Aperture

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its voco brand to Rome, selecting the Hotel Albani near Villa Borghese. The 4-star hotel, featuring 155 rooms, was designed by Venturino Ventura in the late 1970s. IHG, with over 6,600 hotels across 115 countries, chose voco to align with the hotel's style. Savills’ Hospitality & Leisure team advised the Violante family in this franchising venture, attracting interest from major hotel chains for Rome's mid-scale market.

🍴 In 2023, chef Luca Salatino opened "Iolanda Vino e Cucina" in Rome's Marconi area. The restaurant features a 40 sqm dining area with 32 seats. Salatino emphasizes zero kilometer sourcing, using local suppliers like Pastificio Lagano for pasta and Pescheria Galluzzi for fish. The menu blends traditional and innovative dishes, including carbonara, which Salatino considers his signature. The restaurant opens Monday to Saturday, 12:30-15:00 and 19:30-23:30, closed on Sundays.

🏛 Notre-Dame, from December 2024 to June 2025, welcomed 6.015 million visitors, averaging 35,000 daily. It could reach 12 million in 2025, surpassing its pre-fire visitor count of 11 million annually. This achievement could make it France's top monument, overtaking Montmartre (9 million), Louvre (8.7 million), Versailles (8.4 million), and Eiffel Tower (6.3 million). The Gothic marvel reopened on December 7-8, 2024, post a five-year, €850 million restoration.

🏨 Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), with 620 hotels globally, unveiled its 2025 strategy in Rome. Italy hosts 88 properties, representing 10% of SLH’s portfolio, celebrated at The Goethe Hotel. CEO Richard Hyde noted Italy’s unique hospitality. In 2025, SLH welcomed 51 new properties, including Twin Palms in Phuket and Cuvée in Osaka. Owned by the Shibru family, the group doubled top hotel bookings via Hilton’s Honours program. Emerging destinations include Matera, Girona, and Berlin.

🍦 La Fiat 500-gelateria Toschi arriva all’Aeroporto Marco Polo di Venezia per quattro mesi, offrendo dieci gusti di gelato al giorno, tra cui opzioni vegane. Fondata nel 1945, Toschi Vignola è presente in oltre 80 paesi ed è riconosciuta come Marchio Storico di Interesse Nazionale dal 2022. La loro linea Zero+, lanciata nel 2019, risponde alla domanda di prodotti senza zuccheri aggiunti, consolidando la loro posizione nel mercato italiano.

📅 B&B HOTELS plans to open 15 new locations by the end of the year, aiming for 95 hotels, up from the current 84. By 2030, they aim for 150 hotels in Italy. In 2025, three new destinations will be added for business travelers. Alessandro Di Mauro, Head of Sales, emphasizes their focus on quality services, technology, and sustainability. They offer agreements through major GDS and TMCs to cater to corporate and leisure travel needs.

🍴 Donburi House plans to open 90 Japanese restaurants across Italy, backed by the Boffa and Chiesa families. The expansion aims to promote authentic Japanese cuisine, moving beyond fusion models. Inspired by izakaya, the restaurant design by Boffa Petrone & Partners emphasizes traditional recipes. Executive Chef Kido Takashi leads the culinary team. With international ambitions, the first Swiss location is in preparation. Luca Boffa highlights the focus on authenticity and quality in expanding this accessible dining experience.

🍮 Fiasconaro, a Sicilian confectionery company, will open its first temporary store in Manhattan, New York, in October 2025. The U.S. accounts for 13% of its sales, leading its international market presence. The company ended 2024 with a €33 million turnover, with exports making up 34%. Nicola Fiasconaro received the Columbus Citizen Foundation's "Cristoforo Colombo" Medal for promoting Italian excellence. Founded in 1953, the company employs over 250 seasonal workers during Christmas and invests 45% of annual profits locally.

🏖️ Milano, 30 maggio: Kora Beach Club, il primo Beach Club urbano della città, apre all'Idroscalo, grazie a Stefano Lacroce, Edoardo Marzani e Manfredi Caglioni. Aperto dalle 9:30, offre yoga, massaggi, e gastronomia mediterranea con prezzi accessibili: primi da 16-17€, pizze da 12€, cocktail da 12-15€. Con 64 lettini, 6 cabane, e 110 coperti, Kora punta a benessere e creatività, ispirato da Ibiza e Costa Azzurra. Aperto marzo-ottobre.

🍴 Juri Insigne opens Santina Capri in Via Fuorlovado, Capri, blending Amalfi Coast flavors with modern international touches. Inspired by Conca del Sogno, dishes like Ravioli alla Santina and Spaghetti alla Nerano highlight the menu. Chef Umberto Mazza introduces creative simplicity, adapting to daily catch and seasons. Santina balances authenticity with international appeal, offering a curated wine list. Future expansion is envisioned, possibly in New York.