Conferenze e Fiere

🇨🇺 Cuba Latin Travel reassures travelers that Cuba has returned to normalcy after a general blackout and a hurricane in the eastern part of the island, ready to safely welcome tourists. The electrical power has been restored gradually across provinces, with main tourist destinations and hotels unaffected due to generators. Two hotels in Varadero experienced temporary issues, quickly resolved by relocating guests. The hurricane impacted only remote areas like Baracoa, while tourist zones like Holguín and Varadero faced strong winds and storms without direct hits. Cuba Latin Travel emphasizes traveler safety and prompt incident management.

🇪🇳 Starting April next year, Iberojet will connect Madrid with Delhi through a direct flight, marking the airline's second Asian destination after Bangkok. This service by Ávoris' airline becomes the sole link between Spain and India since Air India ceased operations on the route four years ago.

✈ Norse Atlantic will connect Rome Fiumicino with Los Angeles starting on May 22, 2025. This new route, active until the end of the summer season, joins the existing Rome-New York connection and will operate with a Boeing 787-900. Rome airport becomes Norse's fourth hub from LAX after Paris, London Gatwick, and Oslo.

🏕️ Fred Dixon, CEO of Brand USA, highlighted the European market's importance for U.S. tourism during the Brand USA Travel Week Uk & Europe 2024 in London. In 2019, travel arrivals from Europe nearly reached 16 million, with the sector seeing recovery. The introduction of 64 new air routes from European airports evidences growing connectivity. Dixon noted nearly half of European travelers to the U.S. aim to visit 2-3 cities, with an additional 20% exploring 4 or more. Travel motivation includes exploring new areas (43%) and revisiting past experiences (39%). Top U.S. travel activities are visiting state and national parks, shopping, cultural attractions, film and TV locations, and culinary experiences. Sports, especially NBA basketball and NFL football, are gaining popularity with 44% and 36% interest, respectively. Future high-profile events like the 2026 Fifa World Cup and the 2028 Olympics are expected to maintain high interest.

🇲🇽 Mexico Maravilloso, announced at TTG Travel Experience, aims to showcase Mexican wonders and excellence. Supported by Nayarit state and promoted by the Mexico's Chamber of Commerce and Consulate General in Italy, it includes seminars, cultural events, food experiences, workshops, and fam trips for trade professionals and press. Consul General María de los Angeles Arriola Aguirre emphasized Mexico's rich culture, paralleling Italy's historic and gastronomic heritage, while highlighting artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

🏤 Trenitalia and Ita Airways announce a status match program for their loyalty members, allowing CartaFreccia and Volare members to request a corresponding status within the next two weeks. The recognized status will be valid until December 31, 2025. This follows a previous offer launched in July, enabling point transfers between programs, as part of a strategic partnership involving Trenitalia, Ita Airways, and Aeroporti di Roma for integrated train-air intermodality. Marketing director of Trenitalia and CEO of Italia Loyalty, Mario Alovisi, and CEO of Volare and CCO of Ita Airways, Emiliana Limosani, confirm the continued collaboration.

🏕 Over half of Italians (57%) plan to travel during the upcoming Christmas holidays, according to the Amex Trendex report by American Express. Of those traveling, 61% will stay within Italy and 54% will go abroad. Approximately 70% will travel for pleasure or to visit friends and relatives, and 81% are willing to pay more for a comfortable experience. The average expenditure is 843 euros for travel and 525 euros for entertainment. Half of the travelers (50%) will be accompanied by family or partners. Entertainment events such as Christmas markets and festivities (59%) and shows (31%) are top activities for the holiday season.

🎶 Vienna celebrates the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II throughout 2025. Events include a grand exhibition at the Theatre Museum (December 4 - June 23), Johann Strauss. New Dimension immersive experience, and birthday events on October 25. Isabella Rauter highlighted that 50 million viewers annually watch the New Year's Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, and the city hosts an average of 10,000 visitors every night in its theaters. The celebrations feature ten entertainment genres across 23 districts.

🚀 Finnair will increase flights to the US and Far East from the end of March 2025 through the summer season. Daily flights to Chicago, 11 flights a week to Dallas (5 additional frequencies), two extra weekly flights to both Seattle and Los Angeles. In Japan, daily operations to Osaka, home of Expo 2025, and one additional weekly flight to Nagoya. Shanghai to have four weekly frequencies. Finnair's increased capacity to the US offers passengers better connectivity to North America and beyond through partnerships with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

📍 Over 70 CEOs representing as many destinations, more than 220 exhibitors and over 180 buyers from Europe and the UK attended the sixth edition of Brand USA Travel Week UK & Europe in London. Europe and the UK, key markets for the US, expect to welcome approximately 15 million visitors in the current year and forecast 16.9 million tourists by the end of 2025, nearing 18 million in 2026. Fred Dixon, CEO of Brand USA, predicts 76.9 million arrivals in 2024, exceeding 2019 levels, with an estimated 87.4 million arrivals in the following year and 92.7 million by 2026. Italy, as the fourth largest European market after the UK, Germany, and France, saw an 18% increase in visitors in the first nine months of 2024. In 2023, tourism spending hit $226 billion, a 31% increase from 2022, with Italy averaging $4,300 per capita. A positive outlook for 2024 forecasts a 16% increase from 2023. Lastly, global seat capacity rose by 9% from the previous year, maintaining the USA's status as the top long-haul destination.