Conferenze e Fiere

🍷 Belpoggio, a boutique winery in Montalcino, celebrates its 20-year journey with an exclusive tasting dinner calendar held in key countries for its international expansion. Celebrations started in New York with a sensory experience including a 2005 Brunello di Montalcino tasting, then continued in Dallas, New Orleans, São Paulo, Amsterdam, and concluded in Hong Kong. The winery's export represents 60% of its turnover, facing challenges like new US tariffs but expanding into emerging markets like Brazil and Asia. Celebrations will culminate in Italy, honoring the winery's heritage and commitment to quality and innovation.

🍷 An IULM University study presented at Vinitaly during the "Wine Tricks" event by Le Donne del Vino on April 8 reveals Italian youths' relationship with wine: curious but not very knowledgeable, with a preference for red (40.8%) and white (38%) wines in social settings. The research conducted on 188 young people aged 18-25 shows a preference for bottles priced between €10-€25, primarily purchased from supermarkets (23.2%), restaurants/pizzerias (21.7%), and local shops (21.2%). Consumption is mainly at restaurants (61.1%) and home (62%), with purchase decisions influenced by personal experience (20.2%), word of mouth (19.5%), and price (19.4%). Wine is not considered a status symbol, and e-commerce remains marginal (14.2%) in this market segment.

🍺 Birra Messina showcases two unique installations during Milan Design Week, April 7-13, 2025, to inspire wonder among visitors. AstraRicerche's study reveals more than a third of Italians aged 18-45 rarely experience surprise, with 38% occasionally feeling it. Meanwhile, 47.7% link wonder to unexpected discoveries, and 40.3% to overlooked beauty. The "L'Edicola Meraviglia" in Piazza Morbegno and a vibrant mural by Magda Masano in Via Tortona celebrate Sicilian culture. These works include limited edition glasses by Academy of Fine Arts of Catania students Giuliana Pappalardo and Elisa Nicastro. Birra Messina's efforts continue their urban regeneration projects like "Il Mosaico delle Meraviglie" and "Le Panchine delle Meraviglie" in Messina. For more information, visit www.birramessina.it.

🍴 Chefs Igles Corelli and Daniele Persegani will revive Renaissance recipes in Ferrara on April 12 and May 11, 2025, as part of Festina Lente. Limited to 50 attendees per event, workshops cost €50, with an optional dinner or lunch at €90. The immersive experience includes period table settings, local ceramic dishes, and costumed characters from the Fondazione Palio Città di Ferrara.

✈ Athens Airport expansion planned to increase capacity from 26 to 40 million passengers by 2032, led by Anemos consortium. Main and satellite terminals to undergo significant renovation, adding new check-in, waiting, and boarding areas, as well as new parking facilities. Architectural design pays tribute to Athens, with low carbon emission materials aiming for Leed Gold certification. The satellite terminal dedicated to extra-Schengen flights, connected to the main terminal via a tunnel and patio. The €540 million project expects to serve 33 million passengers by 2028 and 40 million by 2032, with no interruptions to operations.

✈ Wizz Air offers its largest-ever selection from Italy for summer 2025, with over 200 routes to 80 destinations in 32 countries, totaling over 13 million seats. Using 239-seat A321neo aircraft, it connects Italy to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. From Rome Fiumicino, new flights to Zaragoza and Bilbao are added, including 14 weekly connections to London, Madrid, and Barcelona, 9 to Valencia, and 7 to both Malaga and Seville. Milan Malpensa has 12 weekly flights to London Gatwick and increased connections to Spain. Venice base boosts flights to Barcelona and Madrid to 7 weekly. Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, Wizz Air's corporate communications manager, comments on the expansion's enhancement of Italian travel network and commitment to sustainable aviation.

🎮 Leolandia's MICE segment saw over 3,000 entries for team building and corporate events just over a year after its official opening. The park projects to exceed 5,000 MICE attendances in the 2025 season, a 125% increase from the previous year. David Tommaso, the marketing and sales director, attributes this success to the park's immersive themed areas, attractions, and the shared experiences they offer. Leolandia's focus on family-friendly formats also enhances its corporate event offerings.

🏆 Cortina hoteliers are prepping for a summer season showing a booking surge, with current occupancy rates over 40%, 12 percentage points higher than last year. July saw the most significant increase (49.1%), with occupancy at 43.7%, compared to 29.3% in April 2024. August and September also exceed expectations with increases of 31.4% and 48.7%, respectively. Two and three-star accommodations benefit the most, experiencing a 58.1% rise in demand. Stefano Pirro, president of Cortina's Hoteliers Association, attributes the boost to the Olympic effect, as tourists are eager to visit the future Olympic venues.

✈ Volotea has launched a flight connection from Palermo to Bilbao, operating twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This new international route is part of Volotea's commitment to strengthening Italy-Spain connections and aims to enhance tourism and cultural exchanges. Valeria Rebasti, Volotea's International Market Director, highlighted the route's role in expanding their international network and improving Palermo's connectivity with Europe. Additionally, Volotea will start a new connection to Heraklion from July 8, 2025, with weekly flights throughout the season.

🏠 Austria Turismo e Austria Vacanze T.O., in collaboration with TTG Italia, are hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, April 16 at 14:30, focusing on travel opportunities in Austria during the summer season. Featuring direct flights and custom holiday packages from Go To Fly from Forlì to Vienna, the webinar aims to explore the regions of Styria and Carinthia. Speakers include Kathrin Ploder-Augurusa (Austria Turismo), Laura Corbetta (Austria Vacanze T.O.), Elke Maidic (Carinthia regional entity), and Belinda Schagerl (Styria regional entity). Registration is through a provided link.