Conferenze e Fiere

🎡 From February 18-21, 2025, Palermo will host the third edition of Italy for Weddings – The Event. Over 120 wedding planners from key global markets and 60 Italian wedding industry exhibitors will participate. Exclusive locations in Palermo, including Villa Igiea, Hotel Des Palmes, and Villa Tasca, will offer immersive experiences combining business, education, and local excellence discovery. The event focuses on the future trends of international couples' needs, the demand for specialized wedding planners, and the growth prospects of the Italian destination wedding market.

🚀 Eurostar has resumed the London-Amsterdam route, operating it 3 times daily (2 on Saturdays) and aims to restore full capacity by September. The passenger capacity from Amsterdam will increase from 600 to 650 after a temporary closure of the Dutch terminal between March 30 and April 22 for renovations. Long-term, Eurostar plans to expand to five daily services by 2026.

🏕 Princess Cruises expands Alaska cruise offers for 2025 and 2026 seasons, featuring a program that allows visiting five national parks in a single 15-day trip. This follows the launch of a 15-day 'National Parks Expedition' in 2024. Packages range from nine-day tours of two parks to 14-day tours of three to four parks. Seven ships will sail in Alaska in 2025, with departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and Whittier, followed by eight ships in 2026.

🗽 Boscolo to feature Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan in their 2025 tours of the Caucasus. Vera Rodaro highlights the region's vast potential, historical significance, and high-quality local cuisine. The 8-day "Armenia millenaria" tour focuses on Armenia's rich cultural heritage, including the ancient Khor Virap monastery and the visible Mount Ararat. The 9-day "Armenia and Georgia" tour explores Georgia's highest Caucasus mountains, ancient capital Mtskheta, and wine history. The "Azerbaijan and Georgia" 8-day tour showcases Azerbaijan's natural gas production, modern Baku contrasted with ancient Zoroastrian traditions and prehistoric sites in Gobustan Reserve.

🎵 SiVola, an Italian travel tech firm, launches a contest during FantaSanremo offering five €1000 gift cards for any destination from their catalog to lucky players. Participants must join the 313,000-member SiVola League, create a team of singers, and register for the contest. Winners will be chosen by a final draw. Additionally, a secret daily bonus will be revealed on February 15 to help contestants gain extra points and climb the FantaSanremo rankings. Daniela Sparano, SiVola's marketing manager, highlights the synergy between travel, experiences, and the gaming phenomenon.

🍾 Emirates, starting in May, will introduce 18 new dishes for Business Class travelers, created by Michelin-starred Chef Jean Michel Bardet of Moët & Chandon and Emirates' VP of Culinary Design Doxis Bekris. Developed over a year with Moët & Chandon in France, Emirates serves 149 meals per minute, totaling over 77 million meals annually. Dishes range from scallops with Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 to roast duck with Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial, including vegan options. Emirates has partnered with Moët Hennessy for 33 years, offering champagne in all classes.

🎢 Leonardo Massa, vice president of MSC Group's cruise division, projects a positive outlook for the cruise sector in 2025, with strong travel demand evident from booking volumes. The average cruise price is nearing 2023 values. In April 2025, MSC will welcome the 23rd fleet vessel, MSC World America. Major infrastructure developments include the inauguration of a new terminal in Barcelona in March 2025 and a Miami terminal in April, capable of handling 30,000 people daily, thanks to a $400 million investment. The company is expanding into the American market with new itineraries to Alaska from Seattle starting in 2026. The fourth World-class ship, yet to be named, will join for the 2027-2028 winter season, offering year-round 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral. The luxury segment will see Explora I and Explora II operating in the Mediterranean throughout summer 2025. Additionally, 2025 brings spring mini-cruises in the Mediterranean and the continuation of Canary Islands programs into the next winter.

✈ Wizz Air reached 20 million passengers at the capital's airport and expands connections to Egypt, adding Hurghada. Flights from Rome Fiumicino to Hurghada start on June 3, twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from July, on Mondays and Fridays. All flights will be operated with the latest generation Airbus A321neo. Tamara Nikiforova, senior communications manager, highlighted the new route and the aim to strengthen ties with Egypt after celebrating the 20-million passenger milestone at Fiumicino in January.

🏢 On February 3, the 49th edition of Hospitality – Il Salone dell’Accoglienza was inaugurated in Riva del Garda, Italy, attracting over 70 selected buyers from 20 different countries. This international HoReCa sector fair, organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in tourism, as highlighted by Federturismo President Marina Lalli. Innovations such as apps for managing bookings and customizing offers were discussed, alongside the significant theme of accessibility for all tourists.

🏥 From February 27 to March 1, 2025, a MICE sector event will be held in Naples at Stazione Marittima focusing on training, networking, and updates on new trends. Early bird registration is available until February 14 and can be accessed through the provided link.