Fusioni & Acquisizioni

🚨 Marriott International announced the expansion of its branded residences in the EMEA region with 70 projects, 43 contracts already signed, and 27 properties open. Recent pipeline projects include The St. Regis Residences in Costa del Sol and Dubai, The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Dubai and Diriyah, and The Westin and Marriott Residences in Algarve. Dana Jacobsohn, the company's chief development officer, highlighted the rapid growth driven by the EMEA region. Anticipated openings by year-end include the Nujuma, The Residences at the St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, The Residences at the St. Regis Belgrade, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Baku.

📌 Hotelbeds, in preparation for its stock market launch, plans to increase capital to lower its debt, which exceeds the company's EBITDA by five times. The stock market generally prefers a debt-to-EBITDA ratio between two and three times. To align with these expectations, Hotelbeds has opted for a public offering (Ops) before initiating its initial public offering (IPO).

🏦 Hilton announces a rich pipeline of openings for 2025, including the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York, which reopens in spring 2025. New venues include Hilton Turin City Centre, Italy's first Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Turin, Conrad Athens The Ilisian in Greece with a unique outdoor running track, Tapestry Collection's debut in Northern Ireland with Marcus Hotel Portrush, Curio Collection's Palacio Bellas Artes Hotel San Sebastián in Spain known for its Michelin-rich gastronomy, Canopy by Hilton Istanbul Taksim marking the brand's entry into Turkey, Signia by Hilton's international debut in Amman, Jordan, Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof in South Africa, Hilton's first property in Ghana with Hilton Accra Cantonments, Curio Collection's KROMO Bangkok in Thailand, Waldorf Astoria Osaka in Japan, Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire in the Caribbean being Hilton's first on the island, and Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique. The Waldorf Astoria New York restoration is led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architects and designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, maintaining its Art Deco grandeur with 375 private residences above the hotel.

🏖 Destination Italia collaborates with Basilicata, Molise, Sicily, Sardinia, Marche, and Piedmont to prevent small villages from closure, as stated by President Dina Ravera during Roots-in at Matera. The "root tourism" initiative focuses on enhancing lesser-known regions through public-private partnerships, like the one with Enit. Over the past decade, the experience trend has risen, aiming to double the tourism GDP and highlight rural areas. Average stays are 8-9 days, indicating long-term visits, Sandro Pappalardo of Enit notes.

🍴 From 15 November, Pescaria offers a new "di mare" version of the iconic Bari dish, spaghetti all'assassina, enriched with octopus by Chef Peppe Guida. Originally created in the 1960s, the dish gained fame over the years and is now becoming internationally recognized. Available in Pescaria locations in Polignano, Rome, Trani, Milan (via Solari), Bologna, and Turin, the dish reflects a commitment to quality and sustainability, with nine outlets across Italy and more openings planned. Pescaria, known for pioneering seafood sandwiches in a fast-casual format, was fully acquired by marketing agency Brainpull at the end of 2023, aiming to professionalize its management. The board consists of Domingo Iudice, Claudio Matarrese, and Leonardo Volpicella. Chef Peppe Guida, a Michelin-starred self-taught chef known for his "cuisine of recovery," emphasizes the use of Mediterranean and seasonal ingredients, promoting food waste reduction naturally.

✈ Air India, having recently integrated Vistara, operates over 5,600 weekly flights with a fleet of 210 aircraft. The airline has pending orders for 470 new aircraft, which will triple its fleet size. Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines since January 2015, merged into Air India, giving Singapore Airlines a 25.1% stake in the Air India Group.

💰 Viajes El Corte Inglés saw a 6.1% sales increase in the first half of the year, with holiday sales jumping 10%. Following a record-breaking 2023, the company's net financial debt reduced to €1.933 billion, 1.7 times its Ebitda.

✈️ Lufthansa to acquire 41% stake in Ita Airways by mid-January, with Brussels' approval expected by end of November. Ita Airways' board to expand from 3 to 5 members, including two from Lufthansa, who will also appoint a CEO. By 2025, Lufthansa plans to increase its stake to 90%, focusing on synergies with Rome's Fiumicino Airport and developments in loyalty programs and lounge access.

🍴 Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi in Florence collaborates with Michelin-starred Chef Iside De Cesare to enhance its dining experience. De Cesare, previously leading La Parolina, now oversees three gastronomic outlets including Terrae Restaurant, featuring Tuscan and Italian cuisines with contemporary touches, alongside Resident Chef Salvatore Canargiu. The luxury 16th-century hotel also offers Milton Bistrot and Aria Rooftop, providing an all-day-long dining experience, signature cocktails, and local snacks. Pierluca Chiavetta, General Manager, highlights De Cesare's role in elevating their gastronomic offerings, aiming to make Tivoli a premier luxury dining destination in Florence. Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi features 86 rooms, including 8 suites, and maintains its Renaissance identity. Opened in June, following Tivoli Portopiccolo's 2023 launch, it is Tivoli's second Italian location.

📍 Alberto Giorgio, recently appointed as General Manager, is leading a new strategy for inViaggi, a historic tourism brand under the Gruppo Fruit, focusing on experiential and personalized travel. The strategy includes three new product lines: inClub, inTour, and inTrip. inClub offers stays in selected clubs in Italy and other locations, featuring a Local Expert for a tailored experience. inTour provides guided cultural tours, while inTrip caters to independent travelers with customizable experiences. Giorgio emphasizes the addition of branded exclusive clubs and the imminent reveal of the initial offerings.