TOP NEWS

📌 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.

🏖️ 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/)

🌍 TikTok and artificial intelligence will shape travel choices in 2025, reports National Geographic Traveller UK. TikTok travel video views surged by 410% in the last three years. The European Travel Commission notes a 6% rise from last year, with 73% of Europeans preferring to travel between October and March due to high costs in peak seasons. Over 400,000 posts with #dupesdestination influenced travelers to opt for alternative destinations like Albania over Greece. In 2025, low-cost long-haul flights emerge, but trains will take the lead in transportation.

✈️ In 2025, the travel sector is shaped by low-cost evolution, premiumisation, online travel, apps, and personalization, as per GlobalData's "Key Themes in Travel & Tourism 2025" report. The travel landscape will differ from 2019 with AI, cybersecurity, and ESG 2.0 being significant. Digital presence and data collection for one-to-one personalization are essential for competitiveness. Online travel platforms and apps offer comprehensive services and use algorithms and AI for personalized recommendations. Low-cost and premium offerings coexist, satisfying different consumer segments and influencing industry standards.

📱 In 2025, Italy's Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè met with industry associations to discuss measures for sector growth. The Centro Studi Turistici di Firenze reported a 2.5% increase to 458.5 million tourist presences in 2024 compared to 2023. Key topics included development contracts, refinance of tip tax exemption, short-term rental regulation, and mountain support initiatives.

🏰 Castello Sonnenburg-Castel Badia, located in San Lorenzo di Sebato, Val Pusteria, is being transformed into an ultra-luxury hotel by the Gasser family, with management entrusted to Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana. Scheduled to open next autumn, the renovation represents an investment of over €30 million. The revamped property will feature 29 rooms, a spa, and a restaurant following Borgo Egnazia's hospitality concept, aiming to make Plan de Corones a luxury destination within 5 years.

🏠 In Italy, Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè addresses short-term rental regulations emphasizing dialogue and no punishment. Controls for the mandatory National Identification Code (Cin) have begun. Rome leads with 44,245 short-term rental properties, 77.8% Cin compliant, followed by Venice (30,452 properties, 85.63% compliant) and Milan (24,925 properties, 78.36% compliant). Non-display of Cin can result in fines ranging from €800 to €8,000.