As Italy readies itself for the 2026 Milan - Cortina Winter Olympics, the mountain resorts of Bormio and Livigno are gearing up for a hoped - for tourism boom. With less than a year to go until the Games, many homeowners and short - term rental platforms have jacked up prices, anticipating high demand. Some properties are being listed for as much as €11,000 per night. Online platforms like Booking and Airbnb are showing exorbitant prices, such as €7,870 per night for an apartment and €35,000 for a two - week stay in a chalet.
However, the actual demand has been disappointingly low. Several local operators report that their booking calendars have many empty slots, even during the peak weeks of the Olympics. This disparity between expected and actual demand has raised concerns among local operators, who fear that their pricing strategy has backfired and damaged the market. They worry that instead of capitalizing on the Olympic opportunity, they may face lower occupancy rates and lost revenue. The situation in Bormio and Livigno serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between ambition and realism in preparing for the Olympic - related tourism influx.
