Innovazione

🍵 De'Longhi and Sevengrams announce a partnership at the Sigep World (46th edition) in Rimini, Jan 18-22, 2025. They aim to enhance the home coffee experience, featuring the "Bean to Cup" range with Chiara Bergonzi as Brand Ambassador. De'Longhi La Specialista, an advanced coffee machine with automatic grind control and My LatteArt steam wand, will be showcased at pavilion D1 / stand 092. This collaboration focuses on sustainability, quality, and a unique coffee experience.

🎮 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.

🚢 Royal Caribbean Group announced an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for a new Edge class ship for their Celebrity Cruises fleet. The delivery of the sixth Edge class ship, named Xcel2, is scheduled for 2028. Its sister ship, Celebrity Xcel, is set to debut in November. Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge expressed excitement about expanding the happy vacation spots for travelers worldwide.

🏗️ Visitup launches a free app for exploring Bologna, featuring audioguides and themed tours. The app aims to connect communities with shared interests such as cycling or theater in Bologna. Salvatore Matrisciano, the app creator, emphasizes an intuitive and modern design to enhance tourist experiences in an accessible manner for all languages.

🏖️ 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.