Emilio De Risi

📊 COP29 recently concluded, sparking a reflection on sustainable tourism narratives. Italy is ranked 43rd globally for climate change performance. The sustainable tourism discourse often focuses on competitiveness, customer demand, and profitability. A teacher from a hotel institute highlighted the lack of update courses for tourism subject teachers, suggesting a need for regular professional development, which is not currently supported by the school system. The Ministry of Tourism is encouraged to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to create update pathways for tourism teachers. Meanwhile, the Venice-based luxury hotel Bauer has been purchased by Mohari Hospitality in partnership with Omnam group for $300 million, with an additional $150 million planned for renovations.

🍀 In Lignano Sabbiadoro, Emilio De Risi reflects on tourism and life balance topics at the informal event 'Aspettando TTG' hosted by Hotel President Lignano. The advertorial 'ski big with a smaller footprint' in The Guardian, featuring Austria's sustainable ski resorts with renewable energy and limited artificial snow use, is highlighted for its sober tone. Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin plans to expand beyond the current 47 brands. Disney hikes park prices by 6% and annual pass rates by 6-20%, marking its 22nd increase in 35 years. Open-air accommodations in Italy will be excluded from property tax calculations starting January 2025. LVMH eyes a 30% stake in French Bloom, a non-alcoholic champagne producer. Pizza Hut's unique CV delivery campaign through pizza box resumes in New York captures attention.

👁 Francesco Cusati, an avid traveler, works as a computer science teacher specialized in digital accessibility at the Istituto dei Ciechi di Milano, a grand 19th-century building in an elegant area of Milan. At 19, Cusati lost his sight and he cherishes non-visual experiences, especially tactile ones, during his trips from Patagonia to Australia. Museums like the Ermitage in St. Petersburg allowed him to touch Canova sculptures, creating memorable experiences. The British Museum in London uses replicas, but touching originals adds immense value. Cusati emphasizes the importance of training staff to improve museum accessibility for visually impaired visitors. In hotels, simple things like having raised numbers on doors can be a significant help. Technology is beneficial, but human guides remain essential. Cusati has organized several travels himself, despite some initial reluctance from agencies. He also appreciates initiatives like "San Siro per tutti," offering live audio descriptions of football matches for the visually impaired.

🌴 The story focuses on the NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi, highlighting its 2000 square meter garden in Venice. Raffaello Panariello, cluster general manager, discusses the importance of preserving the garden for its historical value rather than revenue. The garden is maintained by Laguna Fiorita, a social cooperative employing individuals with challenging backgrounds. The botanical supervisor, Livio Lorenzon, speaks about the complexities of garden care in Venice, such as the disposal of 50 cubic meters of leaves and the increased costs due to logistics. The garden boasts a 250-year-old bagolaro tree and rare plant species like schizophragma and Lamarque roses. The garden is also a habitat for a pair of great spotted woodpeckers.