Innovazione

💻 Alidays CEO Davide Catania presents interactive travel planning platform's latest tech advancements to agencies in Central and Southern Italy at Circolo Rari Nantes in Naples. Utilizing AI, the platform AlyDa provides travel solutions considering clients' preferences, from music to food, culture, and nature, generating options in seconds, complete with a QR code for easy client communication. A new feature for creating trip content, soon available to all partners, is announced. Additionally, a new Guided Tours catalog for small groups of 2-14 people has been released. Despite slow U.S. bookings due to the 'Trump effect,' Asia receives positive booking responses, as confirmed by Catania. Olga Mazzoni, CEO of Thema Nuovi Mondi, shares insights on the U.S. at the Alidays event.

💳 Trenord introduces 'Digital Gate' at Milan Central station for 100% digital purchases, offering cashless payments through mobile apps like PayPal or Satispay. Travelers can now buy train and Malpensa Express tickets at this new counter, with the service expanding in the coming months to include additional digital customer services. Tickets can also be sent via WhatsApp.

📍 Centara Hotels & Resorts targets expansion and renovation with over €408 million to be invested over the next three years. The European roadshow begins in Milan, hinting at potential investments in Italy, Germany, and Denmark. Jurairat Mongkolwongsiri, VP Sales, expects Italian guests to rise from 4% to the fifth-largest market, aided by new properties in the Maldives: Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives. With an estimated revenue of €422.4 million in 2025, Centara aims to upgrade its 92 hotels across 11 Asian and Arabian Peninsula locations to a luxury status, offering more than 20,000 rooms with an average occupancy rate of 77%. The Centara Grand Hotel Osaka and Centara Reserve in Koh Samui are highlighted, with more announcements anticipated at the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini.

🤖 Lysa, an Artificial Intelligence avatar introduced by CartOrange, has been aiding travel consultants for two weeks in four defined areas: providing travel information, assisting in travel proposal creation, performing back-office operations, and enhancing human performance through daily commercial coaching. Gianpaolo Romano, CEO of CartOrange, emphasized innovation and the AI's ability to simplify work and improve commercial performance by up to 35%, according to Stanford University. Trained on CartOrange's internal database of over 15,000 trips, Lysa represents a significant investment by the company.

🖥 Railbookers Group uses AI to identify travel trends and destination popularity, CEO Frank Marini likens AI impact to the '90s internet revolution. However, only 12% of tour operators worldwide currently deploy AI, despite significant discussion in recent years.

🏨 In 2025, hotel managers are advised on overbooking strategies: intentional overbooking to counter no-shows and unintentional due to system errors. Effective management includes integrated booking systems to prevent accidents, clear communication policies, offering upgrades or nearby accommodations, and exceptional customer service for affected guests. Overbooking, when managed well, can maximize occupancy and revenues while maintaining a hotel's reputation. Chekin offers a free 14-day trial to streamline hotel operations.

🏨 By 2025, hotel managers in Italy must leverage online booking portals to increase visibility and simplify reservations. Platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, Hotels.com, Trip.com, and Lastminute.com offer diverse markets and advanced tools. Employing a diversified strategy and optimizing listings with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and updated services, including COVID-19 safety protocols, is crucial. Technologies like virtual tours and AI-based personalized recommendations enhance user experience and competitiveness. ????️

🛠 In the hospitality industry, BREM, a leader in thermo-design, is blending functionality with aesthetics through their ESSEN towel warmer, designed by Luigi Brembilla, part of the CROSS FRAME Collection. ESSEN features a single tubular section for an appealing look and high functionality, with a large rectangular frame that increases thermal output. Available sizes range from widths of 40/52/64/70/130 cm and heights of 72/104/136/168/200 cm, with various finishes including classic white sablé, chrome, and gold or silver leaf. ESSEN also comes in an electric version and an ESSEN PLUS model with additional radiant tubes for increased heating needs.

📌 Marcello Mangia, previously skeptical about the future of travel agencies, has launched a new technology platform, Mdestinations, to simplify booking processes for agencies. Mangia, speaking with TTG Italia, expressed confidence in the potential for modern, well-developed travel agencies. He is also considering expanding his company's hotel operations abroad, acknowledging his company's reliability in working with international investment funds.

✈ Emirates Vice President Adnan Kazim announced an expanded agreement with Expedia Group, integrating the New Distribution Capability (NDC) API directly into Expedia brands. This collaboration enables personalized booking experiences and ongoing access to Emirates' NDC content, simplifying the booking process. The partnership will also enhance loyalty programs and provide a broader range of options, including extra baggage and seat selection, creating tailored travel packages with Expedia's global hotel offerings.