Non-repayable grants for hotels: the complete guide

Every year, thousands of hoteliers leave tens of thousands of euros on the table. Not for lack of ideas, not for lack of projects. For lack of information. The grants exist, the money is there, but the bureaucratic maze puts off anyone without a dedicated consultant and the time to follow every regulatory update.

2026 is a particularly rich year for opportunities in the Italian hospitality sector. The Ministry of Tourism has signed an implementing decree that has unlocked significant resources, the budget law has introduced two new tools specifically for tourism, and regional grant schemes continue to offer tailored funding for smaller-scale projects. Anyone who knows how to navigate it has a lot to work with.

This guide brings together everything you need to know about the funding available in 2026 for hotels, B&Bs, farm stays and accommodation businesses in general. It isn’t a dry list of measures: it’s an attempt to explain how they actually work, who can access them and what to do in practice to submit an application with a real chance of being approved.

THE 2026 TOURISM GRANT SCHEME: THE MAIN MEASURE

The implementing decree signed by the Ministry of Tourism on 4 March 2026, published in the Official Gazette on 20 April, put in place the most significant measure of the year for the hotel sector. Operational management is handled by Invitalia.

The mechanism works on two levels: a non-repayable grant equal to 30% of eligible expenses, capped at 4.5 million euros per project, alongside a subsidised loan that can cover up to 70% of the remaining costs. The total budget is 109 million euros, of which 59 million is earmarked for the direct grant.

That sounds like a lot. In reality, the number of expected applications far exceeds the funds available, which makes it essential to submit a solid, complete application from the very first day the scheme opens. Anyone who arrives late, or who submits incomplete documentation, is almost certain to be excluded once funds run out, before the application is even assessed on its merits.

The legislator has stated four objectives: spreading tourist flows more evenly across the year, digitalising accommodation businesses, environmental sustainability and ESG criteria. A project that touches on more than one of these areas has a better chance of scoring well in the assessment.

Who can apply for the non-repayable grant scheme for hotels

Applications can be submitted by all tourism operators classified under the 2025 ATECO codes covered by the decree. The list is broad: hotels, B&Bs, holiday homes, campsites, tourist villages, glamping sites, marinas and resorts, catering businesses, thermal spa centres, theme parks, seaside establishments and conference venues.

The requirement that applies across the board is being up to date with social security contributions. A negative DURC (contribution compliance) check blocks everything, regardless of how good the project is or how much investment is planned. Anyone with outstanding issues would do well to sort them out before applying, because regularising the position takes time that doesn’t always fit within a scheme’s application window.

Beyond contribution status, the assessment also considers the applicant’s technical, economic and financial reliability. A hotel with sound accounts, a coherent investment plan and an established trading history has far more room to manoeuvre than a business with cash-flow problems or disorganised management.

What the non-repayable grant scheme for hotels funds

Eligible expenses revolve around four strategic areas. The first is energy efficiency and renewables: solar panels, replacing outdated boilers, thermal insulation, building automation systems that optimise consumption intelligently. The second is digitalisation: management software, automated check-in systems, revenue management, connectivity, room automation. The third is structural upgrading: renovations, seismic retrofitting, removing architectural barriers. The fourth is sustainability in a broader sense, including work that improves accessibility and reduces the property’s environmental impact.

Excluded, on the other hand, are day-to-day running costs, recoverable VAT, staff costs and expenses incurred before the grant is awarded. This last point is critical: anyone who has already started work before securing the funding can’t claim those costs back. The principle is simple but is often broken out of haste or carelessness.

One important aspect concerns site readiness. The decree states that the grant’s validity is conditional on submitting, within 120 days of signing, all documentation proving the permits, authorisations, licences and clearances needed to carry out the work. Anyone starting out without having already begun the planning permission process risks losing the grant to bureaucratic delays that aren’t within their control.

The 2026 budget law

Alongside the Tourism Grant Scheme, Law no. 199/2025 introduced two additional tools through paragraphs 469-471.

The first is a 50-million-euro fund for the three-year period 2026-2028, for non-repayable grants that can reach up to 60% of the investment. This is one of the highest percentages available among Italian incentive schemes, designed specifically for medium-sized businesses that fall short of the minimum thresholds for negotiated funding tools.

The second is refinancing for Tourism Development Contracts, with 550 million euros through to 2029. This tool is designed for investments above 7.5 million euros and works differently from schemes with a fixed application window: the business works directly with Invitalia and the regions to build a tailored plan. It requires more preparatory work and longer timeframes, but offers a level of project flexibility that standard grant schemes don’t allow.

Support intensity under Development Contracts can reach up to 70% of eligible investment. For a hotel planning a 10-million-euro project, having access to 7 million euros combined between grant and subsidised loan completely changes the financial logic of the project.

FRI-TUR and the tax credit

The Revolving Fund for Tourism Development, a PNRR tool with a budget of 598 million euros, works differently from standard grant schemes. It offers a tax credit of up to 80% and a non-repayable grant of up to 50%, capped at 40,000 euros, rising to 140,000 euros where specific requirements are met.

The scheme is aimed at hotel businesses, farm stays, open-air accommodation and thermal spa complexes. Eligible work covers energy efficiency, seismic retrofitting, removing architectural barriers and digitalisation. One interesting feature: the tax credit can be transferred, which makes it possible to cash it in even without enough tax liability to offset it against.

