TOP NEWS

📊 Basilica di San Pietro saw a 93% rise in digital engagement, with a sentiment score of 94.5/100 during the 2025 Jubilee. Vatican Museums grew by 10% in engagement, reaching 89.7/100 in sentiment. The Vatican's popularity rose by 60%, peaking around Easter and August-September. Italian visitors made up 27% of digital traces. Solo travelers now comprise 15% of visitors. Hotel prices decreased by 7%, while hostel and campsite prices increased by 27%. Cultural spending rose by 26%, but dining saw a 19% drop.

🏨 In 2024, Italy's hotel sector comprised 32,943 hotels, offering 1.1 million rooms and 2.28 million beds, with 96.4 million arrivals and 283.9 million overnight stays, growing 3.1% from 2023. 51% of total overnights happened in 4 and 5-star hotels. Foreign tourists accounted for 254 million stays (54.5% of total). The hospitality sector generated €36.6 billion in revenue in 2023, increasing by 17.3%. Additionally, hotel employment averaged 240,205 workers, peaking at 327,676 in July.

🏨 In 2024, Italy leads Europe with nearly 33,000 hotels, over 1 million rooms, and 2.3 million beds, contributing 11% to its GDP. The country has 18,182 three-star hotels (55.2%), while 4 and 5-star hotels make up 22.5%. Trentino-Alto Adige boasts the most hotels (5,380), with Emilia-Romagna having the highest room capacity (141,578). Tourist arrivals reached 96.4 million, a 2.9% increase, driven by foreign visitors. Despite challenges, Italy's hospitality sector remains strong.

☕ Caffitaly excels in the Gambero Rosso 2026 Guide to Italian Coffees and Roasteries, earning the top recognition, Tre Macinini, for four coffees: Americano, Gentile, Monorigine India, and Monorigine Kenya. Americano blends selected Arabica varieties, while Gentile offers a high-digestibility espresso. Monorigine India is 100% Robusta, and Monorigine Kenya is 100% Arabica. Caffitaly's technology and quality control, led by CEO Andrea Zocchi, underscore this success.

🌎 Il gruppo Bluvacanze, con un travel value di 1 miliardo di euro nel 2025, prevede una crescita del 5%, raggiungendo 1,5 miliardi entro il 2029. La convention si è tenuta a Courmayeur. Domenico Pellegrino, CEO, sottolinea l'importanza di tecnologia e risorse umane. Crescita del business travel del 23% entro il 2028 è prevista. MSC mira a 70.000 camere al giorno nel 2024 con 1,2 milioni di italiani viaggiatori.

🏨 Sym Hotels, led by Ovidio Andrés Arcos, has acquired the Hotel Tower Plaza in Pisa, previously under Uappala Hotels, for over €15 million. The 128-room, five-star hotel will undergo extensive renovations and reopen in spring. Sym Hotels, with locations in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Argentina, and Italy, including Sardinia and Rome, aims to offer a modern, guest-focused experience. The acquisition supports their expansion in Italy, emphasizing Mediterranean and sustainable hospitality.

🚄 14 dicembre: Trenord introduce 2.400 corse giornaliere nella sua nuova programmazione invernale, inclusa la nuova linea suburbana S19 tra Albairate e Milano Rogoredo con due corse all’ora per direzione. La linea Alessandria-Mortara-Milano devierà verso Milano Rogoredo e la stazione di Milano Porta Genova chiuderà. Potenziamenti previsti per la tratta Milano-Genova. Milano Rogoredo-Tortona avrà un treno ogni 30 minuti. Collegamenti Como-Chiasso rimodulati. Linee multiple potenziate per migliorare la connettività.

🏨 Sym Hotels, guided by Ovidio Andrés Arcos, acquired Hotel Tower Plaza in Pisa for over €15 million. The 128-room luxury hotel will undergo significant renovations and reopen in spring. Sym Hotels, present in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Argentina, also operates in Italy, including Sardinia, Lazio, Bologna, and the Dolomites. The acquisition aligns with their growth in Italy and hospitality vision. The previous management by Uappala Hotels will end, with new local hires anticipated.

🏢 Napoli, novembre 2025: Il nuovo studentato universitario CX Naples Centrale, situato in via Galileo Ferraris 4, è stato inaugurato con il sindaco Gaetano Manfredi presente. La struttura, gestita da CampusX, offre 500 posti letto e 74 camere hotel, su 15,000 m². La riqualificazione, completata in due anni, ha richiesto un investimento di 40 milioni di euro, contribuendo al processo di rigenerazione urbana della città. La residenza offre spazi comuni, coworking, e numerosi servizi.

🏊 ForumPiscine 2026 e Outex is set to take place at BolognaFiere from February 11 to 13, 2026. This event will showcase pools, spas, and outdoor living innovations. It aims to bring together the leisure community focusing on wellness, comfort, and innovation. The program promises to be rich in content, catering to industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.