Aperture

🏡 Grand Hotel Faraglioni in Aci Trezza, Aci Castello (CT), unveiled a new seafront covered terrace with views of the faraglioni. The previously open-air lounge has been renovated with panoramic windows for year-round use. The terrace houses the "Itaca" bar and "Canto delle Sirene" restaurant, which offers Aci Trezza's traditional maritime cuisine. The entire space is dominated by dark blue colors. The bar, run by Rosario Trovato, and kitchen, led by Michele Siracusa under executive chef Simone Strano, will serve guests from 17:00 to 23:00 and 19:00 to 22:00, respectively, with extended future hours planned from 10:30 to 23:00. The hotel is located at Via Lungomare dei Ciclopi, 115 – Aci Castello (CT), contactable at +39 345 0805081/095 277463 or hotel@grandhotelfaraglioni.com.

💎 Romance Island, part of Sun Siyam Olhuveli in the Maldives, targets couples for honeymoons, anniversaries, and marriage proposals. Peak visits from Italians in December, January, August, with growing numbers in November, June, July, and September. The island boasts 111 villas, bespoke experiences like planting a personalized palm tree, 50+ dive spots, 7 dining options, and couple's treatments at the Blue Spa.

🏦 Dusit Hotels and Resorts, a Thai company, expands into India with the opening of dusitD2 Fagu, Shimla, located 20 kilometers from Shimla in Northwest Himalaya at an altitude of 2000 meters. This luxury hotel features 80 rooms with views of valleys and mountains, a temperature-controlled pool, a spa with Thai massages, event spaces, a terraced lawn, and an outdoor amphitheater. Dining options include Dusit Gourmet for international cuisine and SOI for Thai and Pan-Asian food. Gilles Cretallaz, COO of Dusit International, sees India as a market with great potential, with four additional properties under construction and more planned. Dusit also launched its first hotel in Malaysia in early December in Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The Dusit Princess Chiang Mai in Thailand reopened after a three-year renovation that modernized services and rooms, expanded meeting spaces, and revamped dining options to include Jasmine Restaurant and Casa Verde.

🛍 Sicilia Outlet Village to open during the holiday season from January 2-6, 2025, with extended hours up to 21:00. Starting January 4, visitors can take advantage of early sales at 170 Italian and international brand stores. A highlight for children will be meeting the Befana on January 6 for a hug and a photo.

🏆 Provincia Autonoma di Trento launches new grant for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in hospitality, commerce, and services sectors in preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Eligible interventions include expansion, renovation, and equipment purchases. Incentives cover 30% of admissible expenses with a minimum spend of €50,000 for hospitality and €25,000 for commerce/services, up to a maximum of €1,000,000. Applications open from March 4, 2025, to May 30, 2025, with investments starting by September 1, 2024.

🏝 NH Collection adds the 4-star family hotel Mirtillo Rosso in Alagna Valsesia to its portfolio, set to open in March 2025 as NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso after renovation. Located minutes from the Alagna cable car leading to the Monte Rosa Ski area with 150 km of slopes, the hotel features 56 rooms and a Wellness Center with Spa, boasting separate areas for adults (300 sqm) and families (400 sqm). The NH Collection brand, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has 17 hotels in Italy and 60 Minor Hotels Europe & Americas properties across the country.

❄ Nordic Hotels & Resorts, part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, offers 45 hotels across 27 cities in 5 Northern European countries. Key locations include At Six in Stockholm with 343 rooms and 14 restaurants, and Sommerro in Oslo, housed in the former electric company's building with 231 rooms, 7 restaurants, and a cinema. The collection also features The Thief in Oslo and Villa Copenhagen, with special mentions of the Wood Hotel in Bodø for Northern Lights views and the annually reconstructed IceHotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, offering 10 to 20 ice suites.

🍽 Panino Giusto, established in Milan in 1979, celebrates the reopening of its outlet at Milan Linate Airport in collaboration with Autogrill, part of Avolta group. This marks their third joint project, after Noventa and Malpensa locations. The partnership aims to provide a high-quality culinary experience that blends tradition with innovation. The menu features iconic sandwiches and a Milanese aperitif experience. CEO Antonio Civita is enthusiastic about the reopening at this strategic hub, while Luca D’Alba of Avolta sees this as a step to consolidate airport presence and enhance food court offerings.

🍔 Burger King opened its tenth directly owned store in Milan, at Via Andrea Solari n. 3, on Thursday, December 19. The new restaurant is the 102nd in Italy, employs 24 people, covers 207sqm, and has 24 indoor seats. The location offers digital ordering via QR code, loyalty rewards through "Be The King," table service, and home delivery. Burger King Italy, part of QSRP Group, operates over 270 restaurants, serving over 20 million Italians and employing more than 5,000 people.

🍕 Antica Pizzeria Da Michele opened its first location in Abruzzo on Pescara's waterfront near Gabriele D’Annunzio's birthplace. Managed by Alessandro Condurro, the Pescara branch, with partners Antonello Corciulo, Fabrizio Bovenzi, and Guglielmo Torre, features two dining rooms with 90 seats and an outdoor area of 50 seats. The menu includes traditional Neapolitan pizzas and Italian starters and desserts. Located at Lungomare Papa Giovanni XXIII, 65126 Pescara, it operates daily from 12:00-15:30 and 18:30-23:30.