Distribuzione e Revenue

💰 Business travel in August saw the Business Travel Trend Index by Gruppo Uvet rise to 104, an 8-point increase from July, outperforming the annual average. Transactions climbed 6 points to 86. Average spending index edged up 1 point month-on-month, shifting from 120 to 121, indicating price stabilization. Flights surged 11 points to 94 in value and 6 points to 77 in transactions. Car rental transactions and value jumped from 130 to 163, and 144 to 185, respectively. Hospitality sector recorded 90 points in transactions, a slight drop from 95 in July, but with a steady value of 110. Rail remained consistent with the previous month at 65 in transactions and 71 in value but dipped slightly year-on-year. Domestic travels hit 103 points, European travels 105, and intercontinental journeys 104.

🍷 In the first half of 2024, Italian retail wine sales volume decreased nearly 3% from 2023, while sales value increased by just under 1%. Economic uncertainty impacted consumer spending, slowing Horeca channel food & beverage growth to 4.5% in Q2 2024 from 7% in Q1. Despite a 4% drop in global wine imports, Italian wines performed well in the U.S. (+5.7%), UK (+4.7%), Canada (+1.3%), and Brazil, with a downturn in Germany (-9%). Italian still and sparkling wines saw a -2% drop, but sparkling wines increased 4.5% in value compared to the first half of 2023. Prosecco exports grew by 12% and Tuscan reds Dop by 6%, while Piedmontese reds Dop decreased by 2%. French wines experienced a 10% export value drop, notably Champagne (-17%) and Bordeaux reds (-16%), while Australian wines rebounded by 28%, offsetting previous declines minus China.

🥞 In September, a study by Nutrifree involving 1200 Italians revealed over 55% view breakfast as essential, preferably at home (71%) for quality assurance (69%) and inadequate outside options (65%). Italians favor a varied (57%), flavorful (82%), sweet (61%) over savory (26%) breakfast, with 30% choosing "free from" foods. Meal preparation considers personal cooking skill (65%), guests' tastes (61%), and intolerances (56%). Key values for a successful meal include conviviality (64%), inclusivity (68%), taste (82%), quality (72%), and variety (59%). In 2022, 252,000 Italians suffered from celiac disease, with an estimated 350,000 undiagnosed. Digital sources lead for intolerance information (69%), over specialized social profiles (63%). Breakfast at home is preferred by over 70%, with 53% varying their menu frequently, and classics like coffee (68%), bread and rusks (64%), and biscuits (61%) remain popular.

🏖 July 2024 saw a 6.6% increase in EU vacation package prices compared to July 2023, with domestic packages up by 11.1% and international ones by 5.7%. The annual inflation rate for holiday packages exceeded 10% in most months during 2022 and 2023. In 2023, domestic vacation packages faced over 20% inflation for 7 months. France (+22.2%), Italy (+19.5%), and Cyprus (+16.7%) experienced the highest increases in July 2024.

💸 In August, Italy's inflation slightly decreased to 1.1% annually. Energy prices fell (-6% to -8.6%), while regulated energy costs rose (+11.7% to +14%), as did transport (+2.9%) and restaurants (+4.4%). Only 41.3% of Italians took vacations, favoring short stays (3-5 days) often at friends' or relatives' homes. Due to inflation, a typical family faces an additional €346.50 in annual expenses.

🏖️ Italians ended their summer vacations spending over €28 billion on trips, stays, meals, and souvenirs, marking a 12% increase compared to 2023. In summer 2024, 38 million Italians vacationed at least a day, up by half a million from 2023. Preferred vacations were traditional 7-day trips (28%), followed by up to two-week stays (25%). The sea remained the top destination, with 32% staying within their region and 29% traveling abroad, mostly to Europe. Hotels and B&Bs were the most popular accommodations, while 13% used a second home, and 19% stayed with relatives or friends.

🏆 Atlanta tops the global airport rankings in August with 5.2 million seats available, followed by Dubai with nearly 5 million, and Tokyo Haneda with over 4.6 million. London Heathrow and Istanbul complete the top five. The big news is China's comeback, with Shanghai and Beijing ranking ninth and tenth. In international traffic, Dubai leads, followed by London and Amsterdam. Seoul jumps to fourth, while Istanbul and Frankfurt drop two spots. Europe's top airports remain unchanged from 2023, with Rome Fiumicino holding the eighth position and Munich overtaking London Gatwick for ninth.

🏖 In the first six months, Italy's tourism spending increased by 21% from the same period in 2023. Mastercard data revealed that national and international travelers contributed 36% and 64% respectively. German tourists lead Italy's international visitors, followed by Americans, Swiss, British, and French. The latter saw a 22% increase compared to 2023. Veneto region topped international tourism flows with a 32% increase, 71% from international tourists. For Venice, the top five spender corridors in July were Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the USA, and France, with American tourists' spending growing by 12.3% annually. European consumers prioritize experiences, accounting for 22% of total spend, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, with experiences and nightlife expenses in Europe hitting a five-year high of 12%.

🏖️ In August 2024, 18 million Italians chose to vacation despite a 10% drop in departures compared to August 2023. Italy remains the preferred destination, with a third staying local and 29% traveling abroad. Agritourism gains traction among 26,000 national facilities. Food-based tourism generates €10 billion in spending, with 56% of vacationers visiting farms and local markets. Direct purchases from local producers average €10-€30 per person, boosting enogastronomic tourism and sustainable practices.

🏖️ September in Italy is expected to see a tourism boost with 15 million tourists and 50.2 million overnight stays, a 0.6% increase from September 2023. Art cities and rural areas anticipate a 2.4% and 2.1% increase, respectively. However, beach, mountain, and spa locations might see a decrease of 0.5% to 1.2%. The summer quarter saw a 0.7% decline in overnight stays, with a 2.9% drop in domestic demand. Average stays decreased to 3.9 nights from 4.0 nights in 2023. International tourism grew by 1.6%, with foreign overnight stays reaching over 105.1 million. Regional performance varied, with the North West stable, the North East down by 1%, the Center with a 0.8% decline, and the South and Islands down by 0.6%.