Innovazione

🏨 Piazza Hotels, founded in Rimini in 1989, has a portfolio of 10 properties with 1,059 rooms as of 2023. The group manages 12 structures in 2024 and aims for 14 by 2025. In 2023, they achieved an EBITDA increase of 23% to €2.25 million and a 13% growth in EBIT to nearly €1.4 million. The room revenue alone surpassed €13 million, with additional earnings from food & beverage (€3 million), meetings and events (€600,000), and Spa (€350,000). Piazza Hotels is also focusing on strategic investments, including €150,000 in technological transition and committing half of the €4 million for the Galleria Savoia project in Rimini. Future plans include opening two new properties annually, with an upscale hotel in Sicily in 2025 and another in Parma in 2026.

📍 Ami Assistance and Viaggigiovani entered a new agreement effective from January 1, allowing Viaggigiovani's customers to activate a special Amitravel insurance policy. The policy includes medical expenses, assistance, and a trip cancellation guarantee with no deductible in case of hospitalization, including pre-existing illnesses as potential cancellation reasons. Nicola Moltrer, owner of Viaggigiovani.it, highlights the unique travel experience this insurance can offer. DOC 24, a service within the policy, provides 24/7 access to a doctor via phone or videoconference worldwide, with features to record medical history in English and monitor vital signs through a smartphone camera. Giuseppe Maria Cicconi, Commercial Director for the North East area of Ami Assistance, expresses enthusiasm for the partnership that expands their national partner network and promotes their major product, the collective Amitravel policy.

📍 Air Europa, focusing on expansion, plans to add three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its fleet in early 2025 for long-haul flights. Additionally, the airline is expected to soon receive the first of ten Boeing 737 Max aircraft as part of a previous agreement with AerCap, initiating a fleet modernization for short to medium-haul flights. Initial delivery of the B737 Max was initially anticipated in early 2024.

🏖️ The Marriott Bonvoy study "Ticket to Travel 2025" surveyed 21,374 adults across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and over 2,000 travelers in Italy. By 2025, 38% of Italian vacationers plan to take more trips than in 2024, 47% will maintain the same travel frequency, and 65% prefer Europe as their destination, with Italy topping the list at 33%. Key priorities include quality time with family and friends (44%), indulgence (43%), and cultural exploration (39%). Young travelers, especially Gen Z, show a high interest in heritage holidays (33%) and bravecations (59%). Italians book their vacations on average 3.5 months in advance, with 39% within two months of departure. Sustainability concerns are rising, with 75% mindful of their holidays' environmental impact, and 57% likely to forgo flying for environmental reasons. Luxury travelers prefer 5-star hotels, personalized service, and sustainability, with 82% valuing it in high-end accommodation. The study also highlights the trend of traveling to emerging destinations with luxury brands, as 70% would be more likely to visit if a luxury brand is present.

📅 Over 260 agencies engaged in six events, Allianz Partners successfully concludes the #SalesRoadshow2024 ‘Get Ready For The...Experience!’ focusing on the company's innovations and the expanded Globy range with 12 products. Massimiliano Sibilio, Chief Commercial Officer at Allianz Partners Italy, highlights the event's success and the positive feedback from partners, emphasizing their indispensable role and commitment to providing cutting-edge products and professional support.

🏖️ "Ticket to Travel 2025" survey by Marriott Bonvoy on 21,374 adults across Europe, Africa, Middle East, and over 2,000 Italian travelers, reveals 85% of Italian travelers plan as many or more holidays in 2025 compared to 2024. Europe is the top destination for Italians in 2025 at 65%, with Italy (33%), Spain (29%), France (14%), Greece (12%), Portugal (9%), and the Americas (8%). Cleanliness (96%), location (91%), and price (94%) are key accommodation preferences. Heritage Holidays and Bravecations are emerging trends, with 33% of Italians exploring family history and 59% seeking adventurous vacations. Among affluent travelers, 70% stay in 5-star hotels, with personalization (47%) and wellness offerings (49%) highly valued.

🔐 Smart locks are electronic locks controlled via smartphones, allowing remote and secure property access. Key features include remote access, advanced security, and ease of use with temporary access codes, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and biometric recognition. They enhance operational efficiency by automating check-ins, particularly beneficial for managers handling multiple properties. An example showed a 30% increase in five-star reviews after smart lock installation due to the simplified access process. Chekin platform integrates with smart locks, automating guest identity verification and communication, with one report of a 50% reduction in reservation management time. Security considerations for smart locks include encryption, activity monitoring, and multi-factor authentication. Smart locks, functional offline using Bluetooth, are variable in cost but offer long-term operational savings. Chekin offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

🏖️ Rome celebrated the "Notte degli Oscars" of tourism at The St. Regis Hotel, awarding 16 winners with the Microfoni d’Oro di Mhr. Event created by Deborah Garlando, CEO of Mhr, with Palmiro Noschese and Paolo Garlando. Hosted by Gabriella Carlucci, featured a video greeting from Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè. Among the awardees were Gianluca Caramanna, Regione Sicilia, Borgo Egnazia (also received the Star Night Award), and Saudi Arabia for Best International Destination.

🔌 Enel's Set&Charge is an integrated solution for hotels and other accommodations to install electric vehicle charging stations, making them accessible to customers and e-drivers. It includes a complete package with charging infrastructure, management software (Net Enterprise), and electricity supply on a single invoice. Additionally, the Enel X Way App integrates with Set&Charge, allowing for public charging and attracting travelers seeking electric-friendly accommodations, positioning businesses as sustainable hospitality pioneers.

📈 Travelport's study shows that Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel sector now handles over 10,000 identifiable options, a significant increase from 500 options 15 years ago. Sandro Gargiulo of Travelport emphasized AI’s role in simplifying data to improve service response times, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Demographic studies fine-tune personalization, as noted by Gabriella Galantis of Lufthansa Group, who highlighted AI's utility in adjusting flight routes to avoid turbulence and assisting in luggage scanning operations based on the number of passengers and available space.