Conferenze e Fiere

🚙 TGV Milan-Paris service, suspended in August 2023 due to a landslide in the Maurienne valley, resumes on March 31, announced by SNCF Voyages Italia's General Manager Caroline Chabrol. The direct connection will have three round trips daily, linking Milan to Paris in 7 hours and 7 minutes, and Turin to Paris in 5 hours and 39 minutes, also connecting Modane, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Chambéry, and Mâcon. Carta Avantage holders can get up to 30% off fares and 60% off for children aged 4-11. Milan to Oulx via Torino service is also enhanced to three round trips daily.

🎢 MSC Cruises launches a promotional campaign in the United States with a 60-second commercial featuring Hollywood stars Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom during the Big Game. The ad spotlights MSC World America, set to be christened in Miami on April 9, and will embark on weekly Caribbean cruises. The expansion into the U.S. market is a strategic move for MSC Cruises, as emphasized by Leonardo Massa, vice president Southern Europe, to solidify their position globally and cater to the high demand for quality travel experiences.

🇮🇹 Columbus Vacanze expands in 2025 to Africa, Japan, and India, driven by new experienced product managers. New offerings include tours in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, and Namibia; expanded Japanese tours with 'Modern and Classic Japan' and island itineraries; plus 12 Discovery tours in India, featuring Rajasthan. Columbus aims to be a reliable partner for travel agencies, not just a generalist operator.

🏖️ Travel Before, based in Salerno, is set to promote the Amalfi Coast and Campania at Fitur 2025. CEO Giancarlo Vitolo aims to showcase the area's tourism offerings to a global audience and create new international collaborations. The focus is on personalized packages, cultural itineraries, and gastronomic experiences, targeting Spanish-speaking markets and leveraging the Jubilee for religious tourism, promoting sustainable and high-quality tourism in Italy.

🏖️ Star Clippers is set for summer in the Mediterranean and offers early booking for the Caribbean and Costa Rica for winter 2025-2026. The four-masted Star Clipper will depart from the new home port of Grenada in January 2026, with new 10 and 11-night itineraries including destinations like Charlottesville (Tobago), Castara Bay (Tobago), and others. The summer 2026 catalog features new Mediterranean stops in Italy's Marche, Puglia, and Calabria, plus new ports like Sebenico (Croatia) and in Greece. Long-haul bookings are growing, especially with early booking discounts of up to 20% for reservations made by April 30, 2025. Barbados will see 16 departures between December 2025 and March 2026.

🗺 Boscolo Active Tours launches in 2025, offering unique travel experiences that mix traditional guided tours with immersive adventures in nature. Zuleica Ferrari, the destination manager, emphasizes that the activities are designed to be accessible to everyone, including non-experts. Destinations span from South America to Northern Europe, including Portugal and Italy. Experiences include kayaking, snorkeling, e-bike rides in Mexico, 4x4 tours in Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses, snowmobiling in Iceland, and trekking in Madeira. The tours cater to those seeking an alternative way of exploring with a focus on adventure and discovery.

???? Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States for the second time is imminent, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expected to attend. Hotel occupancy in Washington D.C. for the event mirrors Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013, reaching 79.6% on the eve and projected at 74.9% today. This contrasts the 97% occupancy during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, which was bolstered by the Women's March. Barack Obama’s first inauguration still holds the record at 97% hotel occupancy.

📖 A free webinar on Tuesday, January 28, will showcase Nozio V3R, a cutting-edge booking engine that has boosted clients' conversion rates by +17%, room nights by +22%, and direct revenue by +30%. Exclusive promos will be offered to participants during the event. Interested parties are encouraged to register to learn how to enhance their direct bookings.

💒 Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest Hindu jubilee, began in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), India. The 44-day event is expected to attract 400 million participants. Occurring once every 144 years, the Uttar Pradesh state has invested over $765 million, establishing a temporary city with 160,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, and 145,000 toilets. Security involves 40,000 officers and 2,500 cameras. Additionally, 98 special trains will add 3,300 trips, with accommodation options ranging from $17 to over $400 per night.

📊 Italian companies forecast increased revenues in 2025 and 2026, with the service sector and tourism expected to outperform, according to the Cerved Industry Forecast. Revenue growth is anticipated at +1.2% in 2025 and +1.4% in 2026 despite geopolitical uncertainties. Sectors such as information and communication are projected to grow by +3.85% in 2025 and +3.57% in 2026, with tourism and catering at +2.90% in 2025 and +2.41% in 2026. Significant growth is also expected in the chemical and pharmaceutical (+6.58% from 2023 to 2026), agriculture (+5.67%), and consumer goods (+5.12%). The transport sector shows promise, particularly new aircraft services (+28.79%), air transport (+25.78%), and rail transport (+21.92%).