Fusioni & Acquisizioni

📍 Ouigo, the low-cost branch of SNCF, launched 10,000 tickets at 1 euro in Spain, following a similar initiative in April. Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente previously opposed such aggressive pricing, considering a complaint to the European Union. The move rekindles the debate on commercial policies.

🏩 Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet to enhance connectivity from Dubai to Vietnam via Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The agreement aims to expand their current collaboration, improve connectivity on routes beyond the existing interline partnership, and potentially offer mutual loyalty program benefits. This is part of the UAE's efforts to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam, a key Southeast Asian hub.

✈ Lufthansa aims to close 2024 with a significant expansion by potentially acquiring 10% of airBaltic by year-end, following its deal with Ita Airways. The exact agreement with the Latvian airline has yet to be signed, but Lufthansa has recently extended its wet lease contract with airBaltic.

✈ Lufthansa aims to close 2024 with a double acquisition, potentially adding 10% of airBaltic to its portfolio by year-end, following the Ita Airways deal. The German airline's expansion through corporate acquisitions continues, although the airBaltic agreement is not yet signed, and a recent wet lease contract has been extended between the two airlines.

📍 Trenitalia and ITA Airways launched a status match campaign starting from October 22 for a duration of two weeks. Eligible members of CartaFRECCIA and Volare loyalty programs can request equivalent status recognition valid until December 31, 2025. CartaFRECCIA has over 10 million members, while Volare, launched over two years ago, boasts 2.5 million members and 35 commercial partners, including a new subprogram for children and teens launched in March 2024.

🎭 Associazione Parchi Permanenti Italiani announces a €450 million investment over the next three years. Luciano Pareschi, the association's president, outlines 4 macro intervention areas: safety, sustainability, smile, and service, leveraging new technologies including artificial intelligence. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanché highlights the economic impact of amusement parks. Secretary Maurizio Crisanti confirms parks are central to tourism, with promising data for 2024 and positive expectations for year-end, boosted by Halloween and Christmas seasons.

🏡 The Grand Hotel Imperiale in Forte dei Marmi, a luxury 5-star property with around 45 rooms, was sold by Luxury Hotel Development to Emaar Properties, a leading global real estate company known for the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. The deal was valued at €40 million and includes Remo beach. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, a prominent UAE businessman, is behind the acquisition. Minor modifications are planned before a more radical overhaul of the suites.

🗿 Naar Bespoke Travel enters exclusive partnership with Atmosphere Core to market Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives as the sole Italian player. The 5-star resort located in the Lhaviyani Atoll aims to make Italy a top 10 market by year-end. A 19-stop roadshow across Italy from October 23 to November 7 involves 700 agencies to promote the partnership. Atmosphere Kanifushi features 162 beach villas, a 2-kilometer beach, and the Maldives' first gourmet vegetarian restaurant, Just Veg, by chef Fabrizio Marino.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group plans 7 new hotel openings in Italy by 2025, targeting 30 Italian properties by 2027. Newly signed hotels in the past year total 5, with 2025 openings in Bergamo, Pisa, Como, Florence, Rome (Piazza Sallustio - art’otel brand debut), Naples, and another in Rome. Chema Basterrechea and Valerie Schuermans confirm Italy as central to growth strategy, highlighting the country's dynamic market and potential for hospitality sector expansion.

🏦 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, under Group Chief Executive Laurent Kleitman for a year, aims to double its portfolio in ten years; it now has 28 hotels/resorts and 18 developing residences. Focused on the Middle East, Japan, North America, and major European capitals, the expansion includes a trio of boutique hotels in Japan's Setouchi, restoration/rebranding of Budapest's historic Hotel Gellért, ten villas in Rome, a Bali southern coast resort, and a Riviera Maya resort in Mexico. A new app is launching next year for guest experience and privacy. Mandarin is globalizing its patisseries and introducing a holistic Wellness 2.0 concept.