TOP NEWS

🚢 Ferruccio Alessandria, president of Assopiscine, urges the immediate approval of a framework law discussed in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Approved by the Council of Ministers on July 30, this law, supported by Ministers Musumeci and Schillaci, seeks to introduce national regulations for pool safety. The Health Ministry reports an annual average of 350 drowning deaths in Italy, with 46% occurring in domestic pools. Enhanced safety measures and awareness are vital to prevent incidents.

🎓 AGroDiPAB unveils the "Università della Vendita" to transform sellers into strategic consultants for business growth. Scheduled for launch on October 28, 2025, in Rome, this free program offers courses ranging from 40 to 1,000 hours, focusing on skills like CRM, AI, and negotiation. The Horeca sector in 2024 generated €107.1B in revenue, creating €53.8B in added value. It supports 1.5 million jobs across 380,000 companies and is crucial to Italy's economy.

💵 Dal 1° settembre 2025, il limite massimo del 5% sulle commissioni per i buoni pasto si applicherà a 2,8 milioni di lavoratori del settore privato in Italia, estendendo una normativa già in vigore per 700.000 dipendenti pubblici. Attualmente, le commissioni medie sono dell'11%, ma alcune arrivano al 20%. Le aziende hanno tempo fino al 31 agosto 2025 per adeguarsi, con un periodo di transizione fino al 31 dicembre 2025. Anseb critica la norma, mentre Fipe Confcommercio non prevede effetti negativi significativi.

🗺 Italy ranks third globally for congress tourism in 2024, following the U.S. and Belgium, as per the 66th International Meetings Statistics Report by UIA in Brussels. Rome leads Italian cities, ranking ninth globally, surpassing Milan and Florence. Bologna and Turin show remarkable progress, climbing over 80 and 31 positions, respectively, while Naples and Venice lag. Giancarlo Leporatti emphasizes the need for a coherent national strategy to sustain success in the competitive market.

📈 2024, Italy's tourism balance achieved a €21.2 billion surplus, representing 1% of GDP, matching 2019 levels. Foreign tourist spending hit €54.2 billion, up 4.9% nominally. Arrivals grew 3.4%, but remained 8% below 2019. Top spenders include tourists from Germany, Spain, and Asia. Cultural vacations and city visits accounted for 56.4% of tourist spending. Central Italy led with 27.4% of spending. Italians spent €33 billion abroad, with rising interest in Asia and a surge in travel to Saudi Arabia.

🏨 Hotel Sustainability Award 2025: applications open until September 10, 2025. Hosted by Fiera Bolzano, it honors sustainability in hospitality. Categories include Sustainable Food, Circular Design, and Technology. Awards: €15,000 marketing package for Sustainable Tourism Pioneers 360° and €5,000 for Better Together. Awards ceremony: October 13, 2025, at Hotel 2025 in Bolzano. The jury includes industry experts. Hotel 2025 features themes like People, Innovation, and Design. More details [here](https://www.fierabolzano.it/it/hotel/sustainability-award-hotel).

📈 Over 13 million Italians, or 28% of internet users, are using AI, according to Comscore's Digital Analytics MyMetrix. From October 8-10, the InOut event in Rimini will spotlight AI innovations in tourism, hosted by Italian Exhibition Group. It focuses on technology, well-being, and sustainability. The ADI InOut Hospitality Design Award recognizes hospitality innovations, with winners entering the ADI Design Index 2026. Vision Lab will showcase themed outdoor environments for hospitality design.

📅 Nel primo semestre del 2025, a&o Hostels ha registrato 3,1 milioni di pernottamenti e 1,4 milioni di ospiti. Il fatturato è cresciuto da 110 a 116 milioni di euro, con un calo del tasso di occupazione dal 74,8% al 73%. Le strutture più popolari si trovano in Germania, Repubblica Ceca, Austria e Italia, con nuove aperture previste entro l'anno. Il 53,9% dei clienti è tedesco, con un aumento degli ospiti internazionali al 46,1%.

🌊 COMO Hotels and Resorts, 2026, Svalbard: Embark on the exclusive "COMO Journey into the Arctic" aboard the M/S Polarfront, a transformed Norwegian meteorological ship offering eight suites with private baths, sauna, and jacuzzi. The two expeditions, from May 13-23 and September 13-24, include a night at Longyearbyen, fjord safaris, wildlife observation, photography workshops, wellness treatments, and fusion cuisine. Experience the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights. Bookings now open.

💸 Giorgio Armani acquires the iconic La Capannina nightclub in Forte dei Marmi, set to reopen under his management in the summer of 2024. Founded in 1929 and owned by Gherardo and Carla Guidi since 1977, La Capannina has been a hub of Italian social life. Armani's purchase is a personal and emotional investment, reconnecting him to his roots and honoring Italian tradition.