Aperture

🏠 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.

🌅 Interno Marche, a destination hotel, opened in April 2024 in Tolentino, Italy. The 3,600 square meter property, once home to Nazareno Gabrielli and Poltrona Frau, now features 25 designer-inspired rooms and 5 suites themed around 20th-century stylistic movements. ORAstudio designed the hotel, with Fabrizio Mancini handling lighting and Luigina Giordani landscape design. Platek provided lighting solutions, including Jan Van Lierde's DOT for interiors and Chiodino, Shield, and Mini Corniche for garden lighting, enhancing both functionality and scenery.

🏖 Le Dune Piscinas, an exclusive 5-star resort in southwestern Sardinia, showcases the architectural transformation of a former mining warehouse by FVR Engineering and PL-AG Studio. The resort features 28 rooms and suites, three restaurants—one led by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Ciervo—plus a spa, gym, and outdoor pool. Historical elements such as stone flooring, Orosei marble, original wooden beams, and a large fireplace have been preserved. Outdoor furnishings by Pedrali, including Panarea armchairs by CMP Design and Reva Twist sofas and chairs by Patrick Jouin, adorn the American bar I Gechi and the library, which houses local cultural and mining history. Poolside Rail sun loungers and Elliot tables add modern comfort for relaxation with a sea view, all contributing to a refined yet respectful atmosphere blending contemporary elegance with the site’s history and natural surroundings.

🏠 Couvent des Minimes Hotel & Spa, built in 1613, was a former convent for Minime nuns and then Franciscan nuns until 1999. Located in Provence, it boasts 48 rooms and suites inspired by the local sky and landscape, featuring natural materials and colors like beige, white, and olive green. The hotel offers a 2,500-square-meter wellness area with outdoor furniture by Tectona, including teak chaise longues, Copacabana deck chairs, and Exeter modular sofas, complemented by Duxford tables and Roma umbrellas, all set within Mediterranean gardens with almond, rosemary, olive trees, and lavender.

🏠 The Grand Hotel Parker’s in Chiaia, built in 1870, is Naples' first luxury 5-star hotel and the latest addition to Relais & Châteaux. Hosting the two-Michelin-starred George Restaurant, led by Chef Domenico Candela in 2023, it offers refined Neapolitan cuisine and stunning Gulf of Naples views. It's celebrated for combining tradition with innovation in hospitality and gastronomy.

🏖 Atelier Vacanze celebrates 25 years in 2025, honoring founder Gennaro Amato. Announcements by Federica Amato and Antonio De Simini include a 25x25 promotion offering travel agencies 25% commission for 25 days on selected Club products. New Atelier Club Borgo di Fiuzzi in Praia a Mare and the popular Atelier Club Akiris are highlighted. Over 100 Mare Italia properties and tours in Egypt and Turkey with guaranteed departures from Italy are part of their offerings.

🏡 Atmosphere Core launched "Sadar Manzil Heritage by Atmosphere" in Bhopal, India, exclusively for couples. The luxury hotel features 22 vintage rooms and suites, with amenities like antique furniture and a personal driver. Salil Panigrahi, General Manager, and Souvagya Mohapatra, GM for India and neighboring countries, emphasize the unique concept and women-only team. Akshat Jain, CEO of Rdb Bhopal Hospitality, highlights the blend of Maldivian hospitality concepts with local heritage.