Distribuzione e Revenue

🎃 Carnevale tourism in Italy, from February 28 to March 4, generates over €450 million. Key locations include Venice, Viareggio, Fano, Ivrea, Putignano, Cento, Acireale, Sappada, Sciacca, and Mamoiada, impacting not just the event towns but their entire districts. Venice tops the economic movement chart, followed by Viareggio and then Ivrea (famous for the 'Battle of the Oranges') and Fano in third place. Foreign tourists significantly contribute to the Carnevale economy. For more details: [CNA Italy](https://www.cna.it/).

🏖 Nel 2024, il turismo internazionale ha eguagliato i livelli del 2019, con un incremento annuale del 13%. L'Asia, l'Europa e l'America Latina hanno visto aumenti rispettivamente del 9%, mentre il Nord America del 7%. La Spagna rimane la destinazione più popolare, seguita dagli USA. Il business travel, soprattutto il segmento Mice, comprende due terzi del mercato dei viaggi d'affari. Nonostante l'aumento dei costi, la tendenza al viaggio permane, con previsioni di crescita anche per il 2025.

🎡 Spagna highlights the Basque Countries for the 130th anniversary of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s birth. Madrid and Donostia-San Sebastián feature in a new trend in Spanish tourism from Barcelona to Getaria. 2025 expects a record 100 million arrivals, aiming to surpass last year’s tourist spending of over €122 billion, a 16% increase from 2023, reducing overtourism. Blanca Pérez-Sauquillo, director of Turespaña in Italy, targets high-end tourists. Hotel room cost up to €120, tourism GDP could grow by 3.6%, totaling 13.5% of national GDP.

💰 Amadeus closed 2024 with a 19.6% increase in net profit to €1.258 billion and a 12.9% rise in revenue to €6.141 billion. EBITDA grew by 13.2% to €2.335 billion, while operating profit jumped 18.2% to €1.635 billion. Air distribution revenue increased by 10.9% to €2.946 billion, while technology solutions for the aviation sector rose by 15.8% to €2.205 billion. Hotel and other solutions grew by 12.3% to €991.3 million. A new share buyback program worth up to €1.3 billion was announced, to be implemented over the next 12 months, as CEO Luis Maroto anticipates further growth in 2025.

🏠 In Milan, short-term rentals have seen a 10% decrease in availability, with one out of ten listings disappearing from the market in a year. As of late 2024, there were 22,627 short-term accommodations, down from 24,936 in 2023, including a 9.3% drop of full apartments (2,309 fewer). Despite this, average nightly prices rose from €164 to €174, and annual average earnings increased by €1,546, from €7,626 to €9,172. Additionally, one out of three apartments remains vacant throughout the year.

🏨 Many hotels and airlines adopt the strategy of overbooking, selling more rooms or seats than available. This practice is designed to compensate for expected no-shows and cancellations to maximize occupancy and revenue.

🏨 Google's project Gemini aims to create a "universal AI agent" by 2025, which could independently plan, search, and book vacations, potentially bypassing Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Experts like Mario Gavira suggest such AI agents may directly interact with hotel websites, reducing complexity and eliminating intermediaries. However, OTAs, investing heavily in AI, could benefit and dominate this new landscape. Hotels are advised to optimize content for AI search, integrate technology with systems like CRS, PMS, and Channel Managers, and invest in customized AI solutions for data analysis and real-time offer optimization. AI as an ally can improve efficiency and personalize guest experiences without replacing human interaction. Hotels must be discoverable by AI agents, adapt quickly, and invest in the right technologies to succeed in the hospitality industry's new era.

🍸 In 2024, Spirits market growth was driven by online sales and social media presence. Research increased 80% for "mignon" and 50% for "gin mignon" on Amazon, peaking in December (20% of annual searches). December 2024 saw a 19.6% decline compared to the previous year. Online interest grew for cocktails and gifting with small, luxurious formats, reaching 100k searches yearly (+8% YoY). Multipacks, especially for gifts, are popular. Ready-to-drink cocktails and cocktail boxes emerged in Spring 2024, with Amazon searches for ready cocktails up 12% over the previous year. Mr. Dee Still's online store confirmed the trend, with cocktail boxes being top sellers in 2024. Sales for Negroni Box peaked in September and Christmas. Bartesian, a capsule cocktail mixer over €300, saw a 500% Amazon search increase. Gin searches dropped 11% annually, with a 40% decrease in Q4, but Roku Gin grew 45%. Whisky searches fell 7% in 2024, with a 22% drop in December, though "mini liquors" rose 40%. Premium brands like Macallan (+42%) and Glenfiddich (+100%) attracted more consumers. Champagne and sparkling wines maintained online interest, despite a 7% search decrease in 2024. Mini formats surged, with "San

🏬 Neinver closed 2024 with record sales of €1.627 billion, an 8% increase from 2023, from its 20 European assets, including 16 outlet centers and 4 retail and leisure parks. The centers, located across Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland, welcomed over 69 million visitors, with a 6% rise in average spending. The occupancy rate hit a historic 98%. Development plans include new food areas and renovations at Vicolungo and Castel Guelfo The Style Outlets in Italy, Getafe and Las Rozas in Spain, and future projects like the expansion of Viladecans The Style Outlets in Spain and a second outlet in France.

💰 Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, will present the 2024 financial results next Friday, showing very positive numbers. The sales of the group, which includes Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Level, and Vueling, increased by 8%, reaching 31.7 billion euros. Profits rose to 4.1 billion euros, a 15% increase from the previous year. Details on individual airlines' performance were not disclosed, but both British Airways and Iberia are presumed to have achieved excellent results. Investors are keen on predictions for summer 2025 amidst rising costs noted by Tui and Jet2.