Distribuzione e Revenue

🍸 Roberto Artusio, founder of La Punta di Roma, has significantly contributed to Mexican spirits knowledge in Italy since its opening 11 years ago. The venue first focused solely on tequila and mezcal, countering stereotypes of low-quality and worm-included bottles. Now, La Punta's selection includes Mexican whiskies from native corn, cane spirits like Ciaranda, and Michoacán rum, reflecting the country's diverse spirits evolution. Despite challenges such as US tariffs and the dollar's purchasing power, which affected agave sales last year, Artusio remains optimistic about promoting Mexican culture in beverages but is cautious about the growth of the spirits market, noting a general consumption decline and frozen luxury hotel chain investments until 2027. He advocates for storytelling in bar events, emphasizing the importance of music in creating a coherent atmosphere in line with a bar's identity. Artusio doesn't favor "Soberbars," arguing that responsible drinking is a cultural issue, not one of prohibition.

🍷 The Liv-ex Market February Report indicates a continued crisis in the fine wine market with over 12 months of price declines and market share shifts. Bordeaux's dominance has decreased, representing only 33.3% of volume and 36.2% of value traded in 2024. U.S. buyers, while still significant in Bordeaux purchases (31.9%), are driving growth in Italy and Spain. The UK, as the top buyer of Burgundy (42.6% in 2024), shows declining investment. The Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 index dropped 0.4% in January, and the Liv-ex Fine Wine 1000 index fell 0.9%. However, the Italy 100 index rose by 0.6% in January, with Piedmont wines leading price performance.

✈ Emirates expands its destinations served by the retrofitted B777 to include Seoul, South Korea, and Stansted airport in the UK. The Emirates Boeing 777 features a four-class configuration with Premium Economy cabins, new Business Class with 1-2-1 seating for maximum privacy, fully reclining seats, and personal minibars. This addition to their service is reported by traveldailynews.com.

🚘 Alessandro Patacchiola, managing director of Flexible Autos, reports the Italian car rental market in 2025 follows the 2024 trend with significant volume and transformation. The market, traditionally last-minute, showed early sales in 2024, which increased in 2025. The first quarter saw a price rise of 10/15% despite a 12% growth in 2024. Italian beach destinations lose share to Spain, the United States, and Greece.

🏖️ Crociere, Mare Italia, and Egypt top Italian summer vacation preferences, as reported by Bluvacanze's Osservatorio for Summer 2025. The trend analysis showed cruises at the peak of demand, followed by Sardinia, Puglia, Sicily, Calabria, and the Red Sea. The United States and traditional Mediterranean destinations like Spain and Greece complete the top choices. The top ten also include cruises in Northern Europe, Japan, and the Maldives. Travel agency usage increased by 15%, while average booking value dropped by 9% with early reservations. All-inclusive hotels and cultural experience tours are among the most sought-after products.

🌊 As summer approaches, TTG Today's digital edition, published on March 13, 2025, reveals travel trends with consumer preference for personalized experiences, European capitals, and art cities. Interest in Mare Italia is weak, while Sharm el Sheikh sees a renewed love as a preferred destination due to numerous flights from Italy and all-inclusive options. Unexpectedly, accompanied trips and agency purchases are on the rise, especially among new generations avoiding online booking issues. Japan stands out as the top outgoing destination.

✈ Qatar Airways is expanding its operations in response to growing demand by increasing flights to Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Thierry Antinori, the airline's Chief Commercial Officer, emphasizes the aim to enhance global connectivity and passenger travel experience from its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha. The expansion includes increasing weekly flights to Amsterdam (7 to 11), Damascus (3 to 14), Dar Es Salaam-Kilimanjaro (3 to 7), Entebbe (7 to 11), Larnaca (7 to 10), London Heathrow (49 to 56), Madrid (14 to 17, with joint operations by Qatar Airways and Iberia going from 21 to 24), Maputo-Durban (5 to 7), Sharjah (21 to 35), Tokyo Narita (11 to 14), and Tunis (10 to 12).

✈️ ITA Airways expands for summer 2025 to 59 destinations (16 domestic, 27 international, and 16 intercontinental) plus 12 seasonal Mediterranean spots from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Beginning March 30, over 100 connections via codeshare agreements with Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Air Dolomiti. Turin-Olbia from July 26 to September 6, Milan Linate-Munich with two daily flights on weekdays and one on holidays. A new Rome-Mauritius route starts November 7 with two weekly flights.

🏖️ Japan introduces dual pricing system for major tourist attractions, charging higher prices for international visitors to combat overtourism and fund infrastructure improvements. Specific price differences are not yet disclosed, except for Junguria Okinawa, a nature theme park opening in July, charging foreigners 8,800 yen compared to 6,930 yen for locals. Japan aims to attract 60 million annual international tourists by 2030.

✈ Wizz Air adds Venice to Budapest route to its European network, with two weekly flights starting in March on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and a third flight added on Thursdays from April. The expansion in Italy includes five new routes from Venice announced last December and the addition of a second A321neo aircraft in the city. Tickets are now on sale.