Innovazione

💰 Chinese tourists' expenditure during the May Day bridge showed a significant increase, as reported by Alipay and partner payment apps. Italy ranks among the top destinations along with France, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Macao SAR, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Switzerland recorded the highest average Alipay spending per user. Alipay+ is connected to a global network of 100 million merchants, leading to a 53% rise in local transport transactions compared to the previous year. Public transport became the most used Alipay service, especially in Europe for train tickets, and in Hong Kong and Macao for buses and metros. Bike-sharing in Japan also saw increased use. Alipay's real-time tax refund service saw a 33% increase in refund value per transaction, and requests for Alipay's instant discount offer rose by 46% compared to the New Year holiday.

🎭 In 2024, Italy recorded over 3.5 million overnight stays in Germany, a 4.6% increase from 2023, with 58% of Italian trips exceeding four nights. Germania, known as "Cultureland" of Europe in 2025, celebrates Chemnitz as the "European Capital of Culture." The average Italian tourist is 43 years old, 35% travel with children under 14, preferring city trips (52%) and showing growing interest in itinerant travel (24%). Lufthansa Group offers 918 weekly flights, Ita Airways 118, with new easyJet and Condor connections. A Frecciarossa from Rome/Milan to Munich is anticipated in 2026. Key 2025 attractions include the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin immersive exhibition, concerts commemorating 275th anniversary of Bach's death, and celebrations of Bauhaus School's centenary starting September.

🚀 Emirates will inaugurate a daily direct service from Dubai to Hangzhou, China, starting July 30. The route will be served by a three-class Boeing 777-300ER with a weekly capacity of 2,478 seats. This makes Hangzhou the fifth Chinese destination for Emirates, joining Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The airline will operate a total of 49 weekly flights to mainland China, including the new daily service to Hangzhou. The Emirates 777-300ER offers 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 Economy Class seats.

📍 Airbus secures 41% market share in European flights, a 1% increase from the previous year, while Boeing holds steady at 32%. Eurocontrol provides the data. Ryanair, Boeing's main customer, averages 3,044 flights daily in 2024, an 8% rise from 2023. In the top 20 European airlines, Airbus boasts a 55% share, outpacing Boeing's 34%. Airbus "neo" models account for 27% of its 2024 flights; Boeing's "Max" series represents 16%. Embraer takes third place with a 6% market share.

🍸 Onesti Group and Toschi, both Emilian companies, announced a partnership at Cactus cocktail bar in Milan, during Mixology Experience. They aim to introduce syrups and purees for mixology into the Horeca channel. Andrea Onesti, CEO of Onesti Group, plans three cocktail food pairing evenings to enhance brand awareness. The collaboration arose from shared needs, with the goal to strengthen bar presence. The product line starts with two mixology-focused lines. Current market trends show growth only in the non-alcoholic segment, with a demand for quality at affordable prices. The instability of global markets makes the year challenging. The Mixology Experience in Milan and Roma Bar Show occur the same month, posing strategic and economic challenges for exhibitors.

🐔 Gruppo Eurovo, a specialist in egg production for over 70 years, showcased their latest ready-to-eat dessert innovations at Tuttofood Milan (Pad 5 - Stand B01e E18). This B2B event, a hub for the agri-food ecosystem, runs from today until May 8th. The company aims to revolutionize the market with their le Naturelle brand and reinforce their excellence with the Eurovo Service brand, particularly in the Food Service sector.

🏠 Leolandia, a theme park in Bergamo province specializing in children's hospitality (0-12 years), is partnering with local hotels for themed rooms. Their hospitality project surpassed trials during spring bridges. Together with Airport Hotel, Leolandia personalized rooms reflecting park themes like Cowboy Town, Pirate's Cove, and Dragon & Legends Lands, offering an immersive family experience. In 2024, Leolandia attracted 1 million visitors, 80,000 chose park+hotel packages, collaborating with nearly 30 hotels. Marketing Director David Tommaso highlights the international appeal and win-win for partners.

✈️ Starting May 1, 2025, Condor Airlines operates a new direct flight between Milan Malpensa and Frankfurt with two daily frequencies. Departures from Milan at 9:00 and 17:35, landing in Frankfurt at 10:10 and 18:45 respectively. Flights from Frankfurt take off at 6:50 and 15:05, with a flight duration of approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. CEO Peter Gerber highlights Italy as a strategic market, with Malpensa being a key gateway in Northern Italy, offering connections to popular intercontinental routes such as New York, Toronto, and Cancun. The short and medium-haul flights use the new Airbus A32Xneo, while long-haul connections from Frankfurt utilize the Airbus A330neo, featuring high comfort levels, fully flat seats in Business Class, and spacious Economy Class.

📖 SevenRooms' annual report involved 1,000 U.S. consumers and 257 hospitality operators, integrating 2024 data. Key findings: 94% use online search, social media, and digital media to find restaurants; only 10% rely on influencers; 74% open to AI for bookings; 83% expect personalized experiences; 74% would return after special events; 87% would buy non-restaurant items; 35% value design in brand loyalty; by 2025, 79% of operators adopted AI, with 99% reporting benefits. The study underlines the shift to digital and experiential hospitality.

📦 Ponti showcases its innovative vision for the Italian and international food landscape at TuttoFood, a leading European agri-food fair held from May 5-8 at Fiera Milano in Rho. Emphasizing their commitment to product innovation, Ponti President Giacomo Ponti expresses the company's focus on adapting to changing dietary habits and producing authentic, healthy, and modern products. The new organic, unfiltered Melagold® apple cider vinegar, made from 100% Italian Golden Delicious apples, caters to health-conscious consumers desiring traceable and carefully crafted products. Ponti will be at the Italia del Gusto Consortium's exclusive corner (hall 2 – booth A33/C33).