Conferenze e Fiere

🏖 The 'HighWellness-South Italy' project, led by the Calabria Region, will be officially presented at the 2025 Itb Berlin. Funded by Italy's Ministry of Tourism, it aims to create a network platform for mountain tourism operators in Southern Italy, promoting strategic synergies and an integrated management model. This initiative seeks to enhance the cultural, artistic, natural, and gastronomic heritage of the mountain areas, while also focusing on environmental protection and revitalizing at-risk villages. National Parks of Sila, Pollino, Aspromonte, and the Regional Park of Serre are participating.

✈ easyJet's winter season 2025/2026 runs from December 15, 2025, to March 22, 2026, offering 4 million seats on over 20,000 flights to and from Italy. New destinations include the Canary Islands—Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife from Milan Malpensa, and Gran Canaria from both Milan Malpensa and Naples—as well as the Red Sea spots of Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurgada, and Marsa Alam accessible from Naples and Milan Malpensa. Cultural destinations from Milan Malpensa include Rabat and Marrakech, the latter also from Naples. Flights from Milan Linate to Copenhagen, Oslo, and Vienna, and from Rome Fiumicino to Brussels, Munich, or Zurich, are available.

🛡 The Special Olympics World Winter Games' "Fiamma olimpica della speranza" arrived in Rome Fiumicino from Athens yesterday. Celebrating the 13th edition, the event will take place in Turin from March 8-13, with 1,500 athletes from 102 countries. Italian officials, including Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, welcomed the flame before it heads to the Vatican and then to Piedmont.

🍀 Ireland Week in Milan, from March 9-17, celebrates St. Patrick's Day and Irish culture. Maria Sheehy, Irish Consul in Milan, notes strong Italy-Ireland connections with numerous flights. There are 18 Italian cities connected to 5 Irish airports, including Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Ireland West Airport Knock, and Belfast. Milan-Belfast route reactivates in March, with Aer Lingus and Ryanair expanding fleets and routes. Italy confirmed as the sixth-largest visitor source to Ireland in 2024, with an 11% increase over 2023, surpassing the international average growth of 10%. Tourism Ireland aims to spread tourism benefits across all counties and promote year-round travel for Italians, focusing on regenerative tourism.

🍰 Portrait Milano's Cake Couture initiative celebrates Milan Fashion Week by merging fashion and high-end pastry, inspired by Salvatore Ferragamo's iconic shoe designs from the 1930s-50s. Pastry chef Cesare Murzilli crafted six cakes, mirroring the timeless design of Ferragamo's creations, available at the 10_11 Bar, Giardino, Ristorante. Cakes like "Dama," "Rainbow," "Avanguardie," "Damigella," "Iride," and "Argo" pay homage to Ferragamo's innovative style and Italian tradition.

🏦 The Grand Hotel Sitea in Turino first opened on February 19, 2025. During the Covid pandemic, it was discovered that the hotel had no locks or keys as it had never closed before. Emiliano Lera founded the hotel; his family continues to run it four generations later, maintaining its independence. Long-time waiter Paolo spoke German to his dog and, after his passing, his grandson was unknowingly hired in the kitchen. Beppe Loi, the head barman for 40 years, created a cocktail that won a contest and is still served. General Manager Fabrizio Musso began working at the hotel at 18 and is now likening it to his family and home. Actor Marcello Mastroianni once waited to personally thank Musso. Centennial celebrations include a special menu by executive chef Davide Scabin and an initiative in collaboration with EBT, Exclusive Brands Torino, to highlight local entrepreneurial history. Federico and Nicolò Buratti aim to use the hotel to tell these stories and foster creative energies.

🏙 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.