Innovazione

🎮 Fitur 2025, a key event for Artificial Intelligence and digitalization, is happening now until January 26 at Ifema Madrid. Featuring over 60 tech companies, Fitur Know-How & Export focuses on technological solutions for modernizing the sector, data analysis, and Segitturlab innovation, culminating in 'The AI for Tourism Awards 2025'. Fitur Talent, a one-day initiative, brings together HR experts, academic institutions, and industry leaders to discuss talent management, education, and training for the digital tourism sector. The event also showcases a vast array of Spanish provinces, with Italy represented by regions and entities including Enit, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, and several others.

🏨 Lufthansa reopened its renovated Senator and Business Lounge at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2, boasting 1600 sqm, operational daily from 04:15 to 22:00, accommodating up to 350 passengers. The lounge features improved seating, local design elements, and enhanced privacy with panel additions. It offers a buffet, free newspapers, Wi-Fi, a printer, copier, TV, and lockers. Sven Thaler highlighted over 360 weekly Lufthansa Group flights from Heathrow.

🏡 Virtuoso launches the Ultra-High-Net-Worth division for ultra-luxury consulting tailored to 'ultra-rich' clients’ needs. The new unit collaborates with world-renowned luxury brands in jewelry, watches, fashion, art, gastronomy, automotive, and wellness. Shelby Donley, former owner of a Virtuoso agency, leads as general manager.

✈ Representatives from Enac and Ita Airways discussed future objectives and strategies following their recent merger with Lufthansa. Enac President Pierluigi Di Palma and Ita Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart aim to enhance global aviation competitiveness. Rome Fiumicino Airport becomes Lufthansa Group's sixth hub, with projections to surpass 200,000 passengers daily by summer 2025. The merger necessitates new, modern infrastructures to improve operational efficiency and support traffic growth. Di Palma congratulated Eberhart, emphasizing sustainability and intermodality for Ita Airways within the Lufthansa Group.

🏖️ Madrid received 11.2 million visitors in 2024, with 56% being international. The city aims to increase international arrivals to 60% in 2025. Last year's visitor expenditure reached €16.14 billion, with a targeted increase to €17 billion. Tourist counts grew by 5.5% and overnight stays by 4.7%, exceeding 23 million. Notably, visitors from the U.S., Italy, France, U.K., Mexico, Germany, and Portugal led, with Chinese tourists surging by 78.77%. Madrid's 2025 strategic focus includes off-season, decentralization, tourism innovation, and experiential tourism, under the '365 Days of Madrid' initiative. The 'Madrid re-imagined' project will create a digital ecosystem to personalize visitor experiences using AI.

🍨 At Sigep 2025, Martini Professional (Unigrà) showcased its plant-based trend with OraSì Gelato's innovative liquid bases responding to consumer demand. The product line includes soy and oat bases, complemented by a coconut-based FruttUp powder and a lactose-free yogurt base. Martini Gelato also introduced Ready to Crumble's new plant-based crunch recipes and expanded the Brunelle family with Crock fusion inclusions. Martini Food Service presented its specialized Horeca channel offerings, while the Martini Frozen brand highlighted inclusivity with diverse baked goods. Master Martini BuSub-brand Martini Food Service, part of Unigrà, affirmed its commitment to Horeca at Sigep 2025, featuring a curated selection of products for culinary professionals. Martini Frozen showcased products for diverse dietary needs, including the notable OraSì Soia croissant. Master Martini's range offered high-quality dairy ingredients, with notable products like the plasticity-rich Burro Master Martini and a variety of versatile Panna Master Martini creams. New indulgent spreadable creams and the Decor Up Sugar Free plant-based cream expanded the range further. At Sigep 2025, OraSì revealed its Barista line, tailored for professional coffee making with five plant-based variants for exceptional performance in coffee-based specialties. Visit www.martiniprofessional.it for more information. Martini Professional - Unigrà exhibited at Sigep

📋 European 'ready to eat' product sales rose from €12.3 billion in 2020 to €18.1 billion by June 2024. Restaurants focus on 'green' initiatives, with 44% of consumers preferring places investing in sustainability, and innovation, as 66% seek unique dining experiences. SIGEP World at Fiera di Rimini, hosted by Italian Exhibition Group, highlighted these trends until January 22. Three startups and 21 companies received the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for innovative foodservice products on January 18. Alessandro Pastore announced a new mechanical refrigeration technology at SIGEP World, offering cost reduction and minimized environmental impact, set to revolutionize a 150-year-old technology.

📊 Custom unveils innovative retail technology at SIGEP 2025: LINK kiosks in 27" and 32" formats, EDGE-N all-in-one smart POS system with Android™ 12, NFC, and touch monitor, HYPERCASH cash management, and integrated payment solutions OMNI KEY and OMNI TOUCH. The Nextourism project launches with a webinar on January 29, discussing advanced cash registers and integrated payments to enhance tech awareness for SMEs in the Horeca sector. Custom, with 31+ years in business, 11 companies, 32 proprietary patents, and a mission to innovate daily, showcases at SIGEP 2025 Pavilion A4 Stand 040.

🍸 Ruggine, a decade-old cocktail bar-restaurant in Bologna's historic center, was founded by Davide Patta, Giacomo Crosa, and Stefano D’Onofri, as the city's first venue combining high-quality drinks and food. Celebrating its 10th anniversary on October 20, 2024, Ruggine is known for its Erre Lab, where ingredients are prepared in-house. The bar offers unique cocktails like Labello, Dirty Bamboo, and Temptation Island, along with a food menu featuring homemade roast beef, slow-cooked pork ribs, and vegetarian options. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 12:00 to 00:30, and on Mondays from 18:00 to 00:30.