Conferenze e Fiere

📚 Personal Voyager Euphemia members attended a two-day training and team building event organized by Lab Travel in Milan, in collaboration with Gattinoni Group and Alpitour participation. The 'Ri-Conosciamoci' event included a Gattinoni Travel masterclass focusing on new programming, the Passepartout platform, and optimizing work and client service. Alpitour presented product innovations and new easy book practice and ticket management. The second day involved a cultural team building activity in Brera. Mario Vercesi (a.d. of Gattinoni Travel) and Ezio Barroero (Lab Travel president) highlighted the importance of networking, innovation, and the partnership between Lab Travel and Gattinoni Group.

🏖 In 2025, a third of people aim to travel more than in 2024; 22% will increase their travel spending this year, according to the Ibis "Go Get It: How Gen Z/Y Will Travel in 2025" report. The Accor brands highlight a shift towards experiential travel, with 58% valuing experiences over material goods. Ibis, collaborating with Globetrotter experts, listed 25 top events worldwide, including Rio's Carnival, Mumbai's Holi, Tokyo's World Athletics Championships, Munich's Oktoberfest, and Thailand's The White Lotus filming locations.

🎉 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.

🏕 In 2026, Ponant Explorations will introduce a new Mediterranean itinerary featuring its iconic three-masted yacht along the French Riviera to Portofino, Italy. Main ports include Nice, Portofino, Menton, Cannes, Antibes, and Saint-Tropez. Departures from Nice are set for May 7 and May 23, 2026, with overnight stops in Antibes and Cannes, and a visit to Cassis, a gateway to the calanques. Captain Jean-David Lemaire highlights the sailing experience and connection with the sea.

🏖️ "Technological revolution in tourism industry: trends and impacts" webinar on February 26, 11:00 to 12:30, is part of the PacTS4ALL project, with Federturismo as a key partner. The initiative, supported by 87 organizations, aims to implement the Pact for Skills under the European Skills Agenda, fostered by the European Commission. The webinar addresses technology's role in tourism, including automation, personalized marketing, and contactless services. Part of the "Tourism Talks" series begun in 2024, it continues into 2025 with events on AI and twin transition training models. Register at: https://akmi-international.zoom.us/meeting/register/XIq1rEGdTo-vAIpXp8lBVQ#/registration.

🚀 Trenitalia's Iryo and ITA Airways signed an agreement for integrated "train + air" travel between Spain and Italy. Passengers can book combined trips with a single reservation, accessing over 20 Italian airports, including Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Naples. Iryo, the first private high-speed Spanish operator, began services with the Frecciarossa train on November 25, 2022, has since added destinations like Valencia, Cuenca, Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Alicante, and Albacete, and has carried over 13 million passengers. ITA Airways flies to 55 destinations, with 84 weekly flights between Spain and Italy, offering 21 frequencies from both Madrid and Barcelona to Rome Fiumicino. Tickets can be purchased on ITA Airways' website, travel agencies, its ticket offices, and Customer Information Assistance Office.

🛥 The 14th edition of the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference, announced at the Miami Boat Show by Assomarinas President Roberto Perocchio and Vento di Venezia's Alberto Sonino, will take place in Venice from October 15-17, 2025. The event is set to be the largest ever with strategic partnerships with D-Marin and Ferretti Group. It will host over 50 speakers and 500 sector representatives, discussing urban waterfront regeneration, artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, new fuels, dry storage techniques, and environmental sustainability. Supporters include Marinedi, Ingemar, Amer Yachts, Rina, White Milestone, Marina Projects, and Naval Tecno Sud.

📍 MSC inaugurated its first terminal in Spain, with MSC Fantasia being the first ship to dock at Barcelona's Terminal H, Muelle Adosado. Designed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, the facility represents a €50 million investment. It will serve MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys luxury ships, featuring advanced water recycling systems and facilities for LNG refueling and electrical connections. MSC has a 31-year concession for the terminal from Barcelona's municipality.

🌍 Poseridon Expeditions introduces new offerings for the 2026-2027 Arctic and Antarctic season. Tourists can visit Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost city, during all cruises that end there. A special solar eclipse cruise is scheduled from August 2 to 15, 2026, featuring astrophysicist Paul Sutter onboard. The Sea Spirit's summer season in Antarctica is extended to April, providing more opportunities to explore South Georgia Island's landscapes and wildlife. Activities include guided land tours, photography workshops, kayaking, and even overnight camping in the Antarctic Peninsula.