Conferenze e Fiere

🚣 Antonio Bufalari, Secretary-General of Assonautica, emphasizes the need for generational renewal in Italian boating. Assonautica aims to engage young people in sailing, shaping the future of yachting. The Rome Foil Festival, an investment to attract youth, will take place at Lake Bracciano from May 15 to 18. The event will feature 600 athletes from around the world competing in sailing, surfing, windsurfing, and water skiing, alongside 800 students participating in sailing activities, with 80 exhibitors energizing local lakeside villages.

🏖️ Rome, Italy, will host the 25th edition of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit at the Auditorium Parco della Musica from September 28-30, 2025. The summit returns to Europe for the first time in six years and will feature discussions on digital transformation, regenerative tourism, and investment strategies. Previous editions have included speakers like John Kerry and conservationist Robert Irwin, as well as former Presidents Obama and Clinton. Further details, including speakers and agenda, will be announced later.

🛫 Travel retail in Italy is valued at 1.5-2 billion euros, representing 90% of the sector. Globally, the market is worth around 75 billion dollars, expected to double by 2035. Travel retail grows at 8.5/9% over the past decade, outpacing traditional retail's annual growth of 2.3-3%. Italy's aviation industry has seen passenger numbers increase from 150-160 million to 220 million over seven years. Rome's airports had a positive 2024, with Fiumicino Airport handling over 49 million passengers, a 21% increase from 2023 and 13% above 2019. Passenger projections for Italy are 300 million by 2032 and 500 million by 2042. Generation Z accounts for 15-18% of travel retail, expected to rise to 50%.

📍 The Marche region targets Anglo-Saxon markets, showcasing in the USA and the United Kingdom to attract American and British tourists for the upcoming summer season. Atim (Agency for Tourism and Internationalization of Marche) attended the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington DC and flies today to Journeys London seeking experiential tourism enthusiasts. Marina Santucci from Atim emphasizes the growing American market interest in Italy and aims to promote Marche as a unique destination, enhancing its global recognition.

📷 Emilio De Risi covers the contrasts between experiencing the idealized version of nature in tourism vs. the reality, as exemplified by the Kruger Park's practice of hiding harsh scenes before tourists arrive. Insights from the third Hotellerie Summit Pambianco include emerging vacation destinations like Lake Como, Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia, with the trend of repositioning hotels being preferred by 65% of investors, 50% in luxury. The Gruppo Gattinoni notes a drop in the average age of business front-liners to 40-45 post-COVID19. A survey on summer vacations indicates the majority heading to the beach, 18% to art cities, and 3% to villages. Human company highlights direct bookings over intermediated ones in outdoor tourism, with numerous ancillary earning opportunities. A proposed TV series aims to rekindle love for hotel work. Paris is reviving its nightlife with the administration's support, mediating between clubs and residents, funding new venues, investing in noise reduction, and rewarding rule adherence. This balance between city policy and nightlife culture offers a case study in urban and tourism policy.

🏡 On March 10, Verona's luxurious five-star Due Torri Hotel hosted the presentation of "L'Ipogeo di Santa Maria in Stelle" by journalist and writer Germana Cabrelle. This book, part of the "Libri della Buonanotte" series by Duetorrihotels Group, aims to enrich guests' travel and cultural experiences. The hotel, a historic building that has hosted Mozart and Garibaldi, recently added a Health & Wellness area and supports local heritage projects like "67 Colonne" for the Arena di Verona's preservation. The book is available in Italian and English, catering to an international clientele from the USA, UK, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, and Brazil.

🛳 Seven Seas Prestige, an extra-luxury cruise ship, had its keel-laying ceremony at Fincantieri di Marghera. The ship, ordered by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is set for delivery in 2026. Top executives from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Regent Seven Seas Cruises were present. The ship will accommodate approximately 850 passengers in 434 suites and feature advanced environmental technologies. It will be the inaugural vessel of the new Prestige class, following the Explorer series.

🎭 Disneyland Paris introduces new daytime and nighttime shows, enhancing the visitor experience with advanced technologies. Notable productions include "Disney Tales of Magic," "Disney Music Festival" (April 19 - September 7, 2025), "Disney Stars on Parade," "Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure," "The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands," "Alice and the Queen of Heart: Back to Wonderland" (May 17 - August 31), "Frozen: A Musical Invitation," and "Mickey and the Magician" (starting April 21). These offerings are designed to immerse guests in the stories of Disney and Pixar, with live music, special effects, and interactive elements.

🚨 French union Sud Rail, representing railway sector employees, announced a 6-week strike from April 17 to June 2. This marks the second strike of the year following a previous one in February, which caused nationwide disruptions. The strike concerns controllers' salaries and working conditions, particularly rapid shift changes due to new staff management software.

🏦 TAP Air Portugal and Avianca launched a shared business class lounge at Miami International Airport's South Terminal, covering 600 sq m and open 24/7. It accommodates up to 337 passengers, offering food, snacks, premium alcoholic beverages, and high-speed Wi-Fi, along with relaxation areas, workspaces, and a kids' zone. Access is granted to TAP, Avianca, and Star Alliance First and Business Class passengers, TAP Miles&Go Navigator and Gold members, eligible Star Alliance and LifeMiles Gold and Diamond members, and Priority Pass holders. Daily passes are available subject to availability.