Fusioni & Acquisizioni

📌 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.

🚩 In the United Kingdom, a proposed 60% hike in the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by the Home Office has sparked conflict with the travel industry. The ETA fee, newly implemented for non-EU countries and mandatory for European travelers from April, is set to rise from £10 to £16 (~€18). Willie Walsh, IATA's Director-General, labeled the increase as "astonishing" and a self-inflicted hit to the UK's tourism competitiveness, especially with the upcoming increase in Air Passenger Duty in April. Advantage Travel Partnership's CEO, Julia Lo Bue-Said, voiced disappointment, stressing the importance of a strong incoming sector for outbound success.

🏖 Gabriele Burgio, CEO of Alpitour World, warns of Italy's unchecked tourist influx potentially distorting city identities. He opposes limiting visitor numbers or raising prices as it would make cities like Venice or Florence exclusive to wealthy tourists. Burgio suggests better scheduling like France's staggered school holidays and using price as a lever to encourage off-season travel, aided by technology.

🏦 Castello Sgr acquired Rome's Hotel dei Borgia, now Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rome Monti, managed by Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. The 4-star hotel has six floors, a basement, approximately 5,800 sqm, 80 rooms, and a 170 sqm wellness area. In the first three quarters of 2024, Italian hotel investments exceeded €1.3 billion, a 52% increase year-on-year. Michelangelo Ripamonti of Castello Sgr highlights the strategic collaboration with Leonardo Hotels and the potential for sector growth.

🍴 In Italy, hotel restaurants have been revitalizing, attracting local and international diners. Don Pasquale Restaurant at Rome's five-star Maalot Hotel, located near the Trevi Fountain, opened about three years ago by Shedir Collection. The restaurant, named after a famous opera by composer Gaetano Donizetti, offers a menu by executive chef Domenico Boschi that provides a gourmet take on traditional Roman dishes. The interior features Portuguese ceramic tables, and dishes are presented on Villeroy & Boch porcelain with Broggi 1818 cutlery.

🏥 In Milan, the 5-star Portrait boutique hotel, part of Lungarno Collection, connects Corso Venezia and Via Sant’Andrea in the largest square of the Fashion Quadrangle, featuring Antonia boutique and So-Le Studio. Areadocks in Brescia offers a full experience with 300 square meters of fashion, accessories, furniture consultation, bars, restaurants, a spa, and the unique opportunity to purchase design elements from the hotel rooms, blending vintage and contemporary. YellowSquare in Rome provides more than accommodation with on-site hair salon services offered by ContestaRockHair, an Italian brand established in 1996.

🚨 Severe weather and technical malfunctions disrupted train travel along the Reggio Calabria - Paola - Salerno line and the high-speed line connecting Florence to Rome. Rail circulation, after initial recovery, continues to be significantly slowed, affecting today's schedule for hours. Numerous regional trains between Calabria and Campania were canceled, with more cancellations and route limitations expected for high-speed and Intercity trains. On the Florence-Rome section, a technical issue rerouted high-speed trains to the traditional line, increasing travel times by over 60 minutes. Updates and cancellations are available on Trenitalia's website.

€ bear;𝧜 Hotel Capo d'Orso Thalasso & SPA, a 5-star establishment in Palau, joins The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) portfolio, boasting over 400 five-star properties in 80 countries. Delphina hotels & resorts' director general, Libero Muntoni, marks this as a milestone for the company and Northern Sardinia's development. The inclusion follows a multi-year million-euro investment, positioning it as the only locally owned and managed hotel in the prestigious collection in Northern Sardinia. The hotel's sustainable luxury philosophy, 100% local ownership, and authentic experiences align with LHW's commitment and aim to expand in strategic markets like the United States, Middle East, and Asia.

🏫 Virgin Group, led by Sir Richard Branson, is set to order 12 high-speed trains to challenge Eurostar's Channel Tunnel monopoly. The deal, valued at around €595 million, may include Hitachi, Alstom, Talgo, and Siemens as suppliers, aiming for completion in the first quarter of 2025. Branson's goal is to introduce high-speed connections between the UK and Europe, contending with competitors like startup Evolyn.

💰 Blastness acquisisce Athena Solutions, rafforzando il suo posizionamento nel mercato italiano come primo fornitore di sistemi di prenotazione per hotel 5 stelle da oltre 14 anni. Nel 2024, i clienti di Blastness hanno raggiunto i volumi di prenotazioni dirette di Booking.com. Athena Solutions, fondata nel 2003, vanta oltre 600 strutture clienti e si unisce ai 1.200 clienti di Blastness. L'acquisizione non cambierà la gestione aziendale di Athena, con i fondatori che continuano in ruoli manageriali.