Distribuzione e Revenue

🏨 Hyatt saw a 7.8% room growth in 2024, with Q4 revPar up by 5 percentage points year-over-year and annual growth of 4.6 points. High-end brands and business segment led the surge, with leisure room revenue up 4% in the last quarter and business accommodations by 10 percentage points. The group reported a $1.3 billion profit for the year. Expectations for the first quarter of 2025 are high despite a forecasted $40 million negative impact on adjusted EBITDA from 2024 property sales. CEO Mark Hoplamazian highlighted strong corporate travel demand. The World of Hyatt loyalty program reached 54 million members by end of 2024, a 22% year-over-year increase.

📈 Airbnb closed 2024 with over $11 billion in revenue, a 12% increase over 2023. Net profit stood at $2.6 billion, with 491 million overnight stays booked worldwide. CEO Brian Chesky plans to expand services on the platform, moving beyond the core business as demand grows for more than just accommodations.

🍫 Aretè's market analysis shows cacao bean prices remain volatile, up 70% from February 2024, despite an 18% drop since mid-December. Q4 2024 grindings decreased by 3% compared to Q4 2023. Cacao arrivals in Côte d'Ivoire rose by 21% from October to early February compared to the previous campaign. Palm oil prices in Rotterdam surged 23% between January 23 and February 13, 2025, amid a 12% production drop in Malaysia compared to January 2024 and a 17% decline from the previous month.

🍷 Following a global downturn in wine consumption post-pandemic in 2023, 2024 continued the negative trend, particularly in international trade. Among the top 12 wine-importing markets, accounting for over 60% of global imports, only the United States, Canada, China, and Brazil posted positive changes. Italian wine outperformed, with sparkling wines in these markets seeing a +4.8% value increase, versus an aggregate average of -5.1%. The U.S. recorded an +11% increase, Australia +10%, and Canada +9%. During the XI Forum Wine Monitor, it was noted that Chinese wine imports rebounded by 38% due to the return of Australian wines after a ban in 2021. Australian wine exports grew by 30% in 2024, while French wine exports dropped another 2.4%. On the domestic front, Modern Distribution in Italy saw a nearly -2% decrease in wine sales in hypermarkets and supermarkets, with red wines down -4.6% and sparkling wines -7.4%. Italian wine exports grew in Eastern Europe and Latin America, with notable increases in Poland (+26%), Czech Republic (+47%), Romania (+22%), Mexico (+3%), and Ecuador (+56%).

📈 Coca-Cola's financial results for Q4 and the full year 2024 show a 6% revenue increase to $11.5 billion in Q4 and a 3% increase to $47.1 billion annually, with a 12% rise in organic revenue. Operating margin dropped to 21.2% from 24.7%, while earnings per share fell to $2.46, although comparable EPS grew by 7% to $2.88. Cash from operations was $6.8 billion, reflecting a $6.0 billion IRS deposit. Excluding this, free cash flow reached $10.8 billion. For 2025, an organic revenue growth of 5-6% is projected. Coca-Cola expanded its distribution network by 250,000 new retail outlets and nearly 600,000 new coolers in 2024. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar sales rose by 13%, contributing to positive performance in China, Brazil, and the USA.

📍 In the tourism sector, smart destinations are increasingly important, with cities like Turin experiencing record hotel occupancy and adr over the past two years, plus high online visibility. Flavio Tagliabue from the Associazione Startup Turismo highlights the role of startups, like Augmented City with its augmented reality experiences, and Immodrone, led by CEO Simone Russo, which employs drones, big data, and AI to target high-spending clients.

📈 Gianluca Rubino, CEO of Kel 12, focused on expanding the Italian travel group by renting the Tucano Viaggi Ricerca, established in 1977 by Willy Fassio. The rental, similar to I Viaggi di Maurizio Levi's case, is a prelude to acquiring the brand, emphasizing the revival of travel in Central and South America. Willy Fassio continues to refine the product strategy and brand image from the strategically located office in Piazza Solferino, Turin. Kel 12 has seen a 39% revenue increase in the first four months of the new fiscal year, with a surge in demand for significant travel experiences, where expert consulting plays a crucial role.

🛫 The Australian Government is considering taking over the bankrupt regional airline Rex to make it a state-owned carrier. With no current buyers interested, the government's plan is to acquire Rex, which connects various inland cities with routes deemed essential, until a buyer is found.