Iniziativa eco-responsabile e CSR

📖 At the “CIRFOOD DISTRICT Academy: l’approccio sensoriale all’apprendimento” event, emphasis was placed on the importance of practical experience in personal and professional growth. Held at CIRFOOD DISTRICT, the event showcased the new CIRFOOD DISTRICT Academy's innovative educational opportunities and its role in fostering experiential learning and skill development in the food service industry. Champion swimmer Filippo Magnini highlighted teamwork and shared values, while Vice President of Emilia-Romagna, Vincenzo Colla, acknowledged the Academy's potential to enhance local communities. CIRFOOD, with a history of over 50 years, employs about 12,000 staff and operates in 18 Italian regions, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

🍸 Ambrosia Premium Gin, created in 2019 by Saverio Bertagni and Francesco Marcucci in Garfagnana, became Italy's first carbon-neutral gin in 2022 through Distilleria Indie in San Pietro in Campo, Lucca. Utilizing renewable energy and sustainable practices, the distillery has captured 110,000 kg of CO2 over three years. Ambrosia Gin features Tuscan juniper, sage, rosemary, Sicilian lemons, and is distilled using 100% renewable energy. The bottles are made of 100% recycled glass, with over 2,200 reused in 2023. Ambrosia Gin has completed 15 of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and exports to multiple countries, including the USA and Japan, producing a total of 50,000 bottles. The distillery offers tours and has a range of products, including Amaro del Riccio Garfagnino, vodka, limoncello, and sambuca.

🌳 By 2025, sustainability becomes essential for hoteliers, driven by eco-conscious travelers demanding authentic green practices. Investing in AI-based innovative solutions can optimize energy consumption and reduce waste, with savings between 5% and 15%, and a payback period under three years. Palazzo Morosini degli Spezieri in Venice and Riviera Resort Hotel in Lignano exemplify energy efficiency with smart systems. Hotel Conca Park in Sorrento, Italy's first zero-waste hotel, uses leftovers for compost and rainwater for irrigation. AI aids in optimizing purchases and predicting guest consumption. Embracing local economies, hotels like Hotel Saturnia & International in Venice engage in community projects and prioritize local suppliers. Digital transformations, including contactless check-in and digital keys, aim to reduce guest waste which averages nearly one kilogram per night, with 50% being paper and plastics. Urban Hotels in Florence adopts a holistic approach to sustainability, considering guests, staff, suppliers, and the environment.

🍲 In Italy, Istat's 2022 report shows 10.7% of employees earn a low hourly wage of €8.9; women's average hourly pay is €15.9 versus men's €16.8. The accommodation and food services sector has the lowest average wage of €10.9 per hour. Amadeus invested in AI for meeting sales management, and OpenAI introduced a tool for autonomous travel bookings, partnering with companies like Booking.com and Uber. Ryanair reduced its investment in Rome's Fiumicino Airport by €100 million due to rising costs. Chef Felix Lo Basso left Milan for Switzerland, citing high rents and low wages. Chef Marc Veyrat banned Michelin inspectors from his French Alps restaurant.

🍴 On January 27, at the Triennale di Milano, the annual gala dinner and 2025 award ceremony of Associazione Le Soste took place. Chef Fabrizio Mellino of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Quattro Passi di Nerano won the Franco Ziliani Innovation Award, given by Berlucchi Franciacorta. Mellino earned three Michelin stars in 2023 and brought the accolade back to Campania after a 15-year absence. The event also supported the Umberto Veronesi Foundation through a charity auction.

🍊 Fanta, born in Naples in 1955, celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025. A product of The Coca-Cola Company, Fanta is produced with 100% Italian orange juice, showcasing the company's historic ties to Italy since 1927. Approximately a quarter of Italian orange juice for non-alcoholic drinks has been purchased for Fanta in the past five years. Introduced in the United States in 1958, the brand is now globally recognized. Coca-Cola supports innovation and sustainability in the Sicilian citrus industry, collaborating for over a decade with the Agrumi di Sicilia District on projects like water management and circular economy practices. The Coca-Cola Company offers over 200 brands in more than 200 countries, with a workforce including over 2,000 employees in 7 Italian facilities.

🍷 Oeno Group, founded in 2015, is a leading international network in fine wine investments, including whisky. Interviewed Stefano Rossomando, Head Of Trade at Oeno, discussed the market's current state and criteria for selecting new wineries and labels. Despite a 37% market drop in wine during the 2008 financial crisis, with high-quality wines selling at 40% of their original price, the market rebounded by 2011, showing a 90% increase from the 2008 low. Italy, holding 10% of the global market, with exceptional wines from Tuscany and Piedmont, provides investment and consumption opportunities. Emerging regions like Etna and Irpinia are gaining attention, as are natural wines that reflect their territory with low intervention. In England, consumption trends mix traditional with modern preferences, including fresh, light wines and consistent demand for Champagne. Oeno enhances the wine experience through educational courses, masterclasses, events, and exclusive producer visits.

🚂 Luigi Cantamessa, executive of FS Treni Turistici Italiani and Fondazione FS Italiane, discusses the rise in sustainable railway tourism in Italy, with the company having enhanced its offer with newly renovated, sustainable carriages made in Italy. The expanded service includes seasonal itineraries like Espresso Versilia, Espresso Riviera, Espresso Salento, Espresso Assisi, Espresso Langhe-Monferrato, Sicilia Express, and Treno delle Terme. These routes connect major Italian cities and regions, offering unique cultural and gastronomic experiences.

🌊 The Caribbean Tourist Organization reported an 18% increase in arrivals to the Gulf of Mexico in 2024 over 2023. CEO Dona Regis-Prosper launched 'Sustainable Tourism in Action,' a series of educational webinars for the region's 29 countries. The initiative starts on February 17 and will focus on reducing carbon footprint. St. Kitts and Nevis saw a 14% rise in visitors from January to June 2024, while Castries, St. Lucia (+15%), Barbados (10.3%), and Dominica (14.6%) also showed growth. Flight prices dropped by up to 25% in 2024. Anguilla profited from its "ai" domain, quadrupling its registration tax earnings to $32 million (20% of government revenue). Cuba faced a 9.5% decline in arrivals in 2024 due to international sanctions.

🍝 EquoEventi, founded around 10 years ago, aims to repurpose wasted food from meetings and congresses. Carlo De Sanctis, a founder, emphasizes transforming leftovers instead of discarding them. In 2024, EquoEventi reclaimed food from 106 events, feeding almost 25,000 people in Rome, Milan, Turin, and Lecce.