Distribuzione e Revenue

🛫 Chinese airlines are increasing operations at Madrid Barajas Airport, aiming to make it the main gateway to Europe and a strategic bridge to Latin America. Flights between China and Madrid have surged by 73%, totaling 3,538 in 2024. Five major national airlines have resumed routes from seven Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Air China runs 12 weekly flights between Beijing and Madrid, with three continuing to São Paulo, Brazil. China Eastern plans to connect Madrid with Buenos Aires. Air Europa has signed a codeshare agreement with Hainan Airlines, leveraging Madrid-Barajas as a European nexus. Japan and South Korea have also reactivated connections with Madrid post-pandemic, with Iberia resuming flights to Tokyo in October 2024, and Korean Air reopening the Seoul-Madrid route.

🍕 Roadhouse, part of the Cremonini Group, opened its 178th Roadhouse Restaurant and the 96th Billy Tacos outlet in Italy in Sardegna, Viale Porto Torres. Sassari's new venues total 500 sqm, with 150 seats plus 50 more in the summer dehor, and have created about 30 jobs for young employees. The R WORLD App has over 2 million users. Roadhouse serves over 11 million customers annually, has 2 million loyalty club members, and employs 3,600 people across all locations.

📖 At Sigep 2025, Brazzale's stand featured over 25 events and demos with international professionals like Iginio Massari and Günther Koerffer, showcasing their appreciation for Brazzale products. The company was honored with a gold medal by Apei for its commitment to product excellence and innovation, including their special butter and milk for ice cream. The Brazzale family business, active since at least 1784, employs about 900 staff, processes 250 million liters of milk annually, produces 35,000 tons of finished products, and exports to over 60 countries. Brazzale is recognized for its significant contributions to the food sector and its innovative, even revolutionary approach to international expansion while maintaining strong local roots.

🏕 In 2024, the EU tourism sector achieved 2.99 billion overnight stays, a 2% increase with 53.4 million more stays than 2023, fueled by international guests. Visitor composition was 48% international and 52% national; 63% stayed in hotels, 24% in holiday homes, and 13% at campsites. Top growth in overnight stays was seen in Luxembourg (22%), Malta (13%), and Latvia (7%). The summer quarter saw 1.2 billion overnight stays, with Spain and Greece contributing to the increase, while France and Italy saw reductions. By October, the EU had 2.7 billion overnight stays, with international visitors' stays up 4.3%. The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark exceeded pre-pandemic levels, whereas Latvia and Slovakia lagged behind.

💸 Milan hosted the first "Forum China" on January 22, 2025, revealing Chinese spending in Italy at 58% of 2019 levels, with positive expectations for 2025. The Italy-China collaboration, supported by multiple sponsors, involved over 20 speakers. Tax-Free spending by Chinese shoppers globally has recovered to 2019 levels, driven by APAC, with Europe lagging. Italy claims 23% of Chinese spending in Europe, the second highest average spend at €3,520, and the highest air capacity recovery at 138%. Two-thirds of Chinese consumers are Millennials or Gen Z, with Gen Z's spending recovery four times that of other age groups, at 241%. Top spenders, just 3% of shoppers, contribute 35% of Italy's Chinese Tax-Free spending. Luxury brands see an 11% increase in average spend to €3,155, with "Bags and Leather Goods" spiking 72% in spending recovery. In 2025, Chinese tourist traffic and spending recovery are expected to accelerate, with a predicted recovery rate increase of 18 percentage points by Q1. However, tour groups are only at a 45% recovery due to visa restrictions and high travel costs, with improvements expected in the second quarter. Lombardy leads Italy in Tax-Free Shopping, generating 40% of national volumes, with fashion as the most popular category. Global Blue, with 2,

🏡 In Naples' historic center, rental prices surged by 8.1%, with a 2.6% annual increase in sales prices. Approximately 11,000 apartments are listed for rent, catering to tourists on platforms like Airbnb or Booking. Naples has experienced protests against overtourism, with locals being evicted or forced out by high rents to accommodate B&Bs and tourist accommodations. Short-term rentals constitute 32% of Naples' housing market, 6% above the national average.

🌩 Circa 230 voli cancellati all'aeroporto di Dublino a causa della tempesta Eowyn, interessando l'Irlanda e raggiungendo la Scozia. Raffiche di vento fino a 183 km/h hanno portato all'allerta rossa e alla raccomandazione di verificare lo stato dei voli prima di recarsi in aeroporto.

🏆 Wizz Air set a record in 2024 by transporting nearly 63 million passengers on over 300,000 flights, the highest annual passenger traffic for the airline. In Italy, the carrier flew over 18 million passengers, a 15% increase from the previous year, with more than 90,000 flights. Last year, Wizz Air launched almost 100 new routes and added 34 new aircraft to its fleet, which grew by 15%. For 2025 and early 2026, the airline expects 50 new Airbus A321neo and A321XLRs. Tamara Nikiforova, Wizz Air's corporate communication manager, credits the 20th anniversary success to operational improvements and customer experience investments, including a new Training Center in Rome and plans for further growth in Italy in 2025.

📦 Barbarhouse, founded in 2007 in a small town in Puglia, Italy, has seen a yearly revenue growth of 20% until the COVID period, which significantly boosted demand for their private villas. The company now exclusively manages 1,500 properties across Italy and partners with local operators for around 2,000 more. In 2021, sold nights increased by 73%, followed by a 27% rise in 2022, and a 13% growth in 2023, despite industry stagnation. The year 2024 concluded with a 14% increase in sold nights. Barbarhouse targets 50% of operations through its multilingual reservation center, 45% via OTAs, and aims to involve small travel agencies more by offering them a quality portfolio, with only 5% of current operations handled by travel agencies. They operate two brands: Barbarhouse and 'Perle di Puglia', the latter featuring around 300 luxury properties. The clientele is 65% Italian, with France, Germany, Australia, and the United States as significant international markets, and emerging interest from Eastern Europe.

🌍 Baobab expands to Morocco after success in Turkey, with TH Group expecting to exceed 2,000 passengers this year. Morocco, with over 17 million tourists in 2024, offers unique, guaranteed tour packages even for single passengers, confirmed instantly on a B2B platform, combined with low-cost flights from 13 Italian airports. Nearly daily departures are available from cities like Bergamo, Bologna, Catania, Florence, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Rome Ciampino and Fiumicino, Turin, Treviso and Venice. Tours start in Marrakech, Casablanca or Fès, lasting a week with two circuits: the classic Imperial Cities and Marrakech with the Sahara. The operator, with nearly €45 million in revenue and over 40,000 customers in 2024, aims for €60 million in 2025. A catalog is online and will be distributed to over 4,000 agencies, with potential co-marketing with Morocco's tourism board.