Aperture

🏖️ Emblems Collection, a brand of Accor, will open the Hotel Bellevue Cortina d’Ampezzo Emblems Collection in Italy by end of 2026, marking its first property in the country. The venture is in partnership with Prodea Investment and Invel Real Estate. Located on Corso Italia in the exclusive alpine destination of Cortina, the resort has roots dating back to the 19th century. Italian architecture studio pconp and Tihany Design are overseeing the contemporary alpine restyling and interior design, respectively. The hotel will feature 80 luxury rooms, including 27 suites with mountain views, and a 500-square-meter Spa with a focus on wellness. Aiming to redefine alpine hospitality, Emblems Collection is set to debut other European properties in 2025 and plans to expand to 60 worldwide by 2032. Accor currently operates 5,600 hotels across more than 110 countries.

🏖️ Tunisia showcases strong sales for the Nicolaus Group in 2024, with exceptional results during the Easter weekend and April 25th holiday. Paola Coccarelli, the company's Chief Product Officer, highlights popular destinations Djerba, Mahdia, and Hammamet. Djerba Golf Resort & Spa and Nicolaus Club Helios Beach offer sports, gastronomy, and beach attractions. Authentic experiences await at Nicolaus Club El Fatimi & Acquapark Mahdia, while the newly renovated Nicolaus Club Nozha Beach Resort & Spa in Hammamet promises a dynamic vacation in 2023.

🏖 Planeta hospitality season starts March 27, 2025, with La Foresteria Wine Resort, followed by Planeta Country House on April 11, and Insula beach club on June 1. Located in Menfi, the resort offers a unique experience of food, nature, and relaxation. Visitors can explore Planeta wineries, participate in cooking classes, and enjoy biking. Special activities include walks at Planeta Country House and the 'Chiama Vinu' ritual, while Insula beach club provides wellness by the sea. La Foresteria's restaurant, led by Angelo Pumilia, offers signature dishes celebrating tradition. Francesca Planeta highlights Menfi as a "mosaic of authentic experiences" for an authentic Sicilian journey.

📍 The Social Hub debuts in Rome on Monday, March 31, at the ex Dogana in San Lorenzo. The Dutch brand's investment exceeded 114 million euros, marking its 21st property in Europe, with a presence in the Netherlands, Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, the UK, and Spain. The project spans 24,000 sqm, featuring two buildings with a park, designed by Matteo Fantoni Architetti and managed by ITS Controlli Tecnici. The new building includes a 4-star hotel with 392 rooms and amenities like a bar, restaurants, meeting spaces for up to 70 guests, a 24-hour gym, rooftop terrace with a pool, coworking space for 160 professionals, and a planned covered plaza by 2026. The 10,000 sqm public park, designed by landscaper Antonio Perazzi, will be completed in 2025. The F&B offer includes a restaurant & bar, a cocktail bar, and the artisanal pizzeria Berberè. Memberships start at 121€ per month, providing access to workspaces, the pool, gym, and over 600 annual events. CEO Charlie MacGregor emphasizes the project's role in urban regeneration and sustainable city development.

🏡 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.

🏖️ 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.

🏨 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.

🏖️ 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.