Fusioni & Acquisizioni

🏦 Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel, a 4-star property with over 140 rooms, located in Dorsoduro, Venice, transitioned into the ownership of Fondo Immobiliare primo RE, fully held by Cassa dei Dottori Commercialisti and managed by Prelios SGR. Nicola Sajeva of Prelios SGR highlighted the investment's strategic value, while Ferdinando Boccia of CDC emphasized the diversified, sustainable real estate portfolio's robustness. CBRE served as the advisor for the institutional investor who sold the hotel.

🍹 Jolly Colombani launched Amarena Mix, a new limited edition juice, commemorating the brand's Centenary, founded in 1924. The sensory experience balances sweetness with a slight tart note. International artist Francesco Poroli crafted the packaging, featuring the iconic Jolly sprite. Available from April 2024 in 1-liter Tetra Gemina family packs, Amarena Mix joins Jolly Colombani's eco-friendly range in Organized Large-Scale Retail (GDO) and Foodservice channels. The complete brand lineup includes fruit juices, tomato pulp and purees, sauces, ready meals, legumes, and sweet corn.

🏡 Velox Group has launched Five Stars, a luxury division, with Wega Hotel Verona offering 12 rooms, including Junior Suites and Superior Rooms. Located strategically between Verona Porta Nuova Station (600m) and the Arena of Verona (800m), it caters to both business and leisure travelers. Wega Hotel is the second Velox Group property, joining the art-centric Muraless Art Hotel, which is part of WorldHotels Crafted by BWH Hotels. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Velox Group has surpassed its first-year goals in its 2024-2030 industrial plan, aiming for a €100 million turnover by 2030.

📦 Italian Exhibition Group acquires 51% of Fenagra in Brazil, strengthening its presence in the agrobusiness sector. Fenagra, organized by Editora Stilo, is now part of IEG Brasil's portfolio. The 18th edition of Fenagra will be held from May 13-15, 2025, in São Paulo with a record 230 exhibitors from 17 countries and 16,000 square meters of exhibition space. Brazil's agrobusiness is worth $170 billion and accounts for 50% of total exports. Specifically, the animal nutrition sector, where Fenagra is a key player, aggregates a market of about $45 billion with a predicted growth of +3% over the next 5 years. The pet food market in South America, with Brazil as a key market, is expected to reach $30 billion by 2025. In the last two years, IEG has acquired 100% of Expo InfraFM and MundoGeo and now has 12 fairs in its portfolio in Brazil, aiming to become one of the country's top five exhibition organizers.

🏨 Hotel Bellevue di Pesaro joined BWH Hotels Italia & Malta under the Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western brand. It offers 60 rooms and family-friendly services, including a mini club and babysitting. Lucia Signorini sees this as a chance to strengthen their offering, especially for the summer season. The hotel features a restaurant, bar, sea-view pool, jacuzzi, gym, and free bicycle rental. Fabrizio Doria of BWH Hotels highlights Pesaro as a strategic summer destination; the hotel's prime location meets tourist demand for relaxation, comfort, and cultural attractions.

🏖️ Mapo Travel now manages four properties with the acquisition of the Mapo Hotel Club Perla di Casablate in Lecce, joining their locations in Ostuni, Porto Cesareo, and Santa Cesarea Terme. The new addition features 67 sea-facing rooms and focuses on couples and families. General Manager Barbara Marangi highlights the "two holidays in one" concept, blending sea and culture. The company strengthens its team by hiring Francesco Ciccarone and continues agency training across Italy.

🌊 Travel giant Tui cancels a "small number" of holidays to flood-hit Lanzarote with hotels currently inaccessible. Last-minute cancellations were due to lack of alternative accommodations during Easter holidays. Affected customers are offered a full refund or can rebook another Tui holiday with a rebooking incentive. About 1,500 tourists have been relocated to different facilities due to the flooding.

🏕 Bluvacanze, Ota Viaggi, and Gnv, in a five-year alliance, aim to boost Italy Sea sales for summer with value-for-money, family, and pet-oriented travel offers. Despite pre-pandemic agency numbers, the market slows, as noted by Claudio Busca, Retail Director at Bluvacanze. The return of Egypt as a competitor is not unexpected, according to Massimo Diana, Commercial Director at Ota Viaggi. They advocate for the right pricing on 14 four-star facilities across Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily, catered by Gnv's enhanced and modernized connections. Gnv introduces Gnv Polaris and smart ships Splendid and Rhapsody, totaling over 2,000 cabins daily, with pet-friendly options and improved onboard services, including Starlink Wi-Fi.

✈ Smallfly launches new air connections today from Marina di Campo Airport on Elba Island to Florence, Pisa, and Milano Linate. Additional flights are introduced for the April and May holidays every Monday from Elba to Milano Linate and back. The new routes, falling under OSP (Public Service Obligation), offer facilitated maximum fares for Elba residents, disabled individuals, those over 70, island workers, students, retirees, and passengers traveling for health reasons. Tickets can be purchased without extra costs at Marina di Campo Airport or through associated travel agencies on the island.

🚢 MSC will manage Ancona port's cruise terminal for the next 35 years; the bid concluded in mid-March. Ancona's 2025 cruise season faces challenges with an inadequate current terminal, awaiting a new gull-wing shaped one in 2026. This year anticipates 41 total dockings, 15 fewer than in 2024.