Distribuzione e Revenue

🏨 In the hospitality industry, dynamic pricing has replaced static price lists, adjusting rates in real time based on factors like room availability, demand forecasts, weather, and time until sale. This approach allows for hourly or daily price changes. Previously, hoteliers set prices in advance with minor variations for weekends, high seasons, or holidays.

📅 In the first half of 2024, AirPlus International recorded a 1.7% increase in business travel spending by European companies compared to the same period in 2023, with a 1.6% rise in the number of tickets booked. Although UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany had minimal impact on business travel, there was a notable shift towards earlier bookings, with flights booked 28.8 days in advance on average, up from 26.3 days in 2023. Female travelers booked 32 days ahead versus 27.2 days for males. Average trip duration slightly decreased from 5.9 to 5.8 days, and one-day trip percentage dipped from 6.8% to 6.7%. Weekend business travel starts rose to 16%. Business class flight bookings increased from 10.8% to 11.1%, and premium economy from 1.8% to 2%, while economy bookings dropped from 87.2% to 86.8%. Long-haul travel assumedly rose, as intra-European travel slightly fell from 52.7% to 52.2%, and flights from Europe to other continents grew from 15.6% to 16.1%. Average economy fare went up by 1.5% to €526, whereas business class average fare decreased by 2.1% to €3,784.

🏨 Occupancy rates for Italian hotels peaked during Ferragosto on August 15 at 85%, and 86% on August 16, 2024. RoomRaccoon analyzed over 1,000 rooms nationwide, revealing a 66% increase compared to the seasonal average from June 1 to August 18. Average Daily Rate (ADR) was €200, €26 above the summer average of €174, while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) rose by 37% to €159.

💰 Acqua Minerale San Benedetto S.p.A. leads Italy's non-alcoholic beverage market for the ninth year, holding a 17.1% volume share. Dominates mineral water at 11.2%, iced tea at 28.4%, low-calorie soft drinks at 30.5%, and enhanced waters at 37%. Energade leads sports drinks with a 35.2% share. GlobalData certified these achievements. The company has a revenue of €1.1 billion, employs 2,000 people, extends to over 105 countries, operates seven plants, and has 44 bottling lines. Founded in 1956 and present in 100 countries across five continents, San Benedetto offers a diverse range of products (GlobalData 2024, 2023 data).

💸 Nearly 40 million people in the EU couldn't afford a holiday in 2022, according to a study by the European Trade Union Confederation (Ces). In Italy, over 6 million skipped vacations, especially families with at least one child. Due to inflation, cost of living increases, and low wages, this trend may rise in 2023-2024. Nearly half of Italians (49%) won't vacation this season, with 64% aged 25-34 or over 64. Vacation villages, campsites, and hostels saw prices rise by 18.8% in June 2024, with a 14.5% increase in national holiday packages within a month, maritime transport up by 11.4%, and beach resorts and pools by 10%.

💸 Hotels increase room rates to boost revenue, especially during high demand periods or events. Analyzing market demand, monitoring competitors, and understanding customer expectations are key before raising prices. Personalized offers for different customer segments and loyalty programs justify higher rates. Investments in room improvements, amenities, and staff training enhance customer experience, supporting higher rates. Dynamic pricing adjusts rates in real-time, maximizing revenue. Post-rate increase, monitoring performance and customer feedback is crucial to adapt strategies and maintain competitiveness.

📈 Il forecasting è fondamentale nel settore alberghiero per ottimizzare ricavi e migliorare la soddisfazione dei clienti. Prevede l'occupazione delle camere, ADR e RevPAR per strategie di revenue management. Le tecniche includono analisi dei dati storici, modelli statistici, AI e benchmarking. La raccolta e gestione accurata dei dati, la formazione del personale e il monitoraggio continuo sono essenziali per l'attuazione efficace. Le sfide comprendono la variabilità della domanda, la qualità dei dati e la necessità di tecnologia e competenze avanzate.

☕ Luigi Morello, presidente of the Istituto Espresso Italiano (IEI), addresses coffee pricing at bars, emphasizing that it should reflect product quality and service level, not fixed or politically influenced prices. With inflation at +16% from July 2021 to July 2024, bar prices have increased by 13%, still below inflation and among the lowest in Europe. The sector faces challenges including material shortages, increased costs, and a decline in bar business of over 22,000 in 10 years due to profitability issues and staffing shortages.

💵 RATIONAL set a new revenue record in Q2 2024 with €294.8 million, a 6% increase from the previous quarter. The first half of 2024 saw revenues of €581.2 million, up 4% from €560.8 million in the previous year. Asia led demand with a 13% growth, particularly from China and Japan, while North and Latin America grew 6% and 7%, respectively. European revenues, excluding Germany, remained consistent with the previous year. The iVario product group saw an 11% sales revenue increase, and iCombi grew by 3% in the first half of 2024. Cost of goods sold dropped by 3%, gross margin improved by 2.8 percentage points to 58.9%, and EBIT increased 10% to €149.0 million, resulting in a 25.6% EBIT margin. RATIONAL's workforce grew to 2,657 employees, with 170 new hires in the past 12 months. Customer satisfaction remained high with an NPS of 60 in 2024. Revenue growth for the full year 2024 is forecasted in the mid to high single-digit percentage range, with an EBIT margin at the upper end of the current forecast range.

☕ The cost of green coffee has surged to 245 cents per pound, a 66% increase from last year and double from three years ago. This has led to a 15% rise in Italy's average coffee cup price, now at 1.50 euros, potentially reaching 2 euros. illycaffè CEO Cristina Scocchia discussed these issues at Rimini's "Il valore del lavoro: una ricerca urgente" conference. illycaffè production costs rose by 17% during 2022/2023, with consumer prices increasing only by 6% across two increments.