close personal and professional ties with our capital partners, local advisers, and the community in South Tyrol.
We champion sustainable tourism that strengthens South Tyrol's economy and communities for generations to come.
Representing a group of well-capitalised investors from the US and the UK, we provide unique access to the market in South Tyrol.
To keep management in-house and honour the legacy of our portfolio companies, we accept capital only from small, privately-held investment houses and qualified HNWIs.
From family-run to institutional-grade.
We buy well-located, well-built hotels from retiring owners, then do the work that generational ownership rarely gets to: professional revenue management, wellness-led repositioning, and disciplined capital planning.
Source off-market
Direct relationships with owner families and local advisors give us access to properties that never reach a broker's mandate.
Move up the segment
Wellness-led upgrades, extended operating seasons, and direct-booking strategies lift both ADR and occupancy.
Run it properly
Full-time professional management, dynamic pricing, and retained local teams — the hotel keeps its character and gains discipline.
Realise the value
Institutional-quality operations in a supply-constrained market support strong exit values across cycles.
What we look for.
Target Asset Profile
- Four-star hotel with a three-to-five-year history of consistent, year-round performance
- At least 65–70% gross annual occupancy with an above-market ADR
- Full-time, professional management in place
- Strong balance sheet with normalised working capital, free of encumbrances
- Reliable third-party service providers and established suppliers for F&B and hotel consumables
Ideal Seller Profile
- Informed, transaction-ready sellers who understand the process — including due diligence — and value the guidance of market-leading advisers
- Supported by a strong advisory team versed in operational real estate: business broker, legal counsel, tax and accounting professionals
Selling your family's hotel is a handover, not a transaction.
If you are thinking about succession, we offer a discreet, respectful path — at your pace, in your language, with your legacy intact.
Absolute discretion
No listings, no rumours in the valley. Conversations stay private until you decide otherwise.
Your team stays
We keep management and staff in place and invest in their development — the hotel keeps the people who made it.
A meticulous, fair process
Rigorous but respectful due diligence, guided by market-leading advisers on both sides, with clear communication in German or Italian.
Your legacy honoured
We buy to build on what you created — not to erase it. Heritage, name, and standing in the community are assets we protect.
Built for cross-border capital.
Investing into Italian real assets from the US or UK requires structure done right. Ours is designed for it from day one.
US & European investors
Dedicated vehicles for US investors alongside direct European participation — each route tax-appropriate for its jurisdiction.
GP-LP alignment
A typical GP-LP structure with ca. 25% equity injected into the acquisition vehicle for each asset, and leverage provided by bank financing through our local network.
Selective capital
We accept capital only from small, privately-held investment houses and qualified HNWIs — keeping management in-house and interests aligned.
Two full seasons. One extraordinary place.
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape that works twice a year: skiing and snow sports in winter, hiking and cycling in summer — with wellness demand all year round.
Tourism that gives back more than it takes.
We champion sustainable tourism that strengthens South Tyrol's economy and communities for generations to come — from energy-efficiency investment in our properties to local sourcing, local hiring, and long-term stewardship of the places we operate in.
Three disciplines, one table.
Every deal is led by the same three functions — commercial, finance, and project finance — working directly with owners, lenders, and investors.
Sandro Chen
A commercial and sales leader with extensive experience in international sales management, business development, and commercial strategy. Sandro drives commercial strategy and operational performance across the portfolio — pricing, sales optimisation, and the commercial targets that guide each property's market positioning.
Jakob Hiller
A finance professional with a background in investment analysis, financial strategy, and capital markets. Jakob leads deal sourcing, due diligence, and fundraising, then oversees each asset's financial performance post-acquisition — maintaining close communication with investors and financing partners.
Lucas Hiller
A specialist in project finance, capital markets, and investment structuring, with a track record leading complex financings for large-scale infrastructure and energy assets. Lucas leads engagement with lending institutions, shaping a financing strategy that balances leverage, cost, and flexibility.
Let's talk about the Dolomites.
Whether you're an investor looking at Alpine hospitality or an owner thinking about succession, we'd like to hear from you.
invest@hillerchen.com- Investors
- invest@hillerchen.com
- Owners & Advisors
- properties@hillerchen.com
- Based in
- South Tyrol, Italy · London, UK