Conferenze e Fiere

🏙 Rome's "City Tourism Promotion Plan for 2025 and 2026," approved by the city council, aims to enhance its image as an ideal destination for city breaks and boost the luxury segment. Rome led Italy in the MICE segment in 2023, hosting 119 congresses and ranking 7th worldwide. The plan also aspires to position Rome as a lifestyle, highlighting fashion, sports, and major events.

✈ A new airline is soon to be announced for Comiso, following a tender publication in the "Gazzetta Ufficiale". The news, as reported by corrierediragusa.it, was delivered by Senator Salvo Sallemi. The selected airline will exclusively operate subsidized flights for Sicilians, connecting Comiso to Rome and Milan, serving the Southeast of the island and Ragusa province.

📆 On February 26, TTG Day will be held in Milan at the Auditorium San Fedele, starting at 10:30. Organized by TTG Travel Experience and InOut | The Hospitality Community, this event serves as a bridge to the main October event in Rimini. Gloria Armiri, IEG's Group Exhibition Manager Tourism & Hospitality, cites data from TTG Monitor revealing that 69% of travelers seek transformative experiences and self-discovery. The event will include talks by various experts, such as Vito Mancuso on creative thinking and Barbara Valentini on artificial intelligence. Claudia D’Arpizio will focus on luxury trends, and the event will close with a performance by musician Kety Fusco.

🎃 Corsica Ferries – Sardinia Ferries offers a special fare for the unique "Su Carrasecare" Carnival in Sardinia from February 27 to March 4, 2025. Celebrations involve ancient dances, masks, equestrian shows, and satire. A special rate is available for two people, one cabin, and one car on the Livorno/Golfo Aranci line, valid for travel from February 22 to March 9, 2025.

✈ Norse announced a new low-cost intercontinental route from London to Bangkok, with flights launching on October 26 and up to four frequencies a week. This is Norse's first British route to Asia, while Bangkok had already been connected to Oslo since 2023. Norse also plans to add a flight from Stockholm next winter. The airline previously revealed a new route from Gatwick to Cape Town, South Africa, expanding its intercontinental network from the London airport.

🌊 Assomarinas and Ulisses have agreed to adopt the Ulisses platform within Assomarinas' network, aiming to enhance Italian marinas' operational efficiency and service quality through advanced monitoring tools. This partnership aligns with the broader push for innovation at the World Conference of Marinas, set for October 2025 in Venice. Ulisses CEO Mattia Tartaglia and Assomarinas President Roberto Perocchio emphasized the benefits of digital transition and improved infrastructure management for competitiveness and user experience.

🌎 Pantelleria's municipality established the 'Isola di Pantelleria' foundation to promote culture and tourism. Myrta Merlino, a journalist, chairs the administrative board, emphasizing the island's sustainability and cross-cultural dialogue. Mayor Fabrizio D’Ancona is satisfied with Merlino's appointment, which aligns with the foundation's strategic vision. A landmark achievement is the partnership with Ita Airways for direct flights to Pantelleria, enhancing tourism access in 2025.

🎉 Carnevale 2025 chaos in Venice due to a historical procession of 100 boats on the Grand Canal, attracting ~60,000 tourists, adding to the overnight visitors on February 16. Despite police intervention, Rialto was blocked, and narrow streets faced congestion for hours. Surprisingly, the Carnival days do not require a tourist entry ticket, with the first ticketed day being April 25, Saint Mark's feast. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Tourism Councilor Simone Venturini's goal to manage tourist flows seemingly contradicts this decision.

🚌 Flixbus partnered with the Vatican for the Jubilee 2025, becoming a mobility partner. During the Jubilee until January 2026, FlixBus offers discounts to travelers from 180 cities across Italy to Rome. Discounts are accessed via the "Iubilaeum25" app and a "pilgrim card." Additional benefits for events like the Youth Jubilee will be available. Cesare Neglia, managing director of FlixBus Italia, highlights the initiative's convenience and sustainability.

🌎 Seabourn introduces luxury cruises for summer 2025, offering nine itineraries from May to August, covering over 40 destinations in 12 countries, ranging from 7 to 24 days. Key locations include the British Isles, Norwegian fjords, Icelandic coast, with departures from Dover, Reykjavik, and Greenock. The Seabourn Sojourn's season ends with a 24-day 'Route of The Vikings' from Dover to Montreal. In 2026, Seabourn Ovation will visit over 60 destinations in 16 countries from May to August, with trips from 7 to 22 days. Notable journeys include a 14-day trip to Cape North on May 16 and June 13, 2026, with the latter coinciding with the summer solstice, and a 14-day “West Ireland Gems & Solar Eclipse” cruise from Dover to Reykjavik on August 8, 2026, to view the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The season wraps with the 22-day "Fire & Ice Passage" cruise, concluding in New York City.