TOP NEWS

💰 Salvatore Sicuso of Boscolo Tours reports a "+26% revenue" and "+20% passengers" in summer 2023 compared to last year. The company is ready for the winter season with a specialized catalog distributed to travel agencies. Boscolo Tours offers thematic trip categories: Christmas Markets, Christmas and New Year's, Cold Places Magic, and Long-Distance Winter Travel. Zuleica Ferrari highlights Scandinavia and Iceland trips enriched with winter activities. The company boasts a 40% repeater clientele rate.

🏨 Hotel prices have risen roughly 40-50% in the last three years, yet over 60% of travelers from major European economies still prefer hotels. In particular, 70% of Spaniards, 64% of Britons, and 62% of Germans opt for hotels. Apartments are the main alternative, averaging 25%, whereas vacation rentals are less popular at 14%. European hotel spending is projected to reach $114 billion in 2024, with the customer base growing to over 287 million users, up by nearly 15 million from 2023.

🏖️ In 2023, 48.1% of foreign tourist arrivals in Italy were concentrated in just six provinces: Venice (11.8%), Rome (10.2%), Bolzano (8.4%), Milan (6.9%), Florence (5.6%), Verona (5.2%). The concentration decreased from 53% in 2008 and 51% in 2013, indicating a spread of tourists into more regions and months. Notably, April saw a 51% increase and October a 35% rise in visitor presence. Tourism accounts for 13% of Italy’s GDP. Proposed interventions include establishing a registry for destination managers, founding a national study center for tourism, and promoting rural tourism and enogastronomy, as 93% of Italians are interested in discovering small inland villages, yet only 58% have visited one in the past year.

🏖️ Mario Ferraro, CEO of Smeralda Holding, aims to extend Costa Smeralda's season through nature, glamour, and events, potentially closing in late November with openings at Christmas and New Year. The 2024 season saw a significant increase in tourism at the four iconic hotels Cala di Volpe, Romazzino, Pitrizza, and Cervo, particularly from American and Middle Eastern visitors. Occupancy levels reached unprecedented highs. Content strategy and after-dinner offerings aim to attract younger clients, with a lounge open until 3 AM. Hotel Cala di Volpe recently completed a refurbishment started in 2018, and Romazzino and Pitrizza are now under LVMH, branded as Belmond and Cheval Blanc. Despite these changes, Costa Smeralda intends to remain a niche destination, focusing on high-quality offerings, with even the most expensive Harrods suite being difficult to book in peak season.

🍴 On September 12th in Milan, the third edition of 'Golosi di Identità' charity dinner will be held at Identità Golose Milano, featuring star chefs like Giancarlo Perbellini. The event supports Fondazione Cotarella's listening point in Orvieto. Chefs Ada Stifani, Davide Boglioli, and Enrico and Roberto Cerea will cook a four-course menu with a special wine selection from the Cotarella family.

🏨 On September 4, 2024, in Verona, Federalberghi Verona, in collaboration with Federalberghi Garda Veneto and Federalberghi Mantova, held a meeting to present the details of the July 5, 2024, tourism CCNL renewal agreement. Paolo Caldana, Secretary of Federalberghi Verona, opened the event. Angelo Candido and lawyer Valentina Avesani discussed the agreement, focusing on dual apprenticeships and safety initiatives for students in work-study programs. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for September 27, 2024, in Pisa.

💾 Rome's hotel sector is encouraged to apply for the Bando Voucher Digitali I4.0 2024, a digitalization initiative by the Rome Chamber of Commerce aimed at micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MPMI). The grant covers up to 70% of eligible expenses, up to €10,000, which can increase to 100% if services from a partnered Digital Innovation Hub are used. Applications open at 09:00 on September 12th and close at 14:00 on September 26th, 2024. Investments must start from January 1st, 2024, and conclude by April 30th, 2025, with expense reporting due by 21:00 on May 31st, 2025.

🌟 The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, a year after opening, obtained the Green Key certification for meeting strict environmental standards. With 160 rooms, including 8 for disabled guests, the hotel has implemented eco-friendly initiatives such as removing single-use kits for refillable dispensers and reducing non-sustainable packaging. Water-saving mechanisms are installed in toilets, showers, and faucets, with water flow regulated to not exceed 9 deciliters per 10 seconds. The hotel uses EcoLab certified products and collaborates with local suppliers like Acqua Egeria, which cut its carbon footprint in 2016 via new packaging and solar panels. The kitchen prepares food according to guest numbers to minimize waste, and the hotel supports local cultural institutions and sustainability initiatives.

📈 NielsenIQ's report "Lo stato del Largo Consumo in Italia" for July 2024 indicates a 10.5 billion € turnover in the Omnichannel GDO in Italy, marking a +2.5% increase from July 2023. Inflation in the Largo Consumo Confezionato (LCC) was at a minimal +0.1% while real price change was -0.8%. Leading sales growth were Specialist Drug channels (+12.4%), followed by Superstores (+3.4%), Supermarkets (+3.2%), and Discounts (+1.3%), while Liberi Servizi (-1.9%) and Iper>4500 (-1.1%) declined. Promotional sales rose to 24.3%, a +1.3 percentage points increase from last year. The MDD product share reached 22.8% in Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, and Free Services, and 31.6% in Omnichannel Italy including Discounts. The Grocery sector saw a +2.1% value increase and a +2.9% volume increase. Notably, Fruits and Vegetables rose by +4.6% in value and +10.1% in volume, with Personal Care and Fishery products also showing significant growth. New references made up 11% of shelf products and accounted for 4.9% of total business turnover.

🏖️ In May, tourism in Italy spiked from €2.2 billion in 2023 to €2.8 billion in 2024. Foreign traveler spending increased by 17% to €5.2 billion, with Italian spending abroad growing by 9% to €2.4 billion. Over three months ending in May 2024, tourist revenue rose by 12% year-on-year, with a 9% increase in expenditures driven by more travelers. EU travelers' spending outpaced non-EU by 13% vs. 10%, and Italian spending in Europe jumped by 17% compared to only 2% elsewhere.