TOP NEWS

🎄 In Croatia, destagionalization efforts have led to a 3.5% increase in arrivals (20.9 million) and a 1% increase in overnights (107.7 million) in the first 11 months of the year compared to the same period in 2023. Viviana Vukelić, from the Croatian National Tourist Board in Italy, confirmed this positive trend during a Christmas event at the Principe di Savoia Hotel in Milan.

🍽 In 2024, food tourism in Italy saw a 25% increase in tourist participation over the previous year, with significant visitor growth from the USA, Germany, and the UK. 70% of both Italian and international tourists expressed a desire to join a food tour, with Tuscany, Campania, and Sicily being the most popular regions, experiencing a 20% increase in visitors from 2023. The quality of food was the key deciding factor for 65% of enogastronomic tour participants, and 45% were willing to spend over 100 euros per person for a high-level culinary experience. Sustainability is also a priority, with 60% of tourists preferring eco-friendly experiences, pushing the industry toward organic and local products. Online booking for food tours increased by 47% in 2023, and further digital integration is expected in 2025.

🏖 Hospitality in Italy is expected to grow by 4% in 2024, with inflation significantly impacting prices. Transport costs increased by 10%, while organized tourism is up by 8%, driven by long-haul travel recovery. Sustainability awareness among tourists varies, with 15% in Italy and 37% in the U.S. considering it when choosing services. In Italy, sustainability as a selection criterion dropped from 20% in 2022 to 17%. However, 80% of Italian companies are taking steps to improve business travel sustainability, with 34% reporting on travel emissions, 10% implementing a green travel policy, and 8% allocating a CO2 emissions budget.

🏖️ Foreign tourist spending in Italy increased by 6.9% in September 2024 compared to 2023 and 28.8% over pre-pandemic levels. Domestic tourism, however, declined by 6.5%, leading to a 2.4% drop in total tourist arrivals in the first nine months of 2024 from 2023. Total tourist expenditure in Italy is up to 110 billion euros in 2024 from 108 billion in 2023. The accommodation sector outperformed other services, with a 3.9% revenue growth at current prices. Italy climbed in international tourism rankings, surpassing China and the United Kingdom post-pandemic. The capacity utilization of accommodation facilities reached 51.5% in 2023, up from 49.0% in 2019. Digital bookings for accommodations have increased to approximately 70% in 2023, up from 58.4% in 2019.

🏡 In Navarra, a renovated 19th-century building has been transformed into Villa Clementina, a chic boutique hotel. Architect Fernando Oiza designed the space, achieving harmony by blending rural atmospheres, historical architecture, and timeless USM furniture. USM's modular furnishings were chosen for their serenity and refinement, complementing the building's elegance. These USM pieces, finished in black, are featured throughout the villa in the library, living areas, dining room, and bedrooms.

📈 PWC's "Hospitality Market Snapshot Italy 2024" reveals that investments in Italy's hospitality sector in the first half of 2024 reached €950 million, with significant focus on Rome, Sicily, Sardinia, Bologna, and Turin. Hospitality accounted for 30% of Italy's commercial real estate investments. Since late 2022, investment growth has been notable. Average Daily Rates (ADR) and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) surged by up to 52% compared to 2019, indicating higher profitability and market attractiveness, yet also raising concerns over increased pricing and potential service quality decline.

🏨 Valerio Ceccarelli, born in 1995, acquired his first hotel in 2021 and expanded to three boutique hotels by 2023, including Coronari Palace, Hotel Regno, and Hotel Dei Consoli, totaling 66 rooms. Under the Hannah Hotels Collection, the occupancy rate exceeds 95%, contributing to the nearly 2.2 million euros in turnover and a 183% increase from the previous year. With a 290% increase in profit and a projected revenue of approximately 3.4 million euros in 2024, the group anticipates a business turnover of six million euros by 2026, with a portfolio of 91 rooms. The new structure in Fabriano will add 25 rooms and a spa, aiming for an environmentally conscious certification by 2025.

✈ Wizz Air announces five new routes from Venice for summer 2025, starting in March, to Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Sharm el Sheikh, and Budapest. A new Airbus A321neo will be added, doubling the Venice-based fleet for the season. Over 500,000 additional seats per year will increase capacity by nearly 80%, boosting Wizz Air's market share to 10% at Venice airport, becoming the second largest low-cost carrier there. Daily flights to Madrid and Barcelona, and three weekly flights to Sharm, Athens, and Budapest will be available. Existing Chisinau connection increases from three to four weekly flights. Since 2004, Wizz Air has transported over 90 million passengers to and from Italy.

🏖️ Luca Perfetto, CEO of Towns of Italy Group, launches the "Progetto Academy" in Florence, focusing on experiential tourism training. The project collaborates with CST and Hospitality Innovation Retreats, offering advanced courses for various professional profiles like tourist guides and tour operator managers. It aims to foster a new generation of highly qualified experts, providing internships, scholarships, and incorporating professional contributions to curricula, many in English, to enhance Italy's role in the sector. Simone Tani and Lara Pazzi are key contributors to this initiative.

🎓 In Rome, December 2024, the Associazione Parchi Permanenti Italiani, representing around 250 national parks, expresses concern over bureaucratic hurdles from the new Procurement Code affecting school trips and summer camps. The issues with micro procurement under €140,000 remain unaddressed since the exemption expired on September 30. These regulations could jeopardize activities for approximately 600,000 youths and a €15 million park revenue plus additional indirect income for the 2025 season. The Association urges ANAC for an exemption for school-related micro procurements up to €5,000.