TOP NEWS

🏨 Francesco Calia, Head of Hospitality Italy at Cushman & Wakefield, highlights Rome's dynamic market with over 5,000 new rooms planned. Cushman & Wakefield, as exclusive advisor, facilitated the sale of a lifestyle hotel property located near key Roman landmarks. The hotel, owned by a primary institutional investor, was acquired by a family office and is managed by a leading European operator. The property boasts over 100 rooms, approximately 350 beds, distinctive 19th-century architecture, and has achieved LEED Gold certification after renovations in 2016 and 2018. Rome ranks as the third most investable hotel market in Europe, according to the European Hotel Investor Compass 2025 survey of over 60 global investors.

🌍 Despite inflation, Italy maintains its allure as a top global travel destination. Brazilian and Spanish tour operators report sustained high demand, with significant interest from Brazil due to its large Italian-descendant population. In the U.S., travel to Italy isn't growing much, with a normalization after exceptional years in 2023 and 2024. Chinese travelers show segmented behavior: mid-class families delay trips, while high spenders remain stable. The upcoming summer may clarify trends, especially for the cautious American market.

🏡 Dubai welcomed 5.31 million international visitors from January to March 2025, a 3% annual increase from the same period in 2024, adding to a 9% overall growth with 18.72 million overnight international tourists in 2024. Western Europe was the top source market with 1.15 million visitors (22%), followed by CIS and Eastern Europe (891,000 - 17%), GCC (772,000 - 15%), South Asia (752,000 - 14%), MENA (620,000 - 12%), Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia (474,000 - 9%), Americas (374,000 - 7%), Africa (197,000 - 4%), and Australasia (78,000 - 1%). Dubai's Average Daily Rate (ADR) in hospitality increased by 2%, and the Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative awarded the DST Stamp to 153 hotels, a 118% increase from the previous 70 hotels recognized. A new campaign "Find Your Story" featuring Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi was launched in April 2025 by DET.

🏗️ Ivana Jelinic of Enit reported Italy's tourism growth at Dubai's Arabian Travel Market, forecasting 964,440 arrivals from the Middle East for January-December 2025, a 21.1% increase over the previous year. The UAE, the main source, is expected to contribute 310,302 arrivals, 32.2% of the total, marking over a 16% increase. Italy leads as a luxury tourism destination with high-end shopping being a key draw. Italian cultural and shopping tourism are highly visible online in the Middle East, with Italy receiving the most positive sentiment and social media likes.

📌 Emilia Romagna finds government measures for regulating short-term rentals insufficient and plans to enact a regional law by the end of the year. Housing and Tourism councilors Giovanni Paglia and Roberta Frisoni are involving local entities, unions, and category associations in discussions for drafting this law, targeting urban planning, which allows municipalities to control where short-term rentals can be permitted or restricted. Invitations for input have been extended to major platforms like Airbnb, which has not yet responded. The goal is to balance housing availability for families and workers while maximizing tourist hospitality, addressing a significant issue in Bologna where short-term rental accommodations are rapidly increasing.

🏖 Italy is set to welcome at least 10 million vacationers from April 30 to May 4, with business generated surpassing 4 billion euros. Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè notes the positive tourism conditions. Of these vacationers, at least 6 million will stay overnight, including 2.5 million international tourists, mainly from the USA, Central Europe, the UK, and Asia, averaging three nights, with foreigners staying four. Additionally, 600,000 visits are expected in 26,000 agritourisms, highlighting Italy's authentic culinary tradition.

🏖 The Italian Ministry of Tourism allocated €5,913,416 to the Abruzzo region as part of 'Montagna Italia' project for the enhancement of mountain territories. Minister Daniela Santanchè aims to strengthen the Italian mountain system by fostering local entrepreneurship, networking among tourism businesses, public-private partnerships, promotion of local products, experiential tourism, and leveraging the Tourism Digital Hub. Three projects benefitting from this funding include 'Abruzzo E-Quality Experience', 'Lago di Barrea. Esperienze tra natura e benessere', and 'IN Abruzzo – Comunità Accoglienti d'Abruzzo', targeting tourism development, community hospitality, and economic sustainability.

🏠 Italy ranked 3rd (26%) in luxury travel preferences for 2025, according to Condé Nast Johansens' annual survey, behind the UK (50%) and Spain (30%). France and Portugal followed at 25% and 16%, respectively. The average consumer income is £73,000 with £6,900 spent on holidays, primarily aged between 55-64 (32%) and over 65 (34%), with women comprising 65% of respondents. 91% plan to travel abroad favoring 7-9 night stays (37%), city breaks (69%), beach holidays (58%), and countryside retreats (51%). Interests include good food and drink (76%), outdoor activities (55%), art and culture (48%), and wellness (44%). Luxury travelers prefer boutique hotels and resorts (60%), valuing comfortable beds (72%), breakfast included (69%), and quality dining options (60%). Wellness-focused travelers desire indoor pools (81%), hot tubs (73%), and saunas (68%). Influencers impact 21% of booking decisions, with Instagram (69%), Facebook (48%), and TikTok (22%) as top platforms for inspiration. Active engagement includes posting about accommodations (36%), tagging them (30%), writing reviews (27%), and sharing links or stories (22%). Events interest 63% of respondents with high demand for afternoon teas (38%) and wine tastings (33%). Paris

📊 Telepass commissioned Seed Digital for a web search analysis, identifying spring break travel trends for April 25 and May 1, 2025. Comparison between June 2023-March 2024 and June 2024-March 2025 showed a 7% increase in searches, surpassing one million. Italian destinations dominated with 87%, Sicily (47%) being the top region, and Ischia (21%) the most searched location. Air travel searches comprised 49%, with a nearly 50% peak between January-March, followed by "cruise" searches at 39%. Italians focus on "offers" (over 55,000 searches) and "travel ideas" (over 51,000).

🍷 "Paestum Wine Fest Business" 2025 edition set for May 4-6, in Capaccio Paestum, Salerno. Organized by Alessandro Rossi, the event signals an important dialogue between Campania's institutions. Felice Casucci and Nicola Caputo, regional assessors, highlighted the festival's role in promoting tourism and the integration of the wine sector with the territory. The event features an international presence, including sommeliers from 34 Michelin-starred entities, a focus on the younger generation, digital innovation, and the intersection of wine and culture. Angelo Zarra, anticipating the 14th edition, emphasizes a culture-driven movement and an improved festival experience.