Conferenze e Fiere

🚢 First Class Holidays director prepares for the launch of First Class Cruise in Dover this May. The new cruise brand will offer long-range cruises on six continents with customized pre and post-cruise itineraries. Following a restructuring, First Class Travel Group now operates with four distinct brands targeting different segments of the bespoke long-haul flights market. Daniel Gathercole, CEO, identified a market gap in tailored land services for cruises, with a brochure and dedicated website available from April.

💸 Acqua Minerale San Benedetto launches "San Benedetto My Secret 2025" contest from March 17 to August 29, 2025. Consumers can win by purchasing specially marked 6-pack bottles, registering on the promotional website, and following instructions. Prizes include 30 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 tablets, 12 Gardaland Resort weekends for 4, and 7 Samsung Crystal UHD 50" 4K TVs—with an extra chance to win a TV by buying a San Benedetto Aquavitamin bottle. Participants with at least 5 receipts can enter to win a blue metallic SUZUKI Swift Hybrid 1.2 TOP 4WD. Promotion runs on product packaging, official websites, and San Benedetto's social media platforms.

☕ La Marzocco, founded in 1927, is hosting "Connected Days" on March 18 at 16:00 (GMT+1) via live streaming, discussing the impact of connectivity on coffee machines and user experience improvements. The Florence-based espresso machine producer has modernized infrastructure and introduced IoT gateways for customizable coffee experiences. More info available on Instagram @lamarzocco and on lamarzocco.com/connected-days/index.php.

🍪 Lesaffre Italia and Richemont Club Italia renewed their strategic partnership for professional baking and pastry training. Lesaffre, part of a French group in 50 countries with 80 production sites, 11,000 employees, and €3 billion revenue, offers continuous quality education. On March 24, an event titled "Il lievito, il vero protagonista della fermentazione" will be hosted at Lesaffre's Baking Center™. L'hirondelle 1895, a new yeast specific for biga, long fermentations, and pizza, was launched in January 2025 during the 130th anniversary of the L'hirondelle range, available in 2.5 kg resealable packs with five 500g blocks.

🎭 Pordenone elected as the Italian Capital of Culture for 2027, marking a milestone that highlights its cultural richness and represents a significant opportunity for tourism. Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè believes the recognition will attract global visitors, stimulate local economic development, and promote a positive image of Italy. For more info, visit www.ministeroturismo.gov.it.

🌽 "Olio Capitale," the extravirgin olive oil fair in Trieste, concluded on March 16 with a record +18% increase in attendance, reaching nearly 14,200 visitors compared to 12,000 in 2024. With 212 exhibitors, the event showcased a variety of olive oils and featured an international presence with visitors from over 20 countries. The International OLIO CAPITALE Competition had 176 oils in contest, with winners from Tuscany, Puglia, and Spain across different fruity categories. The fair included innovative conferences on health benefits of olive oil and technological advances in the olive oil sector. CocktOIL, the off-fair cocktail event, saw Angelica Puntini from Local win, while "L'olio nel Piatto" promoted olive oil in local cuisines. Antonio Paoletti, president of the Venice Giulia Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the fair's focus on quality and international outreach.

🚀 Swiss Group International and Rep Air announced annual Naples-Sharm el Sheikh flights starting September 14, with a weekly Airbus 320 (180 seats) flight from Naples-Capodichino Airport at 14:35, arriving at 17:20 local time. This collaboration is set to boost Campania operators' activities and provide reliable service to various Italian tour operators. CEOs Giuseppe Scandurra (Rep Air) and Amr Aboukoura (Swiss Group International) emphasize the strategic cooperation for expanded flight services.

🏖️ In 2024, Thailand welcomed 35.54 million international visitors and aims to surpass the 39 million visitors of 2019, targeting 40 million for 2025. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025," focusing on five categories: gastronomy, traditional Muay Thai, fashion and local products, new destinations, and festivals. The strategy includes a rich calendar of festivals, new events, and various activities with an emphasis on sustainability and diversifying tourism offerings.

🍷 Partesa, a leader in Horeca sector distribution and consulting, returns to Emilia-Romagna with its Wine Lab on March 17, 2025, from 11:00 to 18:30, at the Grand Hotel Gallia in Milano Marittima. Over 130 wineries from Italy, Europe, and the USA are featured, with more than 80 Italian and international producers present. The event offers tastings, personalized consultations, and focuses on local wineries. Upcoming Wine Lab dates include March 24 in Verona and March 31 in Rome, with autumn events planned for Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, and Marche. Partesa boasts over 7,400 product references and provides digital tools like eazle and Partesa for Wine, incorporating the Fulgor Wine Theatre and themed podcasts. With 36 years of experience, Partesa operates in 15 regions, manages 36 warehouses, employs around 1,000 people, and serves over 34,300 Horeca customers. It's part of the HEINEKEN Italy Group.

🥃 XIII Roma Whisky Festival ended on March 1-2, 2025, setting a record with 4,300 visitors, over 200 brands, and 1,000+ whisky references. It featured 16 Masterclasses, 130 attendees in Whisky ABC Courses, over 400 cocktails, and 30+ international guests. Winners: Best Scotch - Caol Ila 2011 (54.6%), Best World Whisky - Erètico 7 YO (47%), Best Cask Strength - Wolfburn Cask Strength (56.9%).