TOP NEWS

🌊 Lombardia, Veneto, and Trentino launch 'Garda Unico', a project to promote Lake Garda with a unified identity. The initiative, receiving an initial investment of €900,000 with €300,000 from Lombardia, aims to enhance global tourism, emphasize sustainable mobility, and develop an integrated digital ecosystem. With over 27 million visitors, the project, championed by Tourism Councilor Barbara Mazzali, will strategize concrete actions and events by the end of January.

🍦 Italian artisanal gelato stands as a pillar of the Made in Italy brand, generating nearly €5 billion in revenue, with over 39,000 establishments including gelaterias, bar-gelaterias, and gelaterias-pasticcerias, employing more than 90,000 people. Despite recruiting challenges in 2024, with difficulties filling approximately 27,000 positions, gelaterias aim to hire 6,900 workers between December 2024 and February 2025. With 40% operating year-round and over 90% with at least eight months of activity, climate change and increased demand during colder months are extending gelato consumption seasons. The market sees a rise in vegan, sugar-free, lactose-free, organic, and local specialty flavors. About 60% of foreign tourists in Italy consider gelato a must-have experience. The future poses digital and environmental transition challenges, emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly packaging. Fipe will attend SIGEP 2025 on January 21 to discuss innovation and training for the future of the sector.

🏢 Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana, managed by Aldo Melpignano, is holding two Recruiting Days to select professionals for its five existing and upcoming 2025 venues. The in-person event is on February 5 at Borgo Egnazia (BR), with a virtual session on February 7. Open positions range from operational to strategic roles with requirements like guest orientation, communication skills, teamwork, curiosity, and quality focus. Candidates must apply by January 26 at 18:00 through a provided form.

📌 Icon Collection announced the "People" project, an initiative to enhance staff personal and professional development through personalized learning programs called TIL. Icon Collection scheduled recruiting days on January 31, February 17, February 7, February 26, and February 21, 2025, at various locations including Park Hotel Marinetta, The Sense Experience Resort, and Hotel Botticelli. Sessions are at 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, and 15:30. Positions offered range from maintenance staff to receptionists. Applications can be submitted via hotel websites or Icon Collection's careers section. CEO Federico Ficcanterri emphasizes respect and talent discovery for future challenges.

🎭 During Milan Fashion Week, Axy Hotel InnStyle Milano hosted Alessia Dionisi and Fornace77's artistic project on Aracne. Muraless Art Hotel in Verona featured artist Melkio and robot Alter Ego 3 in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology last October. Grand Hotel Bristol, collaborating with Nuar Gallery, offers art events throughout the summer season in Rapallo, attracting guests and tourists to the Portofino Coast.

🏂 High-luxury in Cortina reports a 92.7% occupancy rate, a 20.5% increase from 2023. The sector hit full capacity between December 28 and January 2, and maintained 85% occupancy around Epiphany. Foreign arrivals grew by 8%, influencing the high-luxury performance. Stefano Pirro, president of Cortina's hotel association, noted basic segments nearly reached sold-out status over New Year's due to Italian regulars. The World Cup Ski weekend is approaching a sold-out status with 91% bookings, up 6% from 2024.

🍕 Parma will host the World Pizza Championship on April 8-10, 2025, at Palaverdi fairgrounds, marking the event's 32nd consecutive year. In December 2024, the sector showed growth with 361,194 active businesses, 88,793 (+24.58% from 2023) being pizza-related establishments. The Championship will feature the "World’s Best Homemade Pizza" competition for amateur pizza makers, with registrations open from December 6, 2024. Early bird registration is available until January 15, 2025, with sign-ups starting December 1, 2024.

📢 Blastness, a technological solutions provider for the hotel booking sector, acquired Athena Solutions, specializing in travel tech and owner of the ErmesHotels brand. With 20 years in the market, Blastness matched Booking.com's direct booking volumes in Italy in summer 2024. Athena Solutions, founded in 2003, developed the first Italian Channel Manager Xml, ErmesHotels, and caters to over 600 properties. Blastness now serves over 1,800 hotels combined and hit €22 million in revenue in 2023, a 30% increase from 2022.

🏖️ The Italian Ministry of Tourism announced participation in DEPLOYTOUR, funded by the European Commission, beginning October 2024 for three years. The project aims to create a unified European tourism data space, promoting sector digitalization and sustainability. A high-level event will be hosted in Brussels in 2025 to showcase the project's progress and facilitate dialogue among European tourism stakeholders. ????

📍 Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Americas are trending destinations for global international demand in 2025, according to Mabrian's analysis. The data shows Oceania's resurgence, particularly Australia and New Zealand, and European cities Madrid, Rome, and Lisbon experience significant international demand growth. Analysis covers 72.5% of global travel demand, focusing on international travel searches to the top 20 airports in each region from January to June 2025. Southeast Asia, with 13.5% of international inspiration destinations, and East Asia, with 12.6%, lead the growth. Key cities in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa, such as South Africa, show positive trends. Bangkok, Phuket, Delhi, Mumbai, Manila, Bali, and Hanoi witness the strongest demand increases, with Tokyo and Seoul also showcasing robust trends. Oceania's potential international arrivals could reach over 3% of the global total. North America captures 5.6% and Latin America & the Caribbean 2.5% of international inspiration demand. Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Cancun, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Punta Cana, and San José are among the most sought-after destinations. Europe represents 17.2% of global international inspiration demand, with Madrid, Lisbon, and Rome slated for increased arrivals, particularly during Rome's Jubilee year. (Source: https://mabrian.com/)