Conferenze e Fiere

🎵 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.

🏢 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.

🏕️ BIT 2025, the International Tourism Exchange, will be held from February 9-11 at Rho Fiera Milano with ASTOI Confindustria Viaggi featuring the established ASTOI Village. The event showcases major Tour Operators and facilitates networking. Revenue grew by 5-6% in 2024, with a 12% spike during Christmas and New Year. For 2025, a 5-7% growth is expected. Red Sea, Maldives, Orient, East Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia are popular destinations. Challenges include higher accommodation costs and new entry taxes. ASTOI focuses on authentic experiences and digital transformation, allocating significant resources. ASTOI President Pier Ezhaya will speak on February 11 at 10:30 am at Bit4Job 2025.

🏖 Two out of three Italians are planning their summer vacations post-Christmas festivities, with over one in four also considering springtime getaways. On average, Italians spend €1,130 per person on vacations, which rises to almost €1,900 for extra-European trips. In 2024, 72% vacationed in summer, while 23% postponed to winter. For future travels, 65% already have summer plans, with 28% utilizing bridge holidays between Easter and May 1st. The sea is the top choice for 48%, followed by touring (16%), mountains (12%), and art cities (7%). Seventy-one percent intend to undertake cultural trips; half will spend a week away, with older travelers extending stays for long-distance destinations. Early booking is common, with 10% already booked in January 2025 and 74% planning to book later—65% will book online, increasing to 79% among Gen Z. Budget-wise, one-third plan to spend more in 2025 on travel and accommodation, with half maintaining the same budget. Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) is considered by 26%, especially for those booking in advance or for high-cost packages.

📅 In Europe, eDreams notes that the United States and France lead with each accounting for 13% of total searches toward Rome. A significant increase in searches from Bosnia and Herzegovina (435%), Slovakia (279%), and Taiwan (156%) highlights the global appeal of Rome's Jubilee. Italian searches rose by 24% compared to last year. Monthly data shows a 30% increase in January travel searches, with a year-end surge: +36% for November, +77% for December, and +80% for January 2026. Spaniards, known for their devout Catholicism, make up 33% of bookings, followed by France (21%) and Italy (12%). Portugal leads new nationalities with bookings up by 138%, UK by 81%, and Romania by 53%. Bookings in January rose by 25% over the same period in 2024, with a notable 36% increase in April, influenced by Easter. Booking habits: 41% book less than a month prior, 36% from 31 to 90 days before, and 23% plan over three months in advance. Travellers' stays: 55% visit Rome for 3/4 days, 13% stay 5/6 days, and 21% opt for 2-day trips.

🏛 Blu Hotels has renewed management for another 20 years for two strategic properties: Grand Hotel Forte dei Marmi and Grand Hotel Misurina. The renewal of the Grand Hotel Misurina is crucial for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina, due to its proximity to Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Grand Hotel in Forte dei Marmi, managed by Blu Hotels since 1993, underwent a significant renovation worth over three million euros. Nicola Risatti, President of Blu Hotels, emphasizes the importance of these renewals and the ongoing investments in service excellence.

💎 Grand Hotel Adriatico offers a Valentine's Day package in Florence with a romantic room, breakfast, chocolates, Prosecco, and piano bar aperitif, plus massage discounts. Hotel Nasco in Milan provides a 10% discount, breakfast in bed, and potential free upgrades. Minos Palace features luxury suites with private pools, and Shivas Galaxy Hotel promotes with a GIF countdown, 50% discounts, and free meal upgrades. Hotel Viest in Vicenza has a wellness-focused package with a Relax double room, SPA access, and couple's Thai massage. These strategies aim to increase direct bookings and enhance the romantic holiday experience.

📍 On May 16, Air Canada will launch a new non-stop flight from Naples Capodichino to Montreal, marking the first direct connection between the Campania airport and Canada with four weekly flights. The service complements existing seasonal flights to New York-JFK, New York-Newark, and Philadelphia by American Airlines, Delta, and United, with United resuming its twice-daily flights from April 4. Air Canada will operate the Naples route with Boeing 787-800 aircraft, seating up to 255 passengers.

✈ Frontier Airlines launched Frontier Vacations, offering bundled airfares, hotels, and ground transportation for trips within the USA, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America. Frontier Vacations also provides global hotel stays with exclusive deals for Frontier Miles members. Chief Commercial Officer Bobby Schroeter highlighted the ease of planning travel with these packages. To celebrate the launch, Frontier partnered with Wyndham Palmas Beach & Golf Boutique Resort in Humacao, Puerto Rico, to give away a trip for two.