Aperture

🏡 Room Mate Hotels in Florence, led by interior designer Luis Garcia Fraile, have been revamped. The chain, founded by Kike Sarasola, emphasizes friendly hospitality and personalized service. Room Mate Isabella, housed in a 17th-century building, blends classic elegance with modernity, while Room Mate Luca, close to Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, combines Florentine elegance with contemporary comforts. Room Mate Leo in Granada, redesigned by Cuarto Interior, now offers 67 rooms and features a year-round heated rooftop pool. In 2025, Room Mate will continue renovations including Room Mate Aitana by Tomás Alía, following the acquisition of the Staying Valencia group, adding 10 new properties to its portfolio.

🏨 Room Mate Hotels, led by Kike Sarasola, plans to open Hotel Marmont in Geneva, Switzerland, following an April opening in Rome with Room Mate Mia. The chain acquired Staying Valencia, including 9 properties such as Helen Berger, Oliveira, and Cosmo in Valencia's center. In 2024, nearly €10 million is allocated for refurbishing hotels, including Room Mate Aitana in Amsterdam (285 rooms), Room Mate Luca (55 rooms), and Isabella Room Mate Collection (22 rooms) in Florence, and Room Mate Leo (67 rooms) in Granada. Italy and Spain are strong markets for the chain, which closed 2024 with a solid financial position and anticipates a record 2025 with estimated revenues of €151.8 million and new hotel openings.

🏖️ Miramis, a luxury hospitality brand of Sweden's Qarlbo AB, reopens its facilities at Argentario after 3 years of management. For summer 2025, Miramis has prepared 220 storytellers, with 70% being returning employees. LA ROQQA, the first luxury boutique hotel in Porto Ercole, and its Scirocco terrace offer a premium culinary experience. The Boutique Hotel Torre di Cala Piccola, set in a private park of over 11,000 square meters, along with over 60 staff members, and the exclusive Isolotto Beach Club employing more than 35 people will also reopen. Collaborations include the Monte Argentario cycling group and the Michelangelo Foundation, promoting Maremma Tuscany's rich artisan tradition.

🏖️ The world's largest sailing yacht, Orient Express Corinthian, will set sail in summer 2026. Bookings are now open for cruises ranging from two to eight nights, designed to minimize environmental impact by harnessing favorable winds in the Mediterranean and Adriatic. The yacht features 54 suites (45 to 230 square meters), luxury interiors by architect Maxime d’Angeac, culinary experiences by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, a 115-seat cabaret, two pools, and a private marina. Exclusive excursions include privileged access to Pompeii and private dining at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice.

🏖️ Vignette Collection, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, will open its first Italian location in Marina di Ragusa, Sicily, as Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, Vignette Collection, in the second half of 2025. In partnership with Blu Lava Resorts (owner) and Panoram Hotels (management), the hotel will feature 43 rooms, a private beach club, two pools, a bar, and an all-day restaurant. Blu Lava Resorts chose IHG for their luxury destination capabilities, while Panoram Hotel Management aims to build a platform of 20 properties in Italy. Launched three years ago, Vignette Collection aims to reach 100 hotels opened or in development within its first decade, and currently has 17 properties across Europe, including in France, Turkey, Spain, the UK, and Hungary.

🏖 In 2024, Barbados saw a 37% increase in Italian tourist arrivals. Lucilla Venditti of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc highlights the island's authentic Caribbean culture, historic homes, 17th-century churches, and UNESCO-listed Bridgetown. Air connections from Italy include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic via London, and Condor via Frankfurt, with flight + hotel packages like Sandals Barbados or Blue Monkey. Upcoming hotels are Hotel Indigo and Pendry (2025/2026). The Barbados Elite program offers special promotions and incentives for travel agents.

🏠 IHG Hotels & Resorts chose Sicily for the second Vignette Collection property in Italy, Costa Irminia Retreat & Spa, opening by the end of the year with 43 rooms at Marina di Ragusa. Blu Lava Resorts owns, and Panoram Hotels manages the property. Vignette Collection has surpassed half its initial 10-year goal with over 50 properties open or in development, including 17 in Europe. IHG has 30 hotels in Italy and 12 more in the pipeline. Willemijn Geels cited Sicily's ideal fit for luxury and lifestyle segment expansion.

🎭 In Verona, the Arena and Casa di Giulietta will temporarily close due to additional renovation works and extraordinary maintenance, respectively. Arena visits will be restricted to groups of 25 until March 31, with free entry and refunds for tickets already purchased online. From April 1-18, the Arena closes entirely for preparations for the 2025 lyrical and extra-lyrical season starting May 10. Casa di Giulietta closes on specific dates due to roof damage: now until March 26, March 31-April 2, and May 19-22, with partial accessibility from April 3 to May 18. Weather may affect the schedule, with updates on the Musei Civici website.

🏠 BV Hotels & Resorts launched the luxury hospitality brand BV Hotel Collection and acquired its first property, the Quarry Resort in Matera, now BV Quarry Matera, a 5-star luxury hotel offering rooms and suites of different types. The hotel features a panoramic terrace with a Lounge Bar and a restaurant. BV's portfolio already includes six facilities: three urban hotels in Rome, Assisi, and Cosenza, and three resorts in Calabria. Expansion plans follow a 2024 rebranding. Franco Falcone, President of BV Hotels & Resorts, emphasized the goal of offering unique, authentic stays harmonious with the local area.

❄ Finlandia reached 220,000 overnight stays from Italians in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023. David Campano, VisitFinland's country manager, notes a distribution of arrivals beyond traditional spots, thanks to a 19% increase in winter air connectivity. 2024 saw 4.4 million international overnight stays and a tourism expenditure of €3.73 million despite a 25% drop in Finavia traffic due to Russian airspace closure. The "forest-cottage" stays, like Nuottakallio on Saimaa lake, are popular among Italians.