Fusioni & Acquisizioni

📍 Eurowings, a member of the Lufthansa Group, has received approval to purchase 40 new B 737-8 Max aircraft to replace the current fleet of A319 and A320 planes. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, with the fleet renewal expected to be completed by 2032.

💿 Xenia Hotellerie Solution announced pre-2024 revenues of €57.2 million, with a strategic plan to more than double revenue to over €120 million by 2028. Ebitda reached €2.5 million, with a 4.4% margin, aiming for 10%-12% by the end of the plan. The industrial plan for 2025-2028 includes investments of €25 million in the first two years. Phi Hotels is repositioning with over 25 four-star properties in Central-Northern Italy, targeting premium business and leisure travelers. New acquisitions and the development of an incoming operator focused on experiential tourism in Italian provinces are also planned, as well as wholesaler business growth. CEO Ercolino Ranieri notes that the pre-2024 results are in line with revenue forecasts, with four new Phi Hotels openings and advancements in business accommodation. Despite non-recurring costs limiting Ebitda to €2.5 million, qualitative indicators show positive investment trends. The company, with over 30 years in the hospitality sector, emphasizes flexibility in overcoming challenges like wars, energy price hikes, and staffing issues.

📌 Hyatt will debut in new markets like Estonia, Iceland, Romania, Cape Verde, and Mauritius by 2028, adding 50 new luxury and lifestyle hotels by 2026. In Europe, Hyatt saw a 12.1% increase in RevPAR, a 5.8% rise in ADR, and a 3.8% growth in occupancy rates in Q3 2024. As of September 30, 2024, Hyatt's portfolio in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East included over 200 properties with more than 45,000 rooms across 40 countries, tripling its European room count since 2017. Spain, a key market, expanded from 4 hotels with over 1,000 rooms in 2020 to 55 hotels with more than 14,500 rooms by December 31, 2024, fueled by strategic acquisitions like Apple Leisure Group in 2021, Standard International in 2024, and a joint venture with Grupo Piñero. The Spanish pipeline includes the highly anticipated Thompson Sevilla, arriving in Spain's fourth-largest city by 2026.

📓 Acampora Travel enters partnership with Egmont Viaggi, strategically merging competencies to ensure extensive coverage through operational offices in Sorrento, Rome, Venice, Taormina, and Riva del Garda. Aimed at enhancing quality tourism and Italy's cultural, natural, and gastronomic heritage, the collaboration strengthens their capacity for unique tourist experiences. This joint effort targets territorial expansion, sustainable innovation, and international growth, focusing on North America, Europe, and Asia.

✈ EasyJet started 2025 with a reduced Q1 pre-tax loss of £61 million, a 52% improvement from the previous year's £126 million. The company saw a 7% increase in passenger traffic and an 88.2% load factor. Revenue rose 13% to £2.037 billion. CEO Kenton Jarvis noted a strong summer demand with an extra million customers booked, favoring destinations like Palma, Faro, and Alicante. However, Easter travel bookings lag, impacting winter results. In Italy, EasyJet will add eight aircraft after acquiring Linate slots relinquished by Lufthansa and Ita Airways due to a merger.

🛫 Sostravel.com launched a commercial agreement with Veratour in 2024 to diversify sales channels. The partnership offers a ‘Bagaglio no problem’ service for customers purchasing Go West and Go East catalog products through travel agencies, ensuring lost luggage is traced and delivered within 48 hours. Massimo Crippa, Sostravel.com’s COO, highlights the endorsement from leading Italian tourism entities. Veratour, with a repeater rate over 40%, seeks to enhance customer vacation experiences, says Commercial Director Massimo Broccoli.

🚢 GNV is opening 500 new positions due to the addition of two ships to its fleet, part of MSC Group. Hiring campaign starts in Palermo on January 29, 2025, in collaboration with Sviluppo Lavoro Italia and employment centers. Twelve meetings across Sicily, Puglia, Calabria, Campania, Trieste, Ravenna, and Genova will follow. Various roles, including hotel and ship management, are sought. Candidates are supported through navigation courses and training with MSC Training Center. CVs can be submitted via www.gnv.it under "Lavora con noi".

🏖️ Vito Spalluto, managing director of 7Pines Resort Sardinia, celebrates entry into Virtuoso, a luxury travel network with over 2,200 trusted providers in 100+ countries. Located in Baja Sardinia on a 15-hectare promontory, the resort is Hyatt's first in Sardinia and second Destination by Hyatt in Europe. Its "laid-back luxury" is known for bespoke experiences, Pure Seven Spa, and authentic local cuisines. Virtuoso affiliation boosts global visibility and access to travel consultants worldwide.

🍦 Pernigotti SpA unveiled its new brand "Signor Stefano" at SIGEP World 2025 in Rimini, targeting the artisanal ice cream market. Owned by JP Morgan Asset Management and Invitalia since 2022, the historic confectionery returned after selling this division in 2019. CEO Attilio Capuano announced at a press conference the relaunch, emphasizing Pernigotti's pioneering role since 1936. The new Ice Cream Division offers 45 new products with around 60 references, featuring high-quality ingredients like Italian hazelnuts. Commercial Director Gianluca Cazzulo stated they aim to produce 400 tons of semi-finished products in the current year, with 75% of orders finalized, and expect to exceed 1,000 tons within three years.

📌 Travel sector deal activity dropped by 4.3% in 2024 with 715 transactions including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing globally, compared to 747 deals in 2023. Private equity operations improved by 26.1% in 2024, while M&A remained steady with a marginal increase of 0.4%, and venture financing deals fell by 22.3%. Europe experienced a 17% increase in deal volume, while North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Central and South America saw declines of 26.7%, 27.8%, and 13.3%, respectively. Asia-Pacific's deal volume slightly declined by 1.7%. The UK, India, and Japan's deal volumes grew by 10.8%, 36%, and 45.7%, respectively, while the US, China, and France faced reductions of 25.9%, 29.8%, and 26.9%. Transactions in South Korea and Australia remained unchanged.