You've been invited to apply for a featured placement in our most sought-after travel listicle of 2026.
The Stays That Will Define Italy This Summer
The Stays That Will Define Italy This Summer
TITLE
PUBLISHING PARTNER
USA Today
Digital via usatoday.com
PUBLISHING MONTH
APPLICATION DEADLINE
April 31st
May
Note: Our editorial team may lightly refine the final headline closer to publication date for seasonal relevance and client alignment. The core theme and positioning will remain the same.
What's included.
Why the timing matters
This feature includes a maximum of 10 properties across Italy — spanning hotels, villas, agriturismos, boutique guesthouses, luxury resorts, and historic palaces and estates. Spots are allocated by region — meaning once a property in a specific area is confirmed, no further applications from that same region will be considered.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Regions can close before the final deadline — once your region fills, your spot is gone regardless of when you apply.
Spring is peak planning season for American travelers. Decisions about where to stay, eat, and explore are being made right now — and the properties and that appear in this article will be the ones they book. The publication window is intentionally timed to capture that last-minute decision-making surge, placing your business in front of high-intent travelers at exactly the moment they're ready to commit.
Trusted by leading luxury hotels, destinations, and global hospitality brands
THE AMPLIFICATION FACTOR
The list doesn’t just feature you. It surrounds you.
Every other participant in this feature has its own audience — loyal, high-spending travelers who already trust that property's taste and judgment.
When they share this article, their followers see your business positioned alongside a brand they already respect. You're not being introduced as unknown. You're being vouched for by association.
That's a different kind of visibility than an ad can create. It compounds every time another participant shares — wider reach, elevated perception, lasting credibility.
About the publisher— USA Today
A Global Standard in Travel Media
USA Today is the most widely read news brand in America — and its travel vertical is where millions of Americans turn when planning their next trip. With an editorial voice that blends accessibility with authority, it reaches high-intent travelers at the exact moment they're researching, comparing, and deciding.
Why it matters to you?
A USA Today feature places your property or experience in front of a massive, geographically diverse American audience actively planning summer travel right now. With domain authority of 93+, every placement delivers immediate visibility and lasting SEO value — a permanent, high-authority backlink that keeps driving traffic long after the article goes live.
Impact
USA Today isn't just reach — it's mainstream credibility at scale. Being featured here tells American travelers, travel agents, and booking platforms that your brand is the real deal. It's an evergreen asset you can leverage across PR, social, email, and sales conversations — a third-party endorsement from the most recognized news brand in the country.
90M+
Monthly unique visitors on USA Today digital platforms
DA94/DR92
Extremely high domain authority and rating
Who Is This Feature For?
This feature is reserved for properties across Italy that set the standard for where American travelers choose to stay. Whether a luxury resort on the Amalfi Coast, a historic palazzo in Rome, a vineyard villa in Tuscany, or a boutique guesthouse in the Dolomites — if your property defines the Italian summer experience, this feature was built for you.
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Luxury hotels, boutique guesthouses, villas, agriturismos, historic palaces, and resorts — any exceptional property offering an overnight stay across Italy.
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For properties along the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, Sicily, the Italian Riviera, and other coastal destinations — positioned as the defining summer stays for American travelers seeking sun, sea, and Italian lifestyle.
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For properties in Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, and beyond — ideal for travelers combining sightseeing with exceptional hospitality in Italy's most visited urban destinations.
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For agriturismos, vineyard estates, hilltop villas, and rural properties that offer an immersive, slower experience of Italy — away from the crowds, rooted in landscape and local culture.
The Application Process
Apply via the form below
Our editorial team reviews all submissions for fit and alignment.
Please apply only if you’re ready to confirm participation upon selection.
If selected
You’ll receive an official confirmation email with the next steps. Within 24 hours, confirm your preferred payment method — secure payment link or bank transfer, due within 7 days of confirmation.
Our editors craft your 100–150-word feature based on submitted assets (quote, bio, photos, link).
You’ll have the opportunity to review and approve your segment before publication.Your article is published on usatoday.com with an indexed backlink to your website.
You’ll also receive a press-ready link.
If not selected
You'll receive an email from our editorial team letting you know. Your application is kept on file, and you'll be added to our waitlist for upcoming features.
APPLICATION
Apply now to be considered for USA Today's The Stays That Will Define Italy This Summer — a curated Top 10 feature spotlighting the most exceptional property stays across Italy, published for millions of American travelers planning their summer trip.
Editorial note:
Access to this page is by private invitation only. If you've been directed here, your property or experience has already been identified as a strong potential fit for this feature.
Placements are confirmed on a rolling basis. Because each category and region has a strict limit, some will close well before the final deadline — we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to secure your opportunity for review.
Feature Quality Assurance
This feature is produced as contributor content — an established format used for high-value features across the publication. It carries a regular small byline noting that “Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content, maintaining transparency while preserving the article’s integrity. Unlike promotional or affiliate pieces, it appears without any “sponsored” or “advertisement” labeling on the article URL— ensuring your inclusion stands within USA Today’s premium storytelling framework, consistent with the publication’s tone, quality, and global authority. Final content may be subject to minor textual adjustments to align with the publication’s tone and formatting. All key features and approved positioning are preserved.
Confidentiality Notice
We respect your privacy. All application details, personal information, and submission materials will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with third parties. The process is fully discrete and by invitation only, ensuring that only a handful of exceptional candidates are selected.
Publication Assurance
Once an application is approved and the placement fee is confirmed, inclusion in the article is 100% guaranteed. Listicles are published as cohesive features that include multiple selected participants and are almost always published within the initially indicated timeframe. In rare and exceptional circumstances, minor scheduling adjustments may occur due to publisher timelines or unforeseen delays in the collection of materials. In such cases, we reserve the right to extend the publication timeline by a maximum of 30 calendar days. If publication does not occur within this maximum extension, the applicant is eligible for a full 100% refund, no questions asked.