Innovazione

🛠 At Sigep 2025, Fabio Russo interviewed Gianni Villoresi from Winterhalter Italia, a professional washing company established in 1947 by founder Karl Winterhalter. Winterhalter, which started in a garage, now has 40 branches worldwide. The company introduced the Energy function at Sigep, a system that recovers heat from the wash chamber to preheat water, saving electricity. They also showcased a new washing system for recyclable materials, ergonomic baskets for lighter materials, and a specific rinse aid for plastics. Winterhalter presented DMX, a drying tunnel for post-wash procedures.

📖 During the National STEM Week, Cimbali Group and MUMAC – Museo della Macchina per Caffè hosted "Tech Tour 2025". The initiative by Assolombarda involved 63 companies, welcoming over 1,200 students from 24 high schools across Milan, Monza, Brianza, Pavia, and Lodi. The project aims to bring youth closer to innovation, technology, and digital transition themes in companies. It offers insights into STEM-related careers, providing practical industry experiences. MUMAC, part of Cimbali Group, which employs over 800 people and operates four production facilities, opened its doors for special activities and ordinary visits in 2025.

📍 The pluriannual project DI OGNUNO returns to Hospitality – Il Salone dell’Accoglienza, focusing on inclusive breakfast room design for the hospitality industry. Organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, with expertise from Lombardini22 and V4A consultants, the project aims to demonstrate accessible design's social and economic value. The event features an experiential space contrasting comfort and discomfort, highlighting the importance of sensory and food inclusivity for all guests. The 49th edition of Hospitality is ongoing in Riva del Garda until February 6, 2025.

🍸 Städlin, managed by the Coticoni family since 2019, celebrates its 10th anniversary with plans for new surprises in 2025. It's known for mixology and a varied culinary offering ranging from burgers to traditional Mediterranean dishes. Städlin serves as a dynamic, inclusive event space for private parties, corporate events, and as a coworking area during the day. The bar's philosophy focuses on sensory experiences, and the kitchen emphasizes balance, health, and flavor in its dishes. Read more on MixologyItalia.com and Horecanews.it for daily updates on the hospitality and foodservice industry.

💵 In recent years, agrivoltaics, especially in viticulture, are gaining interest for providing clean energy and improving plant conditions against climate change effects. Studies in southern France show solar panels can create microclimates yielding grapes with lower alcohol potential, higher acidity, and better aromatic profiles. With AI, panels are oriented to optimize shade and sunlight for photosynthesis. In 2024, Rhône Valley analyses showed yield increases of 20-60% among grape varieties. Italy’s largest cooperative winery, Caviro, invested €1.5 million in the country’s biggest advanced agrivoltaic system, balancing renewable energy production and vine protection. Further research will refine these solutions for specific territorial characteristics.

🥂 Sebastiano Caffo, CEO of Distilleria F.lli Caffo, and Roberto Lippolis, Director of Borsci plant in Taranto, presented new liqueur specialties at Sigep 2025: Crema Clementino della Piana and CafCaffè. Vecchio Amaro del Capo, the company's signature product, is Italy's best-selling amaro—4 out of every 10 amaro bottles sold in Italy, with even higher shares in some areas, according to Circana data. Gruppo Caffo, while maintaining family ownership, has grown from a small artisanal company to a major industrial player in the global Horeca sector.

🛫 Guy Luongo, CEO and main shareholder of the Roman company Ixpira, emphasized the importance of investing in digital platforms and has announced the introduction of a new B2B platform to elevate service levels for travel agencies and hotels. Ixpira, launched in 2017 and weathering the COVID-19 crisis, now boasts 50 employees and a turnover of €30 million, approaching its 2019 record of €33 million. Luongo underlines the competitive nature of the sector and the continuous pursuit of total quality and excellent service.

✈️ Airport Day, organized by Assaeroporti, involves 17 Italian airports to celebrate record figures in 2024 and positive prospects for 2025. The Italian airport system contributes 3.8% to the national GDP and supports 1.3 million jobs. Italian airports presented a manifesto outlining five goals focusing on passenger service, community dialogue, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation. In 2024, air traffic reached 220 million passengers, hitting the numbers forecasted for 2028 years early. The entrance of Lufthansa into Ita Airways is highlighted by Enac President Pierluigi Di Palma as a boost to the nation's strong national airline and transoceanic routes. Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini discusses intermodality enhancements, connections between train stations and airports in Olbia and Bergamo, and an airport development plan up to 2035.

📡 HotelNerds by EasyConsulting has developed the HotelNerds A.I. Suite, designed to enhance the hotel industry's direct booking process without any commission, effectively countering OTAs. The suite's highlight is the A.I. Booking Engine, which, through real-time online distribution analysis, offers dynamic, personalized deals during the booking phase, reducing acquisition costs and strengthening hoteliers' independence from OTAs. The suite also includes HotelRecoveryTools A.I. and the advanced A.I. Agent HoteliHER, which surpasses traditional chatbots by learning from the hotel's site and offering guests immediate booking and information, reinforcing direct bookings' competitiveness and profitability as stated by CEO Fabrizio Zezza.

🚢 Explora Journeys, MSC's luxury cruise division, announces Explora III to launch in 2026 with 463 ocean suites, penthouses, and residences. The company is expanding its fleet to provide a wider variety of travel itineraries. They will sponsor the digital edition of TTG Innovation, set to be released on Monday, February 10, featuring insights on technological innovations, disruptive ideas, and new challenges for the industry.