Fusioni & Acquisizioni

🏦 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.

📦 Blastness acquires travel tech company Athena Solutions, expanding its portfolio with ErmesHotels brand software for the hospitality sector. This strategic move strengthens Blastness's Italian market presence, ensuring business continuity and managerial collaboration from Athena’s founders. In 2024, Blastness celebrated 20 years, matching Booking.com's direct booking volumes in Italy. Over 1,800 hotels will benefit from the merged services, signifying a growth opportunity for both companies.

🔴 Hotels in Los Angeles are providing shelter and supplies to residents evacuated due to wildfires in Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst. The international airport and port remain operational. Airbnb and VRBO are offering free temporary accommodations and refunds for cancellations in affected areas. The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board is offering information for assistance and support. Delta Airlines donated $1 million to the American Red Cross, adding to another $1 million grant for disaster relief.

🏩 Lufthansa to acquire a 41% initial stake in Ita Airways with a €325 million investment and plans a total investment of €830 million by 2033. Ita Airways, born from Alitalia's ashes, anticipates a closing date soon, hinted by CEO Carsten Spohr last week. The new board of directors, expanding from three to five members, will include three representatives from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (Mef) and two from Lufthansa, with Joerg Eberhart expected as CEO. Lufthansa also aims to hire around 10,000 new employees in 2025, with 2,000 flight attendants, 1,400 ground staff, 1,300 technical experts, 1,200 administrative personnel, and 800 pilots. An agreement extends extraordinary wage supplementation for 2,118 former Alitalia workers until October 31, 2025.