Regional non-repayable grants for hotels

Alongside national measures, every region runs its own grant schemes, which often offer higher coverage percentages on smaller amounts. The general principle is simple: the more local the scale, the more accessible the measures become for the average business.

The Lombardy region has published the 2025 New Business Scheme, also open to B&Bs and other non-hotel accommodation businesses, with grants of up to 50% on eligible expenses such as furnishings, equipment and renovations. Funding has been increased to 16.5 million euros.

The Basilicata region offers 50% grants for micro and small businesses with investments from 50,000 euros, capped at 700,000 euros for accommodation businesses.

The Sondrio Chamber of Commerce has published a scheme specifically for hotel businesses in the province, with grants of up to 60% for environmental certification. The Rome Chamber of Commerce runs the 2026 Tourism PID Scheme, with vouchers of up to 30,000 euros for management software, online bookings and digital marketing.

In Bari, the Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Tourism and Culture Scheme provides funding for tourism promotion and heritage development, with application windows open until December 2026.

A 20-room hotel wanting to digitalise its reception is more likely to find an answer in a chamber-of-commerce scheme than in the national Tourism Grant Scheme. Local schemes have more accessible requirements, smaller amounts suited to specific projects, and often faster response times.

How to apply for a non-repayable grant

Most rejected applications aren’t turned down for lack of technical eligibility, but for formal errors, incomplete documentation or an unconvincing business plan. Here are some practical pointers to avoid the most common mistakes.

First, contribution status. The DURC must be in order at the time of application. It sounds obvious, but it’s the most frequent cause of exclusion. Regularising it isn’t instant: it takes weeks.

Second, the business plan. Invitalia’s assessment considers the financial sustainability of the project, how coherent the investment is with the stated objectives, and bonus points linked to ESG criteria. A plan that concretely shows how the investment will improve RevPAR or cut energy costs has a much better chance of getting through than a generic one that lists intentions without figures.

Third, site readiness. Anyone who has already started the planning permission process by the time they apply demonstrates project seriousness and reduces the risk of losing the grant to authorisation delays.

Fourth, the advance payment. The grant can be advanced at 30% within 30 days of signing the agreement, against a bank guarantee or insurance bond. Good planning means this cash can be used to start work without waiting for the final balance.

Fifth, compliance costs. Reporting takes time, precision and often a dedicated professional. These costs need to be planned into the overall project budget, not treated as an afterthought.

Mistakes to avoid

Confusing the non-repayable grant with the subsidised loan is the most common conceptual mistake. In the 2026 Tourism Grant Scheme, the 30% is a non-repayable grant: it doesn’t need to be paid back. The remaining 70% is a subsidised loan: it does need to be repaid, but on much better terms and rates than the market offers.

Ignoring application windows is a costly mistake. Many regional schemes open and close within days, sometimes hours. The Brescia Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 scheme had an application window of three days. Anyone who doesn’t monitor these systematically misses out on real opportunities.

Waiting for the scheme to open before starting to prepare documents is a planning mistake. Once it opens, you find yourself having to gather documents, obtain certifications and put together a business plan in a matter of days. It can’t be done well on that timeframe.

Underestimating the safety requirements needed to access incentives is a growing problem. Since 2024, taking out insurance against natural catastrophes has become a compulsory requirement for accessing many incentive schemes. Anyone not in order on this point is excluded regardless of how good the project is.

Questions about the non-repayable grant scheme for hotels

Can I combine the 2026 Tourism Grant Scheme with other incentives?

Yes, but with limits. De minimis rules and state aid regulations set maximum aid thresholds per business over a three-year period. It’s possible to combine different measures up to a maximum intensity that varies depending on the size of the business and the geographical area. For SMEs in southern Italy, the thresholds are higher. Before applying, check the business’s de minimis position.

I’ve already started renovation work. Can I claim the costs incurred so far?

No. Expenses incurred before the grant is awarded aren’t eligible. It’s one of the basic principles of all public grant schemes. The only exception is design and pre-application consultancy costs, which some schemes allow within defined percentage limits. Always check the specific rules of the individual scheme.

How long does it take between applying and receiving the grant?

For the 2026 Tourism Grant Scheme, timeframes haven’t yet been officially confirmed in full, but experience with similar Invitalia-run measures suggests 6 to 12 months between application and award, plus a further 12-24 months for final payment following reporting. It’s an investment of patience as much as resources.

Can a family-run B&B without a VAT number access the 2026 Tourism Grant Scheme?

It depends on the setup. The scheme is aimed at businesses, meaning B&Bs run on an entrepreneurial basis with a VAT number. Family-run B&Bs without a VAT number usually don’t fall under national measures, but may find room in some specific regional schemes. Check your region’s rules.

Do I need a consultant to apply?

It isn’t compulsory, but it’s strongly advisable for larger schemes. The complexity of the required documentation, the need for a credible business plan and managing the reporting stage are all activities that require specific expertise. The consultant’s cost should be weighed against the potential grant: for a 200,000-euro grant, a fee of 5,000-10,000 euros is well justified.

What happens if costs go over budget during the project?

The grant is calculated on the eligible expenses submitted in the application. Additional costs incurred beyond the approved plan aren’t automatically recognised. In some cases it’s possible to submit a request to Invitalia to amend the project, but timeframes are long and approval isn’t guaranteed. It’s better to submit a conservative, realistic plan from the outset than an optimistic one that later needs amending